Klarinet Archive - Posting 000365.txt from 2001/04
From: Jay Niepoetter <Niep@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Intermediate C Clarinets
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 23:44:48 -0400
i just bought a buffet E11 C clarinet and i'm very happy with it.
jay
MVinquist@-----.com wrote:
>
> 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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