 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kilo
Date: 2024-02-18 16:26
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o4jFHQxsPQ
This looks (and sounds) pretty sweet. I'll let Michael do the review since I haven't played this new bass. It won't be available until summer and, since I already own a Max and it's rather late in the afternoon of my playing career, I probably won't be ordering a new Backun. But this instrument could really be a game changer. It's interesting that Backun priced this synthetic bass significantly less than their wooden models. I don't think it's a composite material like the Max and Buffet Greenline but I don't know what kind of plastic it is. Nor do I know if it's machined or molded. But it still makes me question why Buffet prices their Greenline and wooden basses the same. Anyway, it's a great time to be a bass clarinet player in search of a new low C instrument!
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Author: ghoulcaster
Date: 2024-02-18 17:47
Would like to see some pics of the low Eb model, it doesn’t seem like there are any anywhere yet.
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Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2024-02-18 20:02
These newer designs from backun certainly have me questioning the value of the buffet 1180 and leblanc model 60 basses.
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2024-02-20 17:25
Wow !! Amazing video and very informative. On the blind test, my first reaction ranked them 2, 3, 4, 1! I was very surprised. Too bad there wasn't a Selmer or Leblanc in the test group, that would have been interesting...
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Author: LostConn
Date: 2024-02-21 23:05
kilo wrote:
> It's interesting that Backun priced
> this synthetic bass significantly less than their wooden
> models. I don't think it's a composite material like the Max
> and Buffet Greenline but I don't know what kind of plastic it
> is. Nor do I know if it's machined or molded. But it still
> makes me question why Buffet prices their Greenline and wooden
> basses the same.
First, it should be noted that to extent a price differential reflects the actual difference in the cost of raw materials, or the difference in the costs of working with one material vs. another, then such a price differential will be much greater on a bass clarinet. There's simply a lot more raw material involved. This may apply to the Alpha.
As to Buffet, however, I think it's clear that marketing strategy is dictating prices. (This has been discussed here before, I am sure.) The Alpha is explicitly designated as Backun's entry-level line for both soprano and now bass clarinets. That's why it's a synthetic horn in the first place. But the Buffet Greenline series is not a set of student instruments, but rather a set of more durable, less crack-prone professional instruments. That's how Buffet promotes it. Given that marketing, any price differential between the wooden and Greenline horns of the same model probably would backfire. "Oh, the Greenline R13 is $500 less than the standard R13? It must not be as good as the wooden model. Forget Greenline -- I don't want an inferior horn. Wait, you say the Greenline IS just as good? Then why should I pay extra for grenadilla?! I don't want Buffet to rip me off." The debate would get awkward in any direction, so I imagine Buffet decided that the safest course would be identical pricing. Then they can simply explain that the price primarily reflects the degree of care that goes into the manufacturing and finishing processes, etc., etc.
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Author: kilo
Date: 2024-02-21 23:54
That makes sense, LostConn. I might have stated it differently – "why is Backun selling it for so much less than their wooden models?" 
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