 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: samacro
Date: 2003-08-09 18:44
Anyone have any opinions on the similarities/differences between the R-13 and the R-13 Prestige? Performance value of each horn?
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Author: larryb
Date: 2003-08-09 21:29
I'm told by a very high authority - a Buffet insider so-to-speak - that there's really no difference.
Get yourself a good nickel plated R13 and quality mouthpiece, practice hard, and you have the potential to be another Drucker, Marcellus or Morales.
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Author: wyatt
Date: 2003-08-09 21:49
differant coating on the keys and a low Eb key.2
bob gardner}ÜJ
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Author: William
Date: 2003-08-09 22:54
Alternate Eb/Ab LH key on the Prestige, the only real difference I have noticed.
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Author: rbell96
Date: 2003-08-10 07:57
I tried some R-13's and some R-13 Prestige's and bought the R-13! They seem to play better.
Rob
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Author: Phat Cat
Date: 2003-08-10 12:23
The difference in price between the standard and Prestige R-13 Bb model amounts to approximately $3000 retail, $700 discounted, and $300 for a late model used horn on ebay. Clearly Buffet's marketing department and knowledgeable clarinet purchasers value the model distinctions differently.
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2003-08-10 20:25
1)The Prestige is selected from "better" wood(whatever that means), which is unstained
2)Metal Rings on the joints (which are said to reduce cracking)
3)Has the left hand Ab/Eb key
4)Has Gore-Tex Pads
These are the only differences I can find (got that info from www.wwbw.com)
disclaimer - I'm no expert on clarinets (though I play a mean one! heehee), so feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken
1) From what I've heard/read/been told, the "quality" of the wood isn't really that big of a factor in how a clarinet plays, but the bore, tone holes, etc are more important in determining the acoustic properties of a clarinet
2) I've never had a clarinet with metal rings on the joints, so I can't speak from personal experiences, but if they actually DO reduce cracking (without sacrificing vibration, tone, etc) then this could be a plus
3) The Ab/Eb can be nice if you are specifically looking for that feature. However, I know many people who dislike the extra key (I being one of them. It just gets in the way and I don't need it enough to make it worth while). So if you really want the left Ab/Eb then good. If you don't really care, then it'll probably just get in the way and you'll end up taking it off, so this feature can be a pro or a con, depending on how you look at it.
4) Gore-Tex pads. I don't know too much about pads or how they effect sound, but I would ASSUME that the material a pad is made of speaks more to it's durability, not it's acoustic qualities. I've played clarinets with the "normal" double skin pads, leather pads, and once a weird kind of black pads i was told her "valentino" brand... they all played pretty much the same. Even if you are looking for a high quality pad, you could probably buy the regular R-13 and get it repadded for much less than the extra 1000 it would cost you to upgrade to the prestige.
Okay, that's my speech (and as I said, anyone reading this feel free to correct me). That being said, try them both out and see which one you like best. If you are on a budget (as most people are) I would get the R-13 and get it "worked on" or "repadded" if you want better pads, or whatever. If money is no object, then just get the one that you like the best, regardless of what model it is.
Don Hite
theclarinetist@yahoo.com
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Author: Henry
Date: 2003-08-10 20:31
I can't believe that the regular R13 has non-metal (plastic?) rings on the joints, as implied here. But I may be wrong, since I don't own one.
Henry
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2003-08-10 22:43
On my R-13 the joints are wood. Just to clear up any possible confusion, the metal ring I'm referring to is on the very end of the joint next to the cork (perhaps you are thinking about the rings on the barrel, bell, top of lower joint etc... which are metal on the R-13 as well).
Specifically, the www.wwbw.com says "The upper and lower joing tenons come with metal rings which reduce the risk of cracks".
Hope this clears up any confusion and poorly chosen wording on my part! = )
Don Hite - theclarientist@yahoo.com
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