Klarinet Archive - Posting 000018.txt from 2003/04

From: CBA <clarinet10001@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Trading a Leblanc for a Buffet
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2003 04:43:00 -0500

The Prestige has a few differences.

1. The wood (in the BODY, not the bell) is supposed to be aged
longer, and cut from a more center part of the tree, for more
stability. I have found that Prestige models are heavier than
non-Prestige models in Buffet, thus indirectly supporting the
possibility of the denser wood. The bell is NEVER cut from a
prime piece of wood, because the bell is expendable more so than
the body, and would not sustain the cracking tendencies of the
body as much.

2. The alternate Eb/Ab key is something I use A LOT, so maybe it
isn't a draw for you, but it is a must for me.

3. The metal tenon rings have been backed as a crack prevention
method by some and as something that promotes cracks by others.
Nevertheless, it is a feature on the Prestige that is NOT on the
regular models.

4. The Prestige only comes with silver plated keys, in contrast
to the regular models that have nickel keys with an option of
silver keys.

5. The Prestige model supposedly goes through a more rigorous
pre-shipment testing process, which I guess cannot be really
verified outside of the Buffet plant.

6. RC models ALL have the conical cut out in the bell, per the
new www.musicgroup.com website for Buffet, and ALL of the R13
models DO NOT. The conical egg shaped cut out in the bell is NOT
a Prestige specific item for the RC anymore, and was NEVER one
for the R13.

Here is my beef about the current Prestige models...

1. If you buy an Eb Prestige, it DOES NOT have the alternate
Ab/Eb key.

2. If you buy a Prestige "Greenline" model, it is NOT cut from
better wood, nor does it have the metal tenon rings.

3. If you buy a wood Eb Prestige, it doesn't have the metal
tenon rings in the middle, since they only make a single piece
body now.

4. ALL RC clarinets from Buffet come with silver plated keys, so
the Prestige Eb doesn't ADD a feature with the silver keys.

5. If you buy an Eb Prestige Greenline model, the difference in
the Prestige from a non-Prestige Greenline Eb is what? The
supposed care after they are made before being shipped. That's a
LOT for $800 US difference (on average,) don't you think?

6. If you buy an RC Greenline Bb/A, you don't get the tenon
rings, nor the better wood, and already have the silver keys,
since all RCs have silver keys.

The Prestige has had in the past a LOT of things going for it,
above and beyond the regular models. I don't think there is
enough to warrant the difference in price anymore. (I do own an
older Prestige Bb and have purchased a Bb/A set of Prestige (RC)
instruments in 2000, which I sold when I bought my current
custom instruments from Guy Chadash.) I would not personally
spend the extra money for a Prestige anymore, especially if I
was looking at Greenlines, R13s, Eb soprano instruments, or any
combination of the three...and by your admission, you didn't
want the alternate Ab/Eb key anyway.

My $0.02

Kelly Abraham
Woodwinds - New York City
--- Matthew Lloyd <Matthew@-----.uk> wrote:
> 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.
<<SNIP>>

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