Klarinet Archive - Posting 000222.txt from 1995/11

From: Bob Yoon <st942100@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Looking for WURLITZER clarinets
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 1995 15:59:39 -0500

The Buffet R-13's are preferred in America for many practical
reasons. They have been making boehm clarinets for many years and most
people are used to them, so there's kind of a teacher-student influence
going on. The keywork on the instrument is still unsurpassed according to
many standards. But the biggest reason why the R-13's are preferred in
America is because of its big sound. From what I've heard, the Leblanc
Concerto, and the Yamaha Customs are good clarinets, but its tone doesn't
have the carrying power for it to be heard through an orchestra at a large
concert hall. Both Harold Wright and Tom Martin, after trying the Yamaha,
and the Leblanc, respectively, stayed on Buffets for this reason.
Two years ago, I also flirted with the idea of getting a new
clarinet and I came up with the same conclusions. I tried every Leblanc,
Selmer, and Yamaha professional models from 1994 at the Massachusetts
All-State(MMEA) Convention. I also tried the Buffet R-13, and the R-13
Prestige. The only clarinets that satisfied my needs were the R-13, the
Prestige, and the Leblanc Opus. In my opinion, the Opus(which costs double
the amount of an R-13) plays a lot like the R-13. I couldn't stand the
sound I was making with a Concerto. While I do partially credit Leblanc for
making improvements on the intonation of the instrument, I found the general
tone thin and restrictive. When I played on the Yamaha Custom, and the
Concerto, again at a repair shop, I still came up with the same conclusions.

Bob Yoon-ST942100@-----.EDU