 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Fred
Date: 2003-04-17 01:26
I've been reading the Opus vs. R13 thread. I wanted to interject a question that wouldn't get buried in that discussion.
Assuming it was your intention to buy some professional-level clarinet and immediately send it to Brannens for reworking:
1. Is it now less important to play test a great number of R13's, Opi, etc?
2. Would that process affect the decision between brands?
My thoughts would be that the Brannen's can greatly improve any clarinet, but that a pick of the litter would still be preferable to an off the shelf model. I would also assume (sorry, Coach) that keywork preferences between brands are forever, and that tonal differences would still be apparent but less pronounces when each instrument is voiced as well as possible.
Anyone have any thoughts or experience with this?
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2003-04-17 01:36
Interesting concept. But can the Brannens get rid of an R13 A's nasty undertones in the upper register?
I choose Opus.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-04-17 02:03
Morrigan wrote:
> But can the Brannens get rid of an R13 A's
> nasty undertones in the upper register?
Yes.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-04-17 02:28
I'd assume the same you did. Pick the best you can, and then send it for tweaking. What if you picked one at random, and there was ONE note that just couldn't be tuned perfectly and then every time you play that note, you have to add some funky fingering/resonance/venting stuff? Get as close to perfect as you can, then make it perfect I say.
As far as the decision between brands, while I think it may not be that much more important to get that extra "tone" seeing as a new barrel or mouthpiece can severely affect that, I'd search for one that just played more even, had good dynamic flexibility (my clarinet becomes VERY unstable at louder dynamics), was comfortable, and had a good overall "feel" to it.
Of course if you could get it all, you want good tone too, but if it's going to be customized, barrel and all, that will be affected anyway. That's my thoughts.
Alexi
PS - What is this "brannenizing"? It seems to be big and I've never heard of it until the last post I read (opus vs R-13).
Add-on question:
If this customizing is so good, would it even be worth spending the extra money on a Buffet Festival or higher level or would you think that a "brannenized" R-13 would generally surpass a festival or other higher level clarinet that you found in a store? If so, it's a great way to save money.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: msroboto
Date: 2003-04-17 02:37
Brannenizing is the term generally applied here to describe the work of Linda and Bill Brannen. http://www.brannenwoodwinds.com/ they are sponsors too. They are not magicians but great artisans.
Also, remember the Festival has the extra Eb / Ab key...I have heard that some people find there are more differences that just the extra key.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2003-04-17 02:46
Here's another twist-ed idea . . .
Rather than buy a new clarinet and have them replace brand new pads, would anything be lost buying a used one for $500-700 less that was ready for some attention anyway? I know you wouldn't want one that had been abused, but a little age might just be the best insurance against cracks apart from a new instrument warranty.
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2003-04-17 03:14
As a long time customer of the Brannens, I can assure you they are some of the best at what they do. They can make any horn play better. I think it is interesting to note their recommendation for the best horns--for sound quality and especially keywork. Anyone who has met them knows immediately how they feel. Buffet makes the very best instruments, and they tolerate working on a few other brands including Leblancs with their miraculous A clarinet high registers sans "nasty undertones". I once took a Selmer 10-G to them and Linda told me it would be a waste of money to overhaul it and (I'm not kidding) leave it in the front seat of my car in full view and hope it gets stolen!!(It was an ok horn with a few cracks-I'm not sure if they hate all selmers)
As far as Morrigan's concern about the "nasty undertones" he gets on the Buffet A clarinet--maybe his problem is a result of a bad horn or mouthpiece. I have never had undertones on any clarinet that were not the result of my reed or just my own inexperience.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-04-17 04:35
This world is filled with buffet nazis. I remember calling up a local music shopt to inquire about pro level clarinets. He said, "Sure. We have a few R-13s in stock." I said back to him, "I was also thinking about some other models like a Leblanc Concerto or maybe another pro level from a different maker." He gave me about a ten minute lecture over the phone about how all other clarinets are not nearly as good as buffets, how buffet is number one played worldwide and that they are the best you can get, and in the end, specified that when I came over, he'll have plenty of Buffets ready to play. He didn't (or at least he pretended not to) carry anything else but buffets. Unless it was a student model.
Hard to get around them, but I guess everyone's a fanatic about something.
At least that's good info on Brannen. Thank you cause I wasn't sure what that company was about. Now I know that if I want a clarinet brannenized, I know what brand I need to get!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Clarence
Date: 2003-04-17 13:57
I have been shopping for a new pro Bb clarinet and have been disapointed with the R-13s. Mostly pad issues. I would have to replace the pads with cork pads.
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Author: Donn
Date: 2003-04-17 14:36
It sure seems to me that manufacturers could set up a quality control system that would obviate the necessity of tweaking a brand-new instrument. The same could also be said for reed makers. Why doesn't the old saying "You get what you pay for" apply to musical instruments?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-04-17 14:43
Donn wrote:
> It sure seems to me that manufacturers could set up a quality
> control system that would obviate the necessity of tweaking a
> brand-new instrument. The same could also be said for reed
> makers. Why doesn't the old saying "You get what you pay for"
> apply to musical instruments?
Because the ROI doesn't support it:
1) Clarinets are cheap
2) There are services available to "tweak" a clarinet - let's say $200 labor costs (for the sake of argument)
3) If the manufacturer performs this service they will raise prices by $200 (about 10%)
4) The tweaking won't satisfy everyone
5) People will complain that they spent the additional $200 for nothing
If you want a "pre-tweaked" clarinet then you can buy one through IMS or a couple of other places.
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2003-04-18 01:34
Sfalexi,
The Brannens are not Buffet Nazis; they simply have a prefefence for the buffet and maybe a disdain for some other makes. They serviced my Leblancs well for the time that I played them. Their main complaint with the Leblanc was the quality of the keywork. I think anyone who plays a Leblanc will say that it does go out of adjustment quicker than a Buffet. Maybe Buffets are easier to repair and customize than other clarinets from a repairer's point of view? I think to characterize the Brannens as emptyheaded devotees of the Buffet religion is wrong and was certainly not my intention.
I think you could use them with confidence with any standard clarinet. Also keep in mind that to maintain such a high reputation they simply cannot work on just any clarinet with problems. It is highly possible that Linda saw in the Selmer that I brought to her something that I did not. The Brannens prefer to overhaul new clarinets and will not simply clean up after repair done by an inferior repair tech. More than once I have witnessed the poor soul who simply comes into the shop to get just a couple of pads replaced. Most of the time they do it right from the beginning or they simply do not do it.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-04-18 01:49
Right on, Fred!
There may be bargains to be had with this approach, going directly to 'B' stock or ordering from some of the Dutch shops that offer real discounts.
The markup of European instruments in the USA has long been a point of irritation for me. Other than the warranty (which often requires a return to the factory of origin!) the domestic distribution adds tremendous cost.
When I bought my Opus (and I would do it again), I saved $1600 USD over the best price I could get in the USA, including import duty and shipping.
One caution - as with mouthpiece tweaking, hand-tuning will make a good horn better but may not be enough to rescue a poor performer.
I would say that a seasoned tech, even a local one, given sufficient time (and your money) will be able to adjust a given horn to higher standards.
The real question is; how much time will it take?
My Leblanc tuned within 5 cents on any given note and has little spread between 12ths - good enough to be the horn of my dreams, as it is!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-04-18 03:31
I was just joking about being Buffet nazis. Someone also pointed out that on their website (which I didn't fully explore) that they work on the big four. So no worries about that. BTW, I tried out a few R-13's today. But I wasn't impressed at all. None surpassed my E-13 yet. Trying out some other clarinets tomorrow.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-04-19 11:38
Specializing in just one make of horn is just more efficient. Specializing in the Buffet means steady work.
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