 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ruben
Date: 2024-06-19 23:32
Buffet-thirty or so years later-has come out with a new model of their Festival. They say they've kept the same bore, lengthened the bottom body in order to improve intonation on a couple of notes and shortened the bell. The vent tube-register keyhole-is also slightly protuberant now. I've never played Buffet on a regular basis, but I like the Festival, which I find very open and flexible.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: donald
Date: 2024-06-20 10:24
My favourite Buffet too. I recall Mr deKant telling me in 1998 that he thought the Festival A was better than the Festival Bb, but sadly I've never managed to own a REALLY GOOD Festival A clarinet. Frank Celata has let me play his a couple of times, and it's beautiful so I know they exist!
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Author: ruben
Date: 2024-06-20 16:45
Nicolas Baldeyrou-a Buffet tester and great clarinetist-plays Festival A made of ebony; B-flat is Greenline. I find the Festival more open and flexible than the RC and R13. Does it have a slightly larger bore?
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: m1964
Date: 2024-06-22 00:20
I found no difference in resistance or response between Festival and RC Prestige A clarinets. The RC Prestige, however, did have more pleasant and rich tone so I sold the Festival. My choice of the model was confirmed by a very well known professional.
Not sure if it was an objective comparison. I chose my RC Prestige from two different instruments but the Festival I bought with no choice because the store had only one piece.
I do not think it is possible to make a fair comparison using one or two samples of each model. Maybe, go to a Buffet showroom where it (probably) would be possible to choose one out of 4-5 clarinets of each model, then compare them.
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2024-06-22 14:02
I still find the Festival one of the best sounding clarinets from Buffet. The dark focused and rich sound with an excellent projection. In particular the Bb. I was not very lucky with the A that feeled stuffy and limiting to me.
But I never liked the way how Buffet tuned the Festival: right hand clarion notes c-d-e too high, upper left hand clarion too low and a low altissimo. They say the Festival was optimized for using the B40 mouthpiece. That could make sense.
So I am actually very interested in the new Festival. @Ruben, I don't see it on the Buffet Crampon website. How can you distinguish the new from the old Festival?
Jeroen
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Author: ruben
Date: 2024-06-22 15:19
Jeroen: I chanced upon a youtube video in which Nicolas Baldeyrou discusses the difference between the new and old Festival. He precisely discusses the right -hand clarion tones that were out of tune and how they have solved this problem by making the lower joint longer and shortening the bell. I suppose he is the tester. At least he actually uses the instruments he plugs, which is not the case with all testers!
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: m1964
Date: 2024-06-25 19:47
Hi Ruben,
Is this the YT video you watched?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we1xJQjx89w
Regarding the long (clarion) C, C#, D and Eb: I was able to improve the tuning of this notes on a regular R13 (s/n 440xxx) by decreasing the opening height of the Eb, F/C and E/B keys. You need to be careful not to make the above notes sound dull/stuffy. The keys opening height depends on what pad was used- the cup with non-shouldered pad can open a little less comparing to the cap with a shouldered pad.
Of course, the low F, F# and G will also be affected.
Another way would be to place some tape or nail polish on the insides of the corresponding tone holes.
If anyone has another method I'd like to know.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2024-06-30 17:02
Jeroen, As far as I know, Jacques Lancelot was the tester for the Buffet Festival and he used Vandoren 5RV, not B40. He had that very bright sound of French clarinetists of his era (Cahuzac was the exception).
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: donald
Date: 2024-06-30 18:12
I have played a Festival Bb as my primary instrument since 2008, the intonation has been greatly improved by using a 1mm tuning ring at the middle joint.
Some years back I owned a Festival A clarinet that had been tuned by Chadash (it came to me via a well known US Principal clarinettist). He had fitted it with a longer barrel, then shortened the lower joint slightly and opened up toneholes to bring it up to pitch. It played pretty well in tune, but for some reason I sold it. I can't remember why, I think it ranks as one of the stupidest things I've done (though, selling the Moennig adjusted R13 probably WAS dumber!).
[edit, the tuning ring at the middle joint is 2mm not 1mm]
Post Edited (2024-07-01 14:00)
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Author: paulyb
Date: 2024-07-13 13:06
It's interesting that they have extended the bottom joint even more - this interview with current and former Buffet staff (in French but easily translatable via Google) mentions that the original Festival design involved extending the bottom joint of the R13:
https://rp-archivesmusiquefacteurs.blogspot.com/2015/03/2eme-partie-les-clarinettes-actuelles.html
It also mentions that the Festival testers were Jacques Lancelot, Michel Arrignon and Guy Deplus who have / had quite varying styles (though it doesn't mention which, if any, had the most input). The involvement of Deplus may be where the B40 theory comes from - I have heard that he was involved in the design of the B40.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2024-07-26 18:29
Paul lyb: Lancelot, Arrignon and Guy Deplus were the testers of the Festival. Ironically, none fof them actually used this model. They all played RC/ RC Préstige.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: paulyb
Date: 2024-07-26 19:31
It seems extremely common for testers / collaborators / endorsers not to use the equipment that they helped bring into being / promote. One should make up one's own mind rather than take somebody else's word for it!
I think Arrignon played the Elite as well,at least for a short time.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2024-07-26 22:29
Arrignon was the sole tester of the Elite and gave up playing it after a few months because he found that it was hopelessly out of tune!
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: m1964
Date: 2024-07-27 22:03
I find that I prefer my Bb RC Prestige to the Festival. Richer sound/tone, more resonant.
However, my comparison is not fair: I chose the RC Prestige from four new clarinets; the Festival came from eBay and seems to have been played a lot- no paint on both barrel and upper joint logos...
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Author: m1964
Date: 2024-07-29 23:38
Now, after the new model is introduced, I recommend to all the clarinetists with their old bad Festivals to get rid of them (sell to me) and upgrade to the new model.
I do not think it is possible to play those old poorly tuned Festivals, esp. knowing that there is a new model that surely fixes the tuning and all other problems!
Post Edited (2024-07-30 05:40)
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Author: m1964
Date: 2024-08-12 07:16
Had a chance to try the new Festival- nice 'big' sound, the tuning seemed fine to my ears. I did not check with a tuner but it appears that Buffet did fix the sharp long C,D and E on this new model.
Do I still think that all the Festival owners need to upgrade theirs to this new model? No, I don't. Surely, it tunes better.
However, how critical is it to have an instrument that tunes perfectly?
For the majority of the players it's probably not critical-I am thinking of school and college students, amateur players and such.
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Author: babygrass
Date: 2024-11-29 06:29
The new Buffet Festival clarinet impresses with its "big" sound and improved tuning, resolving issues with sharp long C, D, and E. However, upgrading from the original Festival isn't essential for everyone. While better tuning benefits advanced players in ensemble settings, it’s less critical for students or amateurs prioritizing affordability and playability. The original Festival remains an excellent choice, and the upgrade’s value depends on individual needs and the pursuit of precision.
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinetbasketball stars/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=512125&t=512125
Post Edited (2024-12-02 12:09)
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Author: JoeRomano
Date: 2024-11-29 09:33
I'm curious when the "new" festival came out. Buffet doesn't seem to distinguish the two on the site, so would want to know (maybe based on serial number) or something.
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Author: donald
Date: 2024-11-29 12:05
"Do I still think that all the Festival owners need to upgrade theirs to this new model? No, I don't. Surely, it tunes better.
However, how critical is it to have an instrument that tunes perfectly?"
hmmmm
Well, the only "stand out problem" with the Festival tuning is the sharp bottom joint, and that is easily fixed by a 1mm tuning ring at the middle joint, and the uppermost tone hole (from which middle C and top space G will emit) given lots of venting and if necessary slightly enlarged on the top side of the hole (to prevent this note from being flat).
Nice that they finally fixed that problem, but the DIY solution wasn't exactly rocket science.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2024-11-29 17:34
And another Buffet to add to their already overbloated lineup.
How many pro level clarinets have they got now? I reckon it's knocking on twenty.
Bloody ridiculous. Why don't they just streamline their collection to give other makers a look in instead of unashamedly hogging the entire market? That way they can at least focus on quality over quantity as quality definitely isn't Buffet's best feature.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2024-11-29 22:52
I don't see anything wrong with taking an old, excellent model and refining it a bit. As long as you don't try to pass it off as radically different or something new (That's just the problem: this is what Buffet often does.)
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2024-12-01 08:44
>> How many pro level clarinets have they got now? I reckon it's knocking on twenty. <<
Eleven.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2024-12-02 16:36
1 - Gala
2 - R13
3 - RC
4 - Festival
5 - R13 Prestige
6 - RC Prestige
7 - Tradition
8 - Tosca
9 - Legend
10 - Divine
11 - BC XXI
Still a ridiculous amount of clarinets for just the one maker to offer and that's not including the various different body materials.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: graham
Date: 2024-12-02 23:50
Are they managing to sell many BC XXIs? When they went radical with the Elite (ages ago admittedly) it tanked.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2024-12-03 00:18
They probably give them to their endorsees to promote both their flagship model and their brand.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2024-12-03 13:24
Don't know any sales figures for the XXI's, but since they recently introduced also an A besides the original Bb, I suppose they are selling at least a few?
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Author: JTJC
Date: 2024-12-03 14:21
The XXI had a huge launch with lots of top players. There was a video at the time. Even the Buffet staff were drawn in playing the thing. I don't see how they couldn't produce an A model as its a professional model.
BTW, I remember at the time of the XXIs launch video, I didn't recall seeing any UK players there. Did anyone else spot any?
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2024-12-04 01:36
Chris P wrote:
> They probably give them to their endorsees to promote both
> their flagship model and their brand.
>
With Michael Lowenstern's recent YouTube video, I'm not convinced that instrument makers GIVE away instruments. A nice discount, yes, but not an outright gift.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzJIxZJKyPk
Getting back into playing after 20 years.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Vandoren M15 Profile 88 (non-13) mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren blue-box #3.5 reeds
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Author: ruben
Date: 2024-12-04 10:13
David: They do give a few away, but only to the very big names. They've never given me one. ha ha
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2024-12-04 11:56
With every single corner Buffet cut when making and finishing their clarinets, they can easily afford to give their clarinets to their top endorsees.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: donald
Date: 2024-12-04 16:01
My wife is a Buffet artist, and they sure aren't giving her a new clarinet- she's had (as her "modern" clarinets) the same pair of Buffets for about 30 years now, and they're lovely instruments. At the moment she's working on some pieces using historic instruments and it just turns out a couple of them are Buffet- an 1850s Buffet and 1920s Buffet both of which sound GREAT (the latter one was played/owned by Philipp Dreisbach if that means anything to you).
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