Klarinet Archive - Posting 000325.txt from 1995/08

From: Bob Kreisa <bkreisa@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Buffet vs Leblanc
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 1995 14:41:33 -0400

I tried out two or three R-13's at a local music store and I didn't like
any of them. None of them wouldn't go together at all, but they
wouldn't completely connect either. I've also tried a Yamaha that I
thought was far superior. I own a Noblet. Oh! I have a question! When
I got the Noblet it cost $450 used. When I tried out the Buffets, the
guy at the store said they could give me $1900 towards the R-13. Any
ideas why?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abby Kreisa
bkreisa@-----.edu

On Tue, 22 Aug 1995, Tom Ascher wrote:

> 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.
> =====================================================================
> Tom Ascher Internet: u15310@-----.edu
> University of Illinois at Chicago Phone: (312) 413-3665
>

   
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