Klarinet Archive - Posting 000740.txt from 1999/10

From: "Kevin Fay (LCA)" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Buffet Elite
Date: Sun, 24 Oct 1999 18:56:38 -0400

J.M wanted impressions -- here's mine.

I tried a Bb at a music educators' convention. While in the booth, it
wasn't just a five minute noodle; the rep wanted a thorough tryout in the
hope that others would see & hear how I liked it.

I liked it -- some. The lighter weight is very, very cool. They get it by
having the diameter of the horn turned down--while the bore is the same,
there is just less wood. In order to have the tone-hole tubes be the
requisite longer length, however, a number of tone holes had "chimneys," a
few of which got in the way of my fingers. (I have a similar complaint
about the Selmer Signature and the Rossi clarinets). I know that they're
necessary for the proper intonation, but they bugged me.

The thumb rest on the one I played was terrible. Too big, wrong place, felt
weird.

The sound was a little "lighter" than my R13s. I'm not sure that this is a
big deal in the end, as you could more than make up for it by mouthpiece &
reed selection to get the tone you want. (There is a similar debate in
trumpet circles on Bach v. Schilke, and which sounds "darker."
Answer--almost always the one using a bigger cup & backbore on the
mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is just SO much more important!!)

Intonation was spiffy--much more "needle straightening" than my R13, which
is pretty darn good. They do chicken right!

The composition rings looked cool. I don't know why, but the posts are
gold-plated; the keys are not. I don't like the 2-tone effect.

Would I buy one? No. They're (a) too expensive for my taste, (b) I like
how the Festivals play better and, most importantly, (c) my wife would kill
me if I spent four grand on a clarinet.

But hey--whatever floats your boat. If you fall in love with them, and you
can afford it, by all means buy them. You're going to spend a great deal of
time with them--why marry someone you don't like? They may not be for
everybody, but that's why Buffet makes more than one artist-level model.

kjf

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