 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2004-03-30 18:22
What do you think about buffet rc, selmer signature and selmer recital? If somebody has played with one of those, I would be interested to hear more. Which are the pros and cons of each model, and what about the intonation etc. I prefer rich and dark sound, so now you know which one to recommend to me. I´m interested, because I´m purchasing a new clarinet within the next few months. Thank you!
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Author: Mike Blinn
Date: 2004-03-31 01:43
Clarinetist,
Use the Search button on top and you will find more information about these clarinets than you can imagine.
Mike Blinn
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Author: hans
Date: 2004-03-31 12:45
I can only comment on the Recital, having owned one since 1988.
The pros that come to mind are that I like the sound (rich and dark), it's well built (according to my repair tech), it plays easily and in tune, the quality of the grenadilla wood is exquisite, and it hasn't cracked in the Canadian climate (so far). I would buy another one, but only after trying the comparable products of the other major manufacturers; i.e., I'm not committed to Selmer.
The cons: It's heavy. It plays better with a 5RV than the C85 mouthpiece that came with it (not really a "con" - just a subjective observation and others may have a different experience). Did I mention that it's heavy?
Professor Friedland has insightful comments on various clarinets on his web site: http://clarinet.cc/
Regards,
Hans
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2004-03-31 14:20
I have owned both a Recital and a RC (still own the RC).
My opinions:
Recital = dark, small sound, very precise intonation
RC = rich, larger sound, intonation more flexible
For me the RC works out very well for classical music (with good mpc).
Regards,
Jeroen
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Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2004-03-31 14:29
Hans,
If you have played with a buffet, then would you rather play a buffet or a recital? I am currently playing on a buffet e-11 and it feels quite good and it has quite a warm sound, except in the upper register. But do you think the recital would have a warmer sound, especially in the upper register? Also they say the recital has got better keywork. I mean does the clarinet make loud voices when you press the keys?
What do you mean exactly, when you say that a 5RV would play better than the C85? Is the intonation better or what?
Thanks for listening!
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Author: hans
Date: 2004-03-31 19:32
I've never played a Buffet so I can't compare it to the Recital. My local musical instrument dealer didn't offer Buffet when I bought the Recital. The Recital played very well and "felt right" so I had no need to keep looking.
The Recital's keywork is quiet enough, even after 15 years, that it has never drawn my attention and I had never given it any thought.
The main difference for me between the 5RV and C85 mouthpieces is that the 5RV plays in the altissimo with less effort for me than the C85.
I hope this helps a little.
Regards,
Hans
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-03-31 19:35
If you can make the trip to Amsterdam, Paul at <www.saxshop.nl>
has many instruments to play.
**********
There's no substitute for play testing.
**********
All you will get from this sort of query is opinion; which may differ greatly from your own.
Do the search (as suggested) and you'll find LOADS of info on this, almost as long as the Kalevala!
PS - Mouthpieces are like hiking boots - one size does not fit all.
The E11 is a fine instrument and will serve for years.
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Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2004-04-01 10:42
They say that recital is heavy. How heavy it really is? Is the weight something that you can´t stand when playing a long concerto? I play on a buffet and I think they are pretty light, so is there a problem that the recital will be too heavy for my taste?
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2004-04-01 12:22
Hi clarinetist,
The mpc I used on the Recital was the C85 120 (delivered with the instrument) and some german style mpcs (Viotto N1).
The Recital is indeed heavy because of it's thick body, but I never felt uncomfortable with it.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-04-01 13:21
There ARE ways to combat the weight of a clarinet so don't ever let that stop you from choosing one. I'm thinking of getting the cheap kooiman thumbrest since that will put less pressure on my thumb 'knuckle' and distribute the weight a little better. Or you can get a neckstrap if you don't think that'll be good enough.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2004-04-01 14:09
Clarinetist wrote:
---
I am currently playing on a buffet e-11 and it feels quite good and it has quite a warm sound, except in the upper register. But do you think the recital would have a warmer sound, especially in the upper register?
--
Yes, I would think the Recital has a warmer sound in the upper register. The RC is more open compared with the E11. This can result in a "shriller" sound if you can not handle it well. On the other hand the RC gives you more "freedom" in developing your sound. The sound in the Recital is rather "fixed".
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Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2004-04-01 15:30
The RC is more open compared with the E11. This can result in a "shriller" sound if you can not handle it well.Jeroen wrote:
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Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2004-04-01 15:44
Jeroen wrote:
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The RC is more open compared with the E11. This can result in a "shriller" sound if you can not handle it well.
--
Yeah, I heard one who played an RC and I think it sounded even brighter than the e-11. It didn´t squeak, but I just didn´t like the sound at all. (may be, because of the player too.) Although, I do think it had quite nice and warm tone in the lower register.
sfalexi,
what´s the clarinet that you play. I´m just interested.
Don´t worry I will not let the weíght be the judge when buying a clarinet.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-04-01 15:59
I play a 1970 Evette and Schaeffeur. I also have coming to me a FB Amati 604 (minus the low Eb key). Both of these horns are pretty similar in weight when I tried tested them against each other out, but my E&S seems to be heavier than various R13s that I've held, a concerto I compared it to, and in general most everything I've compared it to. I'm assuming (perhaps incorrectly) that the wall thickness/density wood put in this clarinet when it was made is simply of a higher value than that put in those today.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-04-01 16:29
I use HITE d facings which play nicely with my recital's.
the b40 is a good mouthpiece fro the recital as well....
David Dow
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Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2004-04-01 17:28
David,
what do you think about the b45dot? I think it should be quite good to use on a recital, at least what comes to the mouthpiece´s openess. They say in the Vandoren´s homepage, that it is as open as the b40.
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Author: larryb
Date: 2004-04-01 18:13
With my Recital A, I use a Gregory Smith 1* mouthpiece - it's a very nice combination. I have a slightly odd situation though, since my Bb clarinet is a Signature. The mouthpiece works well with both. I also use a metal ligature, which to me helps brighten the tone of the Recital.
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Author: davor
Date: 2004-04-01 18:39
Hi clarinetist,
If you live in Finland you should be able to try all of them. I think if you are a mature clarinetist you should know after trying them all what is the best for you.
Pros and conns are mostly based on subjective opinions. Your opinion is subjective aswell, but it works best for you.
In brief: It is good to listen what other tell you, but your experience will tell you what to do.
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Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2004-04-01 19:34
davor wrote:
---
It is good to listen what other tell you, but your experience will tell you what to do.
--
Yeah, I won´t buy anything, before I have tried them by myself. I am just trying to find out which clarinets are worth to take closer look. I would also be extremely happy, if someone could share there experience about what mouthpieces they are using in their recitals.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-04-01 21:22
The B45 dot is a larger bore mouthpiece which plays very well with easiness of sound emission..as to my own personal feeling I find it is hard to get the B45 dot to play in tune without sounding cramped...it is really dependant on just how good of one of these mouthpieces you get....however, in terms of tone the B45 dot has a really nice sound...
David Dow
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Author: Ed
Date: 2004-04-02 01:17
I have tried the Signatures and found them to be beautiful horns. Perhaps a bit more resistance than the average R13, but I would just choose a bit lighter reed. They were very smooth and even across the range with a nice color.
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Author: bnanno
Date: 2004-04-02 08:32
Clarinetist,
When buying the current Buffet RC (a really excellent instrument), teacher and daughter spend the entire morning trying out Buffets RC (2), Buffet R13 (2), LeBlanc Concerto (2), equivalent Yamaha (2) (can't remember the model), and Selmer signatures (2)... while a couple of untrained parents tried to follow the process.
The Selmer seemed smaller and had a slightly different diametre, was a bit heavier, and sound was very clear and very focussed, but perhaps small. Mechanism was good.
By elimination we eventually ended up with the RC, but all clarinets sounded clearly different, so I guess it is a matter of personal choice.
Teacher seemed to be testing the Buffets for certain notes that normally give mechanical problems, and one of them was immediately identified as one where the mechanism failed at certain points. The one we eventually bought was described by the teacher as sound "perfect", mechanism "unbelievably" flawless (for a Buffet!!)...he seems to have his eye on it now, so I better be careful..
So I guess, try them all, but take someone who knows with you to spot all those flaws.
The Selmer siganture was FAR MORE expensive than the Buffet RC.
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Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2004-04-02 11:13
bnanno,
I have heard that the buffets are very uneven what comes to the tone
quality, etc.. I play on a buffet at the moment, and I think it´s quite good. But it has this sharp sounded upper register and I don´t like it at all! But I will try several RCs and maybe Prestiges so I´ll know whether I like them or not. What comes to what I have read here in this forum, people like selmer models little more than buffets.
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Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2004-04-02 20:40
I just want to know how much you can darker the sound of a clarinet when you are playing on a mouthpiece which has darker sound? I mean that if you play on a buffet which tends to be quite sharp in the upper register, can it be made as nearly as too dark as selmer recital and signature with a mouthpiece that has dark sound? sounding complicated?
I´m asking this, because I´m not sure if it´s reasonable to me, to buy much expensive recital or signature, when I could get nearly the same kind of sound with an RC which is less expensive and has with a darker mouthpiece (maybe) the same tonal color as a recital or signature.
Any comments?
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