Klarinet Archive - Posting 000289.txt from 1995/08

From: Tom Ascher <U15310@-----.EDU>
Subj: Buffet vs Leblanc
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 1995 14:13:31 -0400

I've been hesitant to share my recent experience in purchasing a clarinet;
this list seems so overwhelmingly pro Buffet that I wonder if my experience
may be atypical? On the other hand, for what its worth, I though I'd share.

I suspect in the past Buffet has established a well earned reputation.
And based on the general attitute and recommendations on this list, I've
been looking at and considering Buffet clarinets almost exclusively over the
last year or so as I've been thinking about a replacement for my old
Yamaha.

I began to think about alternatives based on a few chance happenings. First,
the woman I took lessons from last winter made a statement that "all the
Chicago clarinetists are getting Leblancs..." I took that statement with
a grain of salt, thinking that the hype of the likes of Charlie Daniels and
other newly endorsing the Leblanc was creating "trend" converts.

Then, I began having experiences with trying new Buffet Prestige and R-13
instruments in some of the retail stores. In one store in particular I had
the experience of trying 3 R-13's and not being able to get a single one
assembled. How, I wondered could they ship instruments that could not
be put together?

Anyhow, since that experience I did find a couple of new R-13's that were
very nice, had clear balanced intonation throughout the range and pretty
easy to play. Except in the altissimo range starting at about the C above
the stave. But, I just thought that was my inexperienced embouchure.

Anyhow, I went back to my Yamaha thinking I just needed to improve my
technique so I had a better idea of what I wanted and also to be sure that
any problems were with the clarinet, not with me.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to take the plunge and find an R13 Bb that
I really liked and trade in the Yamaha.

I went to a large dealership (who I won't name for reasons that should become
clear) and arrived early in the day so I'd have much time to try out many
instruments.

I ended up going through six different R13's and one Prestige. Of the six
R13's, 3 of them could not be put together because of poor fittings either
between the barrel and the upper joint, or the bell and the lower joint.
These were brought back to the "shop". I asked a store person if they ever
sent any instruments back to Buffet. I was told yes, if the shop could not
fix. I also asked if this was typical of Buffet quality control that so
many instruments had problems. He said it was. He said that there was
one clarinet teacher who picked out Buffets for his students and that the
last time he came in he tried out so many instruments without finding one
that he liked, he decided to wait for the next batch!

The other thing I noticed about the Buffet was that for me, a novice, it
was always hard to gently blow notes above the C above the stave and have
them start smoothly. Beginning with C# it always seemed that I had to
apply undue lower lip pressure, and "pop" the note rather than just blow
and have it start gently.

Anyhow, I was about to leave the store and stick with my Yamaha when the
store person suggested that I try a Leblanc.

He brought out several, including the Concerto and the Infinite. One thing
I noticed is that the workmanship seemed superior on all to the Buffets I'd
seen. They all went together with good fit, with out undue pressure. In
playing, I liked the Concerto okay, and recognized that it had a "dark"
tone (I hope Dan Leeson will not notice this!) but the intonation seemed
somewhat uneven both in sound and ease of playing. With the Infinite, I
was surprised and pleased that although a couple hundred dollars less than
the Concerto, it played with a full, balanced tone, with even effort through
out the ranges. The other thing that I was very pleased with is that with
ALL of the Leblancs, the notes above the C above the stave all started
gradually just blowing. It was much easier to form notes above C gradually
from a pianissimo than with ANY of the Buffets!

I purchased the Leblanc Infinity and after about a week-and-a-half am
quite pleased with it.

I don't know how typical my experience is but based on it, I'd recommend
that anyone thinking about an R13 also try the Leblanc Infinite. The
quality control seems better and it seems to blow more easily above the
stave.