 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kevin L. Oviatt
Date: 1999-11-15 13:05
Which is the best model to use as a spare for expensive wooden Buffet,thinkin about Buffet B12,it seems to play better then a Selmer,The German Origin of the Buffet leads me to believe there might be an equally good U.S. Made Brand.
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Author: Lucy
Date: 1999-11-15 13:37
To be honest, I don't think you should be looking for a cheap spare unless totally necessary, you won't enjoy playing it if you are used to an expensive wooden model. If anything find an inexpensive second hand wooden one to keep as a spare.
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-11-15 14:13
Find the plastic horn that has the key design that you are used to, so you can switch back and forth with minimal fuss. For instance, if you are used to the feel and placement of the "Jump Keys" on student and intermediate LeBlanc clarinets, stick with that brand. If you are used to Buffet's key design, stick with that brand.
I believe that saving a good pro grade wood horn for indoor work is a great idea. Getting a plastic horn supercharged so it can perform as close to a pro grade horn's performance as possible sounds like a smart way to go, IMHO.
Good luck with your search.
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Author: William
Date: 1999-11-15 16:07
The only situation that I use a "replacement" clarinet is when I march with my old college alumni band. I have a great metal Noblet that defies destruction and plays pretty good (Larry Combs #3 and synthetic reed). For all other concert occassions, inside and out, I find that my "expensive" clarinets withstand the adverse elements just fine as long as I take proper care of them once the event has concluded (swabbing, etc.). These R-13s, Yamahas, LeBlancs and Selmers are more durable than we think and should be used for more "outside" events. Perhaps more "concerts in the parks" would sound more in tune as a result. Just my opinion.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 1999-11-15 17:05
Kevin L. Oviatt wrote:
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Which is the best model to use as a spare for expensive wooden Buffet,thinkin about Buffet B12,it seems to play better then a Selmer,The German Origin of the Buffet leads me to believe there might be an equally good U.S. Made Brand.
Kevin -
The Buffet B-12 is made in Germany, to Buffet's specifications. I don't think there's anything wrong with them simply because they're made in Germany. The key deisgn of the B-12 should feel almost exactly like an R-13 or other wood Buffet model. I'd say that there is no US-made plastic clarinet that would be as good as the B-12.
Whether the B-12 is for you is a matter you have to decide for yourself. Play several and find out what you think. With a good mouthpiece and barrel, it should play quite well.
If you want something only as a backup in case your expensive horn is in the shop, or a pad drops out, then probably the B-12 will be fine. Since it's plastic, it will also be good to play outdoors, in a (sshhhh) marching band, for a pep rally, or for folk songs under the stars.
If you want a backup to use for solos, you should consider the Greenline, which costs as much as an R-13 or a bit more. The Buffet website lists only an R-13 Greenline, but Francois Kloc has spoken about other models in the Greenline material. I'm not sure whether they are available in the US yet. The Greenline and grenadilla R-13s play almost exactly the same, though the Greenline is a bit heavier.
If you need a professional level instrument to play outdoors, the Greenline is pretty much your only choice. However, if you're doing a summer evening outdoor concert with no chance of rain and moderate temperatures, there's no reason not to use your wood instrument.
If you need simply a backup instrument, I think a used R-13 would be your best option.
Good luck finding what you need.
Ken Shaw.
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-11-16 03:46
I went and bought a used Evette at a pawn shop for $125, plays decent enough to get me through the hard times when my pro horn is down. Takes me about 2 days to get used to the plastic horn and about 10 seconds to re-adjust to the pro horn.
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Author: Willie
Date: 1999-11-16 04:48
I agree with Paul about the key mechanism being the same or very close to what your main instrument is. I have an old Jeffrey that I like to use for backup and the left pinkie keys are a little different in shape (oval like most bass clarinets) and this sometimes gives me a bit of trouble if I don't play it for a while. I also have an old metal Elkhart I like even better, but our music Professor has a pointed baton and has a pretty good aim.
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Author: Meri
Date: 1999-11-17 20:49
Unless you know you will be doing outdoor concerts on a regular basis, purchasing a spare instrument is probably not worth the money, especially if you live in a large city, where there are at least two or three reputable instrument repairers.
Meri
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Author: Meri
Date: 1999-11-17 20:50
Unless you know you will be doing outdoor concerts on a regular basis, purchasing a spare instrument is probably not worth the money, especially if you live in a large city, where there are at least two or three reputable instrument repairers.
Save the money for an A clarinet…:-)
Meri
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