 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kdennyclarinet
Date: 2004-06-07 01:07
Hello everybody. I just got back from the OU Clarinet Symposium. Eager to try the Tosca, I have held out on a clarinet purchase because I knew that some would be there. I will share my opinions and let you know that almost everyone I talked to agreed. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. Granted, it is a new model, so there may be some improvements down the line. Also, there were only two to play on, so it could have been the clarinet and not the model. However, I offer the following bits of information based on my test-play:
1. First impression: extremely resistant. I enjoy a bit of resistance in a clarinet... more so than most people, but this was extreme! It took a lot out of me to get a decent, workable sound.
2. I did not hear that lovely "ring" in the sound that one hopes for when
playing on a new instrument. Instead, it was very difficult to project.
Maybe there is a certain reed/mp setup that works best for this model.
3. The vented F key was a nice addition, however I can agree with past
postings how it could get in the way technically. I was, however, able to play a forte low F and it was fun to hear it be perfectly in tune for once. Also, on the plus side, the keys felt very nice and comfortable. The keywork was also very smoothe.
4. The resistance was not even throughout. I found it very difficult just to play a smoothe C major arpeggio. However, because of the added resistance, the upper register had a solid sound that did not become thin at any dynamic level.
6. The instrument itself seemed quite heavy. To some, this is not an issue. It was about as heavy as the Selmer Signature.
7. IMHO, it is way overpriced. The best quote I got was from wwbw for 3,799. Like anything new, it will probably settle down to be more affordable in the future.
Luckily, I found an incredible R13 Vintage model. A nameless "in-house pro" agreed that it was the best clarinet at the conference. I slapped down my Visa and signed my life away! I'm actually extremely happy with it and saved a bundle (compared to the Tosca).
I will be interested to see if anyone else has tried it recently. Maybe more people will comment after the ICA fest in DC. I look forward to discussing this and also have hopes that maybe I just happened to play on the two bad apples in the bunch. I had high hopes after reading some product reviews from the wwbw site. I encourage you to read these reviews and share your findings:
http://www.wwbw.com/Buffet-Tosca-Bb-Clarinet-i109177.music?t=4
Best wishes to all!
K. Denny
BME, MM, DMA
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2004-06-07 11:25
Interesting comments....
I have had a pair of Toscas for 3 days now....and I should add I had £350 (erm, $650 I think...) worth of work done on them before I picked them up.
They were sent from the factory in RUBBISH condition, very little sealed, and some springs didn't have enough tension etc. etc.
Even when they were in the shop (i.e. before the work) I can't say I noticed the resistance was extreme or inconsistent, certainly not as resistant as say a Rossi. As for the weight, I don't find them as heavy as the Selmer. I also tried the greenline version, it's much lighter.
I have never played a clarinet that fits better under my fingers. I usually hate L.H. G sharp/D sharp keys, as I always bump into them. Not so on the Tosca, and the new low F (not sure how much I'll use it mind) doesn't get in the way either.
As for the tone, interesting comments again. I love it, incidentally combined with a James Pyne mouthpiece. It's consistent and beautiful, and can't say more than that!
As for the Price...yikes, my cards are groaning under £5300 worth of spending!
I'm not poopooing anything said, just adding my own $1 worth. Also, no two clarinets are the same!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-06-07 11:47
Although I have not played them, a few months ago I asked a very high profile New York orchestral musician (and lifetime Buffet player) his opinion on the new Tosca.
5 words: "Not impressed - save your money" ...GBK
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2004-06-07 13:00
A very high profile London orchestral musician (and lifetime buffet player) her opinion on the Tosca.
10 words: "Love at first blow, I just had to have it"
That's not a dig GBK, I just find it amusing what different opinions people have!
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2004-06-07 13:17
"a few months ago I asked a very high profile New York orchestral musician (and lifetime Buffet player) his opinion on the new Tosca"
So what? Just because he doesn't like them doesn't mean nobody else will.
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2004-06-07 13:44
I've played on 4 Tosca's already....I hated them all. (I love the elite, festival, Leblanc OPUS II (love at first touch ), Leblanc Concerto II)
The fingering wasn't good for me..I think my fingers are to long for the tosca.
The tone just wasn't what I was searching for, almost to beautiful?? I know this sounds strange, but I really don't want to or could play something different then classic on this clarinet.
But no resistance problems... think K Denny has just had a very bad one?
Quote:
"a few months ago I asked a very high profile New York orchestral musician (and lifetime Buffet player) his opinion on the new Tosca"
So what? Just because he doesn't like them doesn't mean nobody else will.
Liquorice, you're very right with this one![[toast]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley15.gif) . A instrument is very personal, but it is interesting to so how many different opinions there are about this clarinet...
Eddy
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Author: Ed
Date: 2004-06-07 14:28
Just to add my 2 cents- Your mileage may vary, but I played one in Salt Lake last year at the fest. I had the same impressions as kdenny. One of my colleagues who tried it felt the same.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-06-07 16:05
Liquorice said:
> "a few months ago I asked a very high profile
> New York orchestral musician (and lifetime Buffet player)
> his opinion on the new Tosca"
> So what? Just because he doesn't like them
> doesn't mean nobody else will.
Precisely my point.
Opinions? Everybody's got them ...GBK
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2004-06-07 17:30
Opus II,
It's all preference I suppose.
I hate Leblancs, I find them imprecise for the fingers. I know one Leblanc player who always picks up my Buffets and says "The keywork on these is just better...but the sound of the Leblanc is good enough for me to overlook that".
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2004-06-08 06:30
RAMman,
It is all indeed preference... I love both of the brands (except the Tosca, but as i explained before it's really a personal taste..), I think many people do!
You have just to pick a good one out of the shop (or better the factory, like me)... The brand doesn't really matters to me, I will get familiar with the instrument over time...
But it is true that the keywork and sound is different between more brands, does that matters? I think that keywork does matter, but sound you can correct with a different mouthpiece/reed/ligature. PS the new kework from Leblanc is in my opinion (and most of the buffet players that I introduced to the OpusII) as good as that from Buffet... but again it's personal!
Eddy
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