Klarinet Archive - Posting 000327.txt from 2001/04
From: MVinquist@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Intermediate C Clarinets
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 07:16:46 -0400
I tried the new German-made Buffet at a show several months ago and thought
it was good but not great -- about the same as their German-made Bbs.
However, you can't beat the under $1,000 price. Judging it on absolute
terms, it seemed not quite ready for prime time. The depth of tone was just
not there, at least compared to my own 1927 Buffet.
I played an excellent Leblanc Opus at the Columbus ClarinetFest a couple of
years ago -- almost as good as my Buffet, and definitely pro-quality. Steve
Fox's instrument was close behind, as was a Buffet Prestige RC. I could be
happy with any of them, whereas I think I'd always be aware of the
limitations with the German Buffet. Of course, the prices on the Opus, Fox
and Prestige RC were astronomical, and you don't get to pick among a bunch,
as you do with Bb instruments, so it's always a crap-shoot whether you get a
really good one.
I think I've seen one Noblet C on eBay over the past few years, and it went
for over $1,000. The rest are Conns and similar off-brands, and they always
go for ridiculous prices -- even the Albert system ones.
Clark Fobes and a number of other good people had an extended discussion of
the Noblet C on this list a couple of years ago. You should be able to find
it easily from the search page here. Clark's comment yesterday about sums it
up -- the Noblet is worth the price and usable professionally, particularly
with a custom barrel and mouthpiece. However, the top line instruments are
better.
I found my C clarinet by dumb luck. I walked into Charlie Ponte's music store
30 years ago and said "Charlie, I want a C clarinet. I'm tired of
transposing oboe parts in my Friday baroque ensemble." He said, "You know, I
just got in an old Buffet that was sitting in a closet for 35 years -- it's
practically new." He brought it out, and crusts had formed over all the
holes where oil had seeped out of the wood. I poked through a few of them
with a pencil, and even that way, it sounded better than the brand new Selmer
he had. The only problem was he wanted $375 for it (more than he got for a
new R-13 at the time), I had only $400 in the bank, and it was 10 days until
payday (when I would get, after taxes, about $95). I told him I'd think
about it and walked out the door to go to Manny's, 2 blocks away, to see what
they had. I got halfway down the block, stopped and said to myself "Schmuck!
You've been wet-dreaming about a prewar Buffet for years. Now one falls
into your lap and you think you'll find something better? What "better" are
you talking about? Turn around, go back there and grab it!" Charlie said I
was lucky I came back so quickly. The first chair clarinet in the Doctors'
Orchestra had had a standing order for a C Buffet clarinet for years, and
Charlie was just about to call him. He let me pay half then and half the
next payday.
I've never regretted eating beans for two weeks to pay for the thing. I've
gotten rewarded every time I've played it, going on 30 years now.
My advice is to go someplace where there are several C clarinets -- say, the
next ClarinetFest. Try them all. If you don't like any of them, wait until
the next show. When you find one that cuddles up to you, buy it, whatever
the price. You only pay for it once, and it pays you back forever.
May you repeat my good luck.
Ken Shaw
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