Klarinet Archive - Posting 000407.txt from 1995/11

From: Everett J Austin <BrendaA624@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: rc vs. r13
Date: Thu, 23 Nov 1995 23:19:23 -0500

I cannot give the dimensional differences between the Buffet RC an R-13 Bb
soprano clarinet models, but suspect that Mr Lee Gibson (of Texas) could
provide that information (I have ordered a copy of his book Clarinet
Acoustics, but have not received it yet). Clark Fobes once told me that he
asked the Buffet people about this difference and they would not give him any
information. I have RC A and Bb clarinets and had an R-13 which I sold
recently and can comment from some practical experience. I have the
impression that the bore of the RC is larger, at least on the upper joint.
Also the placement of the register key is different on the two models,
affecting among other things the pitch of the upper clarion notes (sharper on
the R-13). This makes the tapered barrels such as Fobes and Moennig useful
on the R-13, but impossible on the RC, because the upper clarion is
excessively flattened. (I experimented with many barrels of different
lengths with similar results and always returned to the barrel provided with
the instrument. Regular Buffet barrels worked ok but none seemed timbrally
as good as the original barrels, which seem to be of thicker wood and have
silver rings. I sent an inquiry to Mr Guy Chadash with a SASE a couple of
months ago, asking whether he makes a barrel compatible with the RC model and
have not yet received a reply. This suggests to me that he is either very
busy or again there is an incompatibility.) Also perhaps related to the
register key placement, an the RC A, the clarion A is less of a problem note
than on recent R-13 A clarinets.
I have the impression that the tone of the R-13 is more penetrating, but
also that the RC has a fuller and rounder low register. The tuning is very
good. I personally liked the RC models because of the warmer tone of the
ones I played, especially in the low register, which seemed more suited to
chamber music playing.
Robert Carre designed the RC models as far as I know, and they exist for Eb,
Bb bass and also C and D models according to the catalog. There is also a
Prestige variation, as with the R-13.
I, too would be interested if any one has some comments on the differences
between these. Also, where does the old S-1 model fit in?
Happy Thanksgiving!

Everett Austin