Klarinet Archive - Posting 000016.txt from 2003/04
From: "Matthew Lloyd" <Matthew@-----.uk>
Subj: RE: [kl] Trading a Leblanc for a Buffet
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2003 02:50:19 -0500
The RC prestige is different from the RC - just compare the inside of
the bell for a start. Broadly similar, yes, but that is not the same
thing as the same. Perhaps I should have clarified that I meant the RC
prestige, not the R13 prestige, but there you are.
Other than the Eb key (itself of dubious merit in my view) what
"refinements" does it have, save that it isn't dyed? I don't buy the
better wood/quality control argument - one of the RC prestige clarinets
I tried had a clearly visible large knot in the bell! Possibly a really
good RC prestige beats a really good RC, but on the evidence of those
clarinets that I have tested the prestige is more marketing than
substance.
You didn't say if the standard RC and the standard R13 are the same
price over there - but I would say that the reason that they are more
popular is because they are infinitely better value. Clearly you choose
between RC and R13 (standard or prestige) on artistic grounds, but the
UKP 800 difference between the standard and prestige per instrument is
difficult to justify.
I'm not knocking the RC Prestige for the sake of it - I can assure you
that my decision was not price based and I was in fact disappointed not
to buy the prestige because I liked the idea of having the top of the
range, but to do so and get an inferior clarinet would be daft. Blind
testing at home of several clarinets from my dealer confirmed the my RC
as better than those RC prestige clarinets that I had borrowed. That
verdict was also the verdict of my teacher who was able to tell (I was
using a different clarinet each week for several weeks) each time I
returned to "my" RC that it was a good one, and having played several
borrowed instruments from the dealer he was dismissive of those Prestige
clarinets that I had.
I think it is probably a good lesson in that it emphasises how important
it is to try several instruments and not judge by name alone, nor to
decide on which clarinet you want from the brochure. It took me about
six weeks to buy my clarinets, time well spent and with the assistance
of a really good dealer (Howarth of London - www.howarth.uk.com - very
highly recommended) and I now have the instruments I want.
Going back to the original posting about the Leblanc, and trading it in
for a Buffet, I would say to whoever it was who originally queried this
that she (as I believe it was) should take care to note that she should
be looking at individual clarinets, not the makers lists, to decide!)
Matthew Lloyd
-----Original Message-----
From: David Naden [mailto:dnaden@-----.org]
Subject: RE: [kl] Trading a Leblanc for a Buffet
Matt--
Wake up! The RC Prestige is an RC, but (supposedly) has better quality
wood, and other refinements not found on (for lack of a better
description)
"stock" instruments. That is not to demean the standard RC or R13, but
there only a limited number of Prestige--R13 or RC bore--are produced.
Obviously you have found standard RC instruments that you prefer.
As far as price, the popularity of the R13 helps keep the price down.
Because Festival, Prestige (RC or R13 bore), etc. are sold in comparably
fewer numbers, the prices tend to be higher. It's the old law of supply
and
demand.
DSN
-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Lloyd
Subject: RE: [kl] Trading a Leblanc for a Buffet
Funny that - in this country prestige and festival (as well as vintage)
are all the same price!
And, even odder, of the various clarinets I tested, the RC was
noticeably better than the prestige! So I decided to save money and get
the better instrument. Funny old world, isn't it?
Matthew
-----Original Message-----
From: David Naden [mailto:dnaden@-----.org]
Subject: RE: [kl] Trading a Leblanc for a Buffet
Matt--
In the United States, the R-13 is more popular than the RC bore Buffets.
However, both the RC and the RC Prestige are used by a fair number of
players. I personally prefer the RC bore, and played on RC Prestige
instruments for over 15 years until they were stolen. However, I
replaced
them with a set of Buffet Festivals (a modified R-13 bore, but the
overall
quality of the Prestige), because I would have spent an additional
$2,200
US. In the end, I was paying for a name, as the Festivals are of
comparable
quality to the Prestige.
David S. Naden, MMus
Cal State University Los Angeles
-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Lloyd [mailto:Matthew@-----.uk]
Subject: [kl] Trading a Leblanc for a Buffet
This thread leads me on to a question that has been on my mind for a
bit.
Most of the list members appear to be in the USA. I'm not - I'm an
Englishman. I have not heard a mention of the RC (Buffet) at all on this
list. Can't be the cost difference between it and the R13 as they are
the
same price, at least over here. So what is the story? What have you lot
got
against it?
I didn't like the R13 as much - it is a little brighter although I have
to
say that I managed to find a real peach with my Bb RC. It just seems a
pity
if you lot over there are ignoring a cracking instrument!
So what is it - is it not imported or is it just that it is deeply
unfashionable?
Matthew Lloyd
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