Klarinet Archive - Posting 000428.txt from 1998/08

From: reedman@-----.com
Subj: [kl] R-13 Prestige vs R-13
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 13:18:38 -0400

On Fri, 14 Aug 1998, ROBERT ABRAHAM wrote:
[SNIP]
>.......and the tuning is much better. Also, the keys are
>different...even heavier than the silver plated option on the R13. There
>is much to like about the Prestige R13 over the regular R13.

And then Roger Garrett responded:

"I just find the tunning to be a bit higher on the R-13 Prestige than the
R-13. For some applications, this is better (such as symphony orchestra
playing)......but I miss the A440 perfection of the R-13 when playing
chamber music."

The design differences between the Prestige R-13 and the standard R-13
are not as great as one would suppose from the above postings. I was a
Buffet dealer for about 6 years and I could never get anyone at Boosey
&Hawkes to spell out the differences other than:

1. Premium wood
2. Silver plated keys (Which are the same weight as standard silver
plated R-13 keys)
3. Alternate Ab/Eb key (A nuisance in the original design, now
improved)
4. Tenon caps

I have no evidence from the work I have done on many dozens of
Prestige instruments (including my own) that there is any additional hand
finishing of the tone holes. I see about the same amount of rough edges and
detritus left over in the tone holes on both models.

The bores are supposed to be identical. The tuning is supposed to be
identical.

If I am incorrect perhaps Francois Cloc can correct me.

BUT, the Prestige clarinets do have a different character than the
standard R-13 clarinets. I think it is primarily from the tenon caps. These
not only add weight to the overall instrument, but the bore is less likely
to change at the tenons than with the all wood instruments. This may be the
reason that most Prestige clarinets I have played seem to have a slightly
greater resistance.

Roger, It may be true that your Prestige plays higher than your
standard R-13 clarinets, but I don't think that is a universal. I have
played some older R-13's that are substantially higher pitched than my
Prestige Bb. My Prestige A has always played a bit low and I have to use a
64mm barrel with it.

This brings me to another interesting subject regarding Buffet
clarinets. Have you ever noticed that NOWHERE in any Buffet or Boosey &
Hawkes literature can you find a reference to the "pitch" of Buffet
clarinets? There is a good reason for that. Here in the US we seem to be
intellectually stuck on the concept of playing at A@-----. If you do a lot of
playing with piano you may actually be playing at A=440 if the piano is
tuned at that level. However, very few orchestras really stay at that level.

In fact, I have always maintained that Buffet clarinets are tuned
closer to A@-----. If they were really tuned at
A@-----.
Also, with the many subtle variations to bores caused through machining
there is a fairly wide variation in pitch among clarinets even of the same
make. If Buffet was to actually advertise their instruments as A=440 I think
they could be challenged. If they advertised them as A=441 they might lose
some sales. So it is wise that Buffet not allude to any specific pitch level
in their material.

Clark W Fobes

Clark W Fobes
Web Page http://www.sneezy.org/clark_fobes

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