Klarinet Archive - Posting 000031.txt from 2006/03
From: X-MailScanner-tom.henson@-----.com
Subj: RE: [kl] Updated Buffet Crampon USA Information
Date: Fri, 03 Mar 2006 16:40:44 -0500
Hi Rafi,
I know that you are working with WWBW on your R-13 Bb, but you may want
to keep in mind a place that I bought my R-13 A from. I deal with Carl
Marks of Marks Music in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. Carl is the third
generation to run the store and they have very good luck getting only
the best, hand selected Buffets to sell in their store. Carl told me
that all of the Buffets that they get are hand selected at the warehouse
and I have to believe that this can and does make a difference. Of
course, set up is very important also. Carl goes over all the clarinets
before he ships them out to make sure they are working perfectly. He
told me that this is a tradition and philosophy that was started by his
grandfather, and then his father. Check out their history on the
website. Even today, they sell Buffets all over the world to
professionals, teachers, and their students because of this.
One must keep in mind that the lowly R-13 is the bread and butter of
Buffet and as such, the most mass produced, besides their student
models. While the overall quality is high, some clarinets just are made
better than others. Using computer controlled machinery has certainly
helped to produce a more consistent product quality wise, but there is
still some hand finishing. Then there is also the wood. Some wood is
just better than others and machines better. That is why everyone on
this list will recommend trying as many clarinets, and as many brands as
possible. R-13 to R-13 will vary, sound wise and quality wise. However,
it is still possible to get a very good R-13 is you are picky and know
where to go. Also keep in mind to try and budget a little money to have
the clarinet professionally set up by someone you trust. R-13's can
still be brought up to a very high level of playing in the right hands.
As a matter of fact, Buffet just drop shipped me a new R-13 Bb that
Francois Kloc (director of Buffet USA) picked out for me at the main
warehouse. Carl made the arrangements to have this done and I just got
it in today. The A clarinet that Carl sold me had also been hand
selected by Francois from the warehouse and then hand selected again by
John Weigand who frequents his store and grades many of Carl's clarinets
for his students and fellow professionals. The A clarinet is, so far,
the best R-13 A I have played on. It plays every bit as good as any Bb I
have owned.
I have nothing but good things to say about dealing with Carl Marks.
Their price for my Bb was within $50 of WWBW, but I got very personal
service, a truly hand picked clarinet, and a dealer whose owner plays
clarinet and has three generations of knowledge repairing Buffets and
dealing directly with them. They have a very good relationship with
Buffet going all the way back to when Daniel Bonade was a close friend
and teacher of Carl's father. Carl told me that he grew up eating Sunday
lunch at the house of Robert Marcellus and hanging out with many of the
leading clarinetist of the time back in the 60's.
Here is their website and good luck on # 3:
http://www.marksmusicstore.com
Tom Henson
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