Klarinet Archive - Posting 000501.txt from 1998/06

From: "Kevin Fay (LCA)" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] marketing buzzwords & other misconceptions
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 06:42:17 -0400

Translations:

Youthful tone @-----. The R-13's register key is a mm or 2 lower
than it should be to have the 12ths in tune. This is a conscious design
decision, to make the throat Bb sound better. Other Buffet horns (like the
old S-1 and the new Festival, and I believe the new Vintage) have the
register key moved up where it belongs for the correct 12th tuning.

As I understand it, the "new" Leblanc horns are basically copies of the
Buffet R-13 polycylindrical design. (I guess the patents expired?) The
Opus and Concerto have the higher-placed register key (like the Buffet
Festival and Vintage), making the 12ths better in tune. The Infinite's
"more youthful" tone and "traditional" intonation results from the lower
placement of the register key, nothing more.

For all the marketing hocus-pocus, what you are buying in either case (other
than the Buffet Elite, which is truly strange) is the basic pro horn with
some options:

o Silver plating
o Left hand Ab/Eb
o Register key placement
o Fancy or fancier name engraving

for both the Buffet and Leblanc horns.

kjf

----Original Message-----
From: Maestro645@-----.com]
Subject: Re: [kl] marketing buzzwords & other misconceptions

I wonder that as soon as some of the other brands become more used (like the
new Leblancs) that some of the techniques will subside. They probably had
to
resort to that because over the years Buffet was THE CLARINET to play, and
no
one would take into consideration anything else (generally). And those
celebrities parading the horns around...well, didn't Buffet do that in its
beginning?
And like the phrase "entry-level professional instrument" makes some sense.
(By the way, it was me who quoted it our of the catalogue.) It makes sense
because it has some of the more professional features but may lack gold
springs, etc., and is priced more for the doubler, or whatever. And
"youthful
tone"? i agree that if it has the same bore design, how could it have a
different sound? there they need to make up their mind...what did they
change
to make it a more youthful tone, or is it designed the exact same way? I'm
willing to bet on the former, because if it was designed the EXACT SAME WAY,
why would you need two different brands?
And in all honesty (keep in mind this is my opinion), I feel my Opus is
superior to my R-13. And other people who play Leblancs would feel the same
way when compared to their previous horns - otherwise, why would they buy
them? Just for the sake of boasting the most horns? I doubt it.
Just my thoughts. Granted, it's more than two cents, but oh well.
Chris Hoffman
P.S. By the way, this letter was not meant to be demeaning or harsh, so I
apologize if it arouses strong feelings that would result in my flaming.
:o)

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