 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Buster Brown
Date: 2004-07-01 22:08
Purchased a Buffet Vintage today from Muncy Winds (more on Muncy in a later post). I selected the Vintage from the following: Selmer Signature, LeBlanc Opus II, Buffet Festival, R13 and the Vintage. After 2 hours of trying I picked a Vintage. Here's my reasons:
Signature - nice, but a "stuffy" tone/feel. I double on clarinet in a big band and the Signature didn't project well.
Opus II - nice horn, but I couldn't handle the keys for the left pinky. Kept hitting that Eb key instead of the B. Good intonation and sound, but I didn't want to work on developing that left little finger.
Festival - tried two, but just couldn't get the sound I wanted.
In the end I was down to the R13 and the Vintage (tried 3 of each). Both had nice sound and good intonation. The Vintage simply had a better sound and projected much better. If a clarinet can have power, the Vintage had it.
It's interesting. I really started out wanting to buy a Signature or an Opus, but in the end, for me at least, the Buffet's were the clear winners. I join the hordes of other Buffet owners. This is my first pro horn and my first clarinet purchase in 50 years. I'm exited!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2004-07-02 00:17
Congrats! A good instrument is hard to find. I'm glad you found one to suit your needs.
jbutler
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Avie
Date: 2004-07-02 00:20
A very interesting post to me owning a Buffet R13 superDynaction which I think came out to compliment the latest SuperDnaction Saxs in the 60's. I think it has a little more power than an R13. It would probably sound better in a band though to my neighbors! You might like it. A Vintage sounds great! Im going to try one. Happy Tootin!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bradley
Date: 2004-07-02 01:27
I hope you enjoy it! Good Vintages are wonderful instruments.
Bradley
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: john gibson
Date: 2004-07-02 02:11
Busterbrown
Hey...shoe man? Glad you found a good horn. I have a 1967 R-13 that I wouldn't trade for anything. It projects....has great intonation....and is easy to blow.....
I have found in the last 4 years of er-entry into clarinetting...that an in-experienced person can find a great horn to play because there's no pre-conceived notion of what "should be". I say that after 30 some years of not playing, then picking it back up again 4 years ago. I now play much better than ever with the exception of "reading" music. That I need work on big time. Used to be (when I was young) I could pick up a chart and just play....now a combination of bad eyesight....age....and indifference, I just like to "play". By ear, Which takes me back to my "drumming days"
with rock and roll bands in SanFrancisco '65-74. No clarinetting..just banging the skins.....
Sorry I'm rambling....
Glad you found a good "fit".....now blow man.....blow
John Gibson....the clarinator
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2004-07-02 12:09
Buster Brown:
I see no Yamahas in your list. Did they not carry them or were you not interested in the line?
Matt
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed
Date: 2004-07-02 12:28
Congrats. As to the Signature, I recall that I spoke with a Selmer rep at a conference and he told me that most people need to go to a slightly softer reed to get the feel they are looking for.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2004-07-02 15:10
Congradualtions, and enjoy. When I played tested the Signitures, I had the same reaction as you did. Good sound, well in tune, even scale--but it just did not "project" and lacked expressiveness.
My old clarinet professor bought an Opus Bb, didn't like the extra Eb key and simply removed it. Too old to learn new tricks, I guess. He advised me to "save a thousand bucks" and buy the Concerto (which I did).
I too, have a vintage R13 set of clarinets, of which the Bb is a supurb instrument . However, I prefer my LeBlanc A Concerto over my Buffet, so I am currently playing a set of Concertos. But I often pull out my R13 when I want to really "project". Hope you have years of success and enjoyment with your new vintage.
(now, what about that mouthpiece?????)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: LeOpus1190s
Date: 2004-07-02 15:48
I should try the R-13 Vintage. I have really been a huge fan of the latest edition of the Selmer Signatures. I haven't been able to find a decent R-13 A and it seems that all the Selmer signatures I tried at WWBW were brilliant.
How is tunning on the vintage?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: martind
Date: 2004-07-02 17:43
Buster, congrats on finding an instrument that satifies your needs.
I also own a vintage R13 Buffet, 1965 having previously played on
the Selmer Center Tone for ten years. Yes, my age 71, gives me away.
I also own a 1933 Buffet A which plays pretty good using a Moenning
barrel and another Moenning barrel on the Bb.
I do not use my legit mouthpiece on clarinet when playing a dance
band gig. My favorite is the Hite J mouthpiece which has a little more
tip opening. Again, welcome back to the ranks and remember, practice
does not make you perfect but it helps to put the fun back in playing.
Martin
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Buster Brown
Date: 2004-07-02 23:00
Matt, for some reason I was prejudiced against the Yamaha's. Maybe I simply wanted a clarinet made in France. Also. Muncy didn't have any Yamaha's. If they had, I wouldn't have tried one anyway. Incidentally, this will probably be the last thing produced by the French I'll ever buy. I stopped drinking French wines a couple of years ago. I'm now drinking alot of Australian, Italian and American wines now. Maybe if the Aussies ever make a clarinet, I'll buy one.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
