 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Amy Tindall
Date: 2004-04-07 04:35
What do you think would be a better choice between Buffet or Leblanc? I know that Leblanc has had keywork issues, but has this been fixed? I've heard great things about both... But i'm interested in knowing some negative things to think about when test playing them. Thanks...
Amy E. Tindall
Post Edited (2004-04-09 17:56)
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2004-04-07 07:36
Amy,
I'm a buffet player (buffet crampon RC) thinking about making the switch (Leblanc OpusII)... After trying both brands (Tosca/festival/Opus/concerto) I've to confess that they where both great and yes, leblanc has changed they keywork in a good way (that means good for me..). The sound of the leblanc is that sound that I liked better for myself.....
I think what I try to say is, you will just have to choose witch one you like better…
You should also try Selmer.. they have been working hard for their new great instruments! (It didn't work for me, but there many people very pleased with the selmer signature)
But you will have to play all of the brands to find out witch sound you like better…
Eddy
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-04-07 11:45
I'm a Leblanc Concerto player, switched from Buffet about 6 months ago.
To me, Leblanc have a more 'raw' upper part of the upper register. That is, from G to C, there is much less resistance than on a Buffet, and you may find you have to work harder to sound nice up there. However, I believe it's worth it for the flexibility.
Could just be my particular clarinets, but, the intonation on my Leblanc is, essential, perfect. Perfect in the sense that there aren't really any notes that are very 'off'. My Buffet had plenty of these, although it could have just been the particular one I had.
Some say that, totally, Leblanc is less flexible. I would agree with that statement - a Buffet can produce more 'colours', however, if you're looking for consistency in tone, feel, and intonation, then you'll have to give up the flexibility for it. But it's worth it, and with a little experimentation with reed and mouthpiece, you can achieve your own sort of flexibility. After six months, I am still getting used to my new instrument and it's sounding better all the time.
Try Selmer and Yamaha too!
At the end of the day, YOU have to decide what clarinet YOU play on, not anyone else. Also remember that most of what you play like is you, not your instrument.
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Author: Rick Williams
Date: 2004-04-07 11:52
Amy:
From my understanding when Leblanc came out with the Opus II from the Opus, they changed the pivot mechanism which was a problem area. The same change was made on the Concerto II as well as some changes in key sculpting from the original Concerto. I play an original Concerto Bb and an Opus A and I think the mechanism problem was perhaps a bit over stated.
Before buying I test played a number of instruments including Yamaha, Buffet and Selmer, but liked the Leblanc best. To be honest, unless you are faced with social pressures (i.e. Buffet Mafia etc.), try your best to get to a place where you can test drive a number of clarinets because there is considerable differences between clarinets within the same model, let alone between brands, so there really isn't a blanket "better choice" other than what instrument plays best for you.
Best
Rick
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2004-04-08 00:17
Sorry to be another Leblanc player to respond instead of someone with more of a different perspective, but I am also a Leblanc player.
While I have a Leblanc Concerto II Bb, and therefore play on the new mechanism- I always felt the old key design was still better than that on Buffets. While it needed more adjustments than mechanisms found on comparable instruments, it was always more comfortable for me than Buffet and definetly Selmer.
Sometimes I wish my clarinet had more resistance to help with the upper clarion (especially when I play on my friend's Buffet Vintage and focusing the my tone is no problem up there) but I like the flexibilty of the Concerto II and I accept the compromises I have to make in order to have such a mellow sounding yet still clear "Leblanc" tone with good intonation while playing the easiest to achieve it ever has been for me.
I like that the Selmer Signature is so rich as far as tone goes, but I really do not like the mechanism. It's bulky and uncomfortable. The alternate Eb lever really gets in the way of the left hand B and C#, unlike the Recital's. The all leather pads really annoy the heck out of me after playing a few minutes since bubbles in tone holes are now so easy to form ( or maybe that's just the layout of the toneholes or the particular clarinets I've played). It's unnecessarily heavy- now while I would make that compromise for the Recital, I wouldn't for the Signature. I also feel it doesn't project as well as it could- or at least help you do to so as much as it could.
Make sure you try all of them for yourself like everyone always says, but also try as much different models under one brand as you can to get the full spectrum.
Bradley
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-04-08 00:32
Unless you really NEED a new clarinet very soon, go out and have fun playtesting them. Make notes in a notebook of the makes/models you liked so you can come back to them when you're ready to buy. Make it an adventure of sorts. If you feel you NEED one very soon, then you'll have to speed up the process. But if not, find a dealer with a decent selection, and try them ALL out over a period of a month or so.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-04-08 00:55
Oh, and in that notebook, take down serial numbers. That way, when you go back and you say "I liked the second one I tried" and the salesperson tries to sell you a crappy one they can't get rid of, you'll catch them out. Of course, I doubt this will happen, however, it's happened to me in a very small store once. I ended up buying NOTHING from there!
So yeah, serial numbers are very important.
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2004-04-08 06:43
HEY BUFFET PLAYERS,
IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP AND DEFEND YOUR BRAND!
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-04-08 07:36
i play buffet R13. i've only tried a few leblanc clarinets and they weren't as good as my buffet imho. i chose my clarinet from 10 they at the store but i only tried maybe 2-3 leblancs so i probably never tried a really good leblanc clarinet. the best (calssical) clarinet player in my country (she now lives in germany and had performed as a soloist with pretty much every major orchestra in the world) used to play R13 until a few months ago. i've even talked to her about buying an A clarinet from buffet. just recently i found that she had switched to an eaton clarinet. she says they are the best ones she has ever tried and i know her, she wouldn't just say that unless she really believed it. so you should try eaton (although they are REALLY expensive).
anyway, about buffet, she said to totally ignore the prestige line because they are overpriced. she actually played nickel plated clarinets (both Bb and A).
i'll also say that i didn't like every selmer clarinet i have ever tried. i didn't like the feel (they feel fat for some reason) and i really didn't like the sound (although it does sond like a clarinet).
my conclusion is that you should try at least 10 buffet clarinet, and at least 10 leblanc clarinets, and then choose the best one from those.
Post Edited (2004-04-08 07:52)
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Author: Brandon
Date: 2004-04-08 15:51
HEY BUFFET PLAYERS,
IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP AND DEFEND YOUR BRAND
Please. Nobody should have to defend what they are playing. After a recital or concert, I don't hear too many people walking up and saying, "you know, that would have been so much better if you were playing a different brand of clarinet."
Each individual will have his or her own sound. If I played a LeBlanc, my sound would be about the same. Same if I played a Selmer. I do not hear many professionals walking around with their chests puffed up bragging about their equipment. Professionals try out stuff all the time mind you. But they are not going to switch just for the hell of it. It continually amazes me that that amateur LeBlanc players seem to want Buffet players to justify why they play Buffets. It really doesn't matter. Why is Buffet still most used? Must be a good reason, because if something was that much better, everyone would switch to it. It amazes me that many amateur LeBlanc players seem to think that Buffet players only play Buffets because their teacher makes them play it. Whereas that may be true for some, the people who play it for a living must play it because it is better.
To the original poster: go look under the search function. I am sure there is more information than necessary regarding this topic. I would encourage you also to read a post that was written several years ago by a former poster David Hattner. I may not like his attitude, but he hits the point right on. You will find that post under the topic of Patricola instruments.
To find correct answer, go to the people who give advice alot. Any bartender will tell you, "Why does it matter. Play what you like."
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Author: Brandon
Date: 2004-04-08 17:07
Thats the one. Thanks.
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2004-04-08 19:51
Brandon....
I said:
HEY BUFFET PLAYERS,
IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP AND DEFEND YOUR BRAND
because absence of input from buffet players.
If you did read my previous post then you should have noticed that I recommended to try more brands, and that I’m currently myself a Buffet player. Just say the next time play more brands to find out witch on YOU like more, than you would already have said enough
About the sound, I’ve to disagree. Each brand has it's own sound, sure you can approve it in your way by changing mouthpiece, ligature, reeds, barrels and practice, but some brands are just more like yourself....
By the way…there is nothing wrong with being a very good amateur clarinettist, it keeps the pleasure in Playing and that is just the great part
That’s why I DON’T want to be a pro (my teacher didn’t like that at all, he was already planning my career)
Eddy
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2004-04-08 21:56
The point is that there is a clarinet out there for everyone. Many do not play Buffet because i is better, Brandon- they play it because they're comfortable with the compromises they have to make while performing on a Buffet clarinet. As long as someone can compensate comfortably for a clarinet's shortcomings they should have the same level of playing as if they played another top model from some different brand. I don't believe you'll sound exactly the same on any clarinet you play- that's impossible, but the point is that you can go as far as you want on any reputable brand.
Bradley
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Author: Brandon
Date: 2004-04-09 00:28
Eddy, my partial apologies. I skim about 90% of things, and your first message was one overlooked.
Bradley, give me your Concerto and I bet you a free lesson that the people in the audience could not tell the difference one way or another. It is not like I am making the change to a Wurlitzer. That would be noticiable. But from Prestige to Concerto, no. Now which would I prefer playing? Well that is a different matter.
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2004-04-09 00:38
Lol, Brandon you're probably right with that scenario. Our clarinets are similar, but I bet I could tell if you played both for me while I was blindfolded.
However, I bet the audience could tell the difference between a Selmer Signature and your R13 Prestige.
Bradley
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-04-09 01:45
Quote:
Lol, Brandon you're probably right with that scenario. Our clarinets are similar, but I bet I could tell if you played both for me while I was blindfolded. What I think would happen would be that if you played the same passage to us once using a very good buffet and another with a very good leblanc, you or I might be able to tell that you used two different clarinets due to a difference in sound. But we'd have a hard time saying which one was the better clarinet (since a person's skill is what I believe to be the dominant factor in their 'greatness' or lack there-of) and might settle on different answers (since my concept of a good sound might be what he sounded like on the concerto whereas your concept of a good sound might be more of what he sounded like on the buffet). And this goes to any brands of clarinet. Just my thoughts on how that experiment might go . . .
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: growlingbunny910
Date: 2004-04-09 02:33
Buffet R13 RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Author: Amy Tindall
Date: 2004-04-09 02:39
I sure wish this thread was on the topic i'm trying to cover....
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-04-09 02:47
Amy,
It's on topic as it ever will be, and will be closed shortly, since unfortunately for you there's no real answer.
Both have their advantages and shortcomings, and searching here will reveal something about them, but neither have any fatal flaws. It's equivalent to looking at two fine, accurate watches and trying to figure out which to buy. Neither have anything that can be called real shortcomings, so to speak, but they are different.
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Author: Duane
Date: 2004-04-09 05:11
Neither. The Selmer is the one.
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2004-04-09 06:19
Amy,
I think your from detroit...(---.229.192.216.Dial1.Detroit1.Level3.net) please correct me when I'm wrong....
People let's help and give her some names from large shops in the neighourhood where she could try all the different brands...
(I really would like to tell you one... but I'm from that tiny country cold the Netherlands...If you have enough money tot travel then you can come to Adams a world famous shop by the way)
So let's help....
Eddy
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-04-09 14:40
OpusII wrote:
> People let's help and give her some names from large shops in
> the neighourhood where she could try all the different
> brands...
The neighborhood would have to expand by about 500km ... there are no shop in the Detroit Metro area worth going to for selecting woodwinds. We end up going to Illinois or Indiana to select our instruments ...
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