 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Michael
Date: 2003-02-04 21:50
Well, my 1971 R13 is finally "played out" (5 cracks, play in the rods, ...) and I'm going to replace it with another Buffet. Money is no object (I've got a day gig). But I live in a rural area and don't have a local music store where I can go and play all the different models.
What I want is something to last another 30 years (or maybe 40), the beautiful sweet Buffet sound, spot-on intonation, and low maintenance. Which should I go for and why:
R13, Vintage R13, RC, Festival, Prestige R13, Prestige RC, Elite, or one of the Greenlines?
Thanks in advance for your help,
- Michael
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2003-02-04 22:22
If you liked your R13 then I recommend an R13 greenline, if you can find one. They play just as well as a wooden instrument and won't crack on you. My favorite buffet instrument today is the prestige RC greenline. But they are pretty much impossible to find in North America. Although you can probably find a wooden one.
As far as spot-on intonation is concerned, no model is better than another. The RC and festival have the register tube higher to improve the 12th but you have to deal with a stuffier throat notes. You have to try a few instrument before you get one that is in tune.
If you really have money and want a very nice buffet horn then check
http://www.intlmusicalsuppliers.com/
They have a special Greg Smith offer. You get a hand selected clarinet , which is then adjusted by the legendary brannen shop. I even think it comes with a G. Smith mouthpieceand a Chadash barrel. It's probably very expensive but also probably worth the price. I would be curious to know if anyone on the board ever used this service.
Alright enjoy the new horn and good clarineting,
-Sylvain
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Author: CPW
Date: 2003-02-05 00:23
I concur re IMS....they (Lisa)took a careful notation of what I was looking for in an R13 A-clar and sent trial instruments they selected. I was looking for an A-clar...impossible to find where I live. I found a nice one from them and kept it. Their prices were on target, too.
I will have my own fav. technician tweak it with cork pads and some adjustments, but that's my preference.
By the way...have you noticed that maybe 20 years ago, the center of the off-the-racks instrument world (in the USA anyway) was the East Coast, and now it seems to have shifted to the mid-west? Just an observation...
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Author: jez
Date: 2003-02-05 11:37
I've recently tried all the Buffet models together and found I preferred the Vintage to all the others, especially the A.
If you're looking to replace a 1971 instrument it may be nearest to what you're used to.
jez
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Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2003-02-05 11:59
Condider speaking with Phil Muncy at Muncy Winds Music Co, 1-80-333-6415 or muncywinds.com . He is a pro clarinetist who plays a custom Buffet. He also makes his own mouthpieces and barrels. Muncy Winds sells Buffets, as does Int'l Music Suppliers. Call for their catalog. I purchased my oboe from Muncy, and many college teachers use Muncy Winds. There is also Woodwind-Brasswind, and you can find them on the internet. I think that it's woodwind-brasswind.com. I've also dealt with them. Since your current R-13 has 5 cracks, you may want to consider the Greenline...no more cracks!
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Author: Michael Geilich
Date: 2003-02-05 13:21
Geez, I don't know about those Greenlines. I've got a feeling that the solid Grenadilla bodies will hold value better than the Greenline composite, especially once Grenadilla gets scarcer. I've read the advertising about "no cracks" with the Greenlines, and I like that, but has anyone actually played on one? Do they have the same sweet Buffet sound?
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2003-02-05 14:02
I had Lisa Argiris at IMS select a new Buffet R-13 Greenline for me last year and it was wonderful. It had a beautiful tone, exactly like my wood model. When I had to sell some of my instruments to help take care of my elderly parents, the Greenline sold for a higher price than I could sell my wood ones. There are less of them available. Most people love them.
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2003-02-05 14:19
I own a greenline. I love it.
Nobody ever said anything about my sound until they actually saw the GL sign...
Many pros in France are playing Greenline Festivals and RCs.
-S
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Author: James
Date: 2003-02-05 18:10
The R13 works? Why change it? It seems that most of the pro's will try these and then they eventually go back to the R13. Don't shoot me but it is kind of a holy grail of buffets. Go for an R13.
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Author: nzdonald
Date: 2003-02-05 19:11
i've got a "carefully chosen" R13 Bflat with some custom work done on it, and the other day i tried the R13 Greenline that the 2nd clarinet (at a freelance gig) uses- y'know it was really quite good, i was very impressed- compared to my R13 it really was no better or worse (just a little different- but so are any two clarinets, even if they claim to be the same brand/model etc).... i have always "cautiously thought these were a good idea" but not really considered buying one.
now, i would definately consider getting one
donal
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Author: nzdonald
Date: 2003-02-05 19:12
i've got a "carefully chosen" R13 Bflat with some custom work done on it, and the other day i tried the R13 Greenline that the 2nd clarinet (at a freelance gig) uses- y'know it was really quite good, i was very impressed- compared to my R13 it really was no better or worse (just a little different- but so are any two clarinets, even if they claim to be the same brand/model etc).... i have always "cautiously thought these were a good idea" but not really considered buying one.
now, i would definately consider getting one
dona
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Author: Michael
Date: 2003-02-06 13:36
One reason why I'm considering the newer models is the extra keys. I think especially having a LH Eb key would make a lot of things easier (once I retrained my fingers to use it).
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2003-02-06 14:23
Having owned several R-13s, an R-13 greenline, a Prestige and several Festivals, I've gone back to the R-13. Just like James said, we seem to go back to it because it's a standard sound and a reliable instrument. The extra key is nice, but I found it didn't get used much and didn't make the difference I thought it would make.
When I had the greenline, I used a wood Greg Smith mouthpiece and a wood Chadash barrel. That really made for an excellent combination.
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