Klarinet Archive - Posting 000842.txt from 1999/12

From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] RC Prestige
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1999 20:56:39 -0500

> Any opinions on the RC Prestige
> vs R13, Vintage, Festival would be of interest.
>
> I personally find great variations among R13's,
> and play a set of them, selected from among many.
>
> I tried an RC Prestige and was blow away by it.
> Different then anything else I've tested for myself.
> It had the center of Prestige , but much more body
> to the tone. I would describe it as bright but fat, lots
> of focus. I realizes how subjective this is.
>
> RC is not used much among players where I come from.
> Why is this so? They are very fine instruments.
>
> Thank You
> David Renaud
> Canada
>

I was just trying out instruments for a high-school student of mine last
week. I played through a large number (at least 1-1/2 dozen!) and the RC
prestige was far and away the best of the lot. My student ended up buying a
R-13 because of the cost, but the RC was smooth, even, ultra-focused, and
even a bit darker sounding. There was a large degree of variation amongst
R-13s, but the good ones were *really* good (I wanted to buy a new one for
myself). The R-13 just had a different sound. My only problem with the
prestige would have been getting used to the left hand e-flat key. It
really got in the way of my pinky. They didn't have any Festivals in stock,
but I have played them before and personally liked the R-13 more. The sound
on the R-13 is a little more robust than the Festival.

The Vintage is another smooth sounding instrument, but I have had major
intonation issues when I have played with players that own them. The tuning
on them is sufficiently different that I have to adjust quite a bit to match
them. The Vintage is a joy to play, however. The sound is a bit lighter,
but smooth and focused. I'd consider it a great instrument for chamber
music, but perhaps not for playing in a symphony.

These are all of my subject opinions. I hope it helps a bit.

--Ben

Benjamin Maas
Freelance Clarinetist and Recording Engineer
Los Angeles, CA
benmaas@-----.com
http://www.fifthcircle.com

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