Klarinet Archive - Posting 000123.txt from 1996/04

From: Nate Burk <nathan@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Buffet plastic clarinet
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 1996 16:45:28 -0500

Buffet manufactures their B-12 model, which is a plastic clarinet -- this
may be the one your friend had. I think they're pretty widely available,
especially through mail order, but I don't think there's an advantage to
owning a Buffet student clarinet as opposed to another brand; the key action
probably doesn't resemble that of the professional Buffet instruments. I
started on an Artley plastic clarinet, then I played on a Selmer Prologue
for two years, and I just bought a Buffet R-13, and I had no trouble getting
used to the keywork. Brand name, I think, should have no influence on
whether or not an instrument is meritable -- if it's comfortable to play and
it sounds good, I say go for it.

--Nate

>
>A few years ago when I was at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, I had
>a friend who played on a plastic clarinet made by Buffet. I never got the
>serial number or anything, but I had never seen such a thing. He is, of course,
>at a tremendous advantage to the rest of us, because the action on most makes
>of plastic clarinets is radically different from Buffets. Therefore, when he
>goes out to buy a wood clarinet, he will already be fully accustomed to the
>action.
>
>Therefore, my question is this: How rare are these Buffet plastic clarinets?
>Also, who carries them? The plastic clarinet I have now is a Conn, which is a
>fine instrument, but the action on it is too different from my Buffets. Anyone
>have any input? It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
>
>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Friends are the chocolate chips in the cookie of life."
nathan@-----.com/~nathan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------