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 Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: saxologist 
Date:   2006-07-12 19:01

Is Yam easier to make adjustments with screws as on Saxophones compared to Buffet...

I am considering these brands for my daughter. I have played and purchased many saxes but am a beginner to clarinets. n

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 Re: Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: Bob Phillips 
Date:   2006-07-13 14:22

I've played a colleague's Yamah A and don't remember it having any adjustment screws. It is not a contemporary Yami, tho.

I think its still adjustment by bending and shimming.

Bob Phillips

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 Re: Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: Jack Kissinger 
Date:   2006-07-13 16:25

Aside from the throat G#, neither Yamaha nor Buffet student (or professional model, for that matter) soprano clarinets have adjustment screws. I think, if you look at some clarinets, you will see that, unlike the oboe and saxophone, soprano clarinets generally don't make use of adjusting screws. The good news is that the mechanisms are alot simpler. As I recall, Rossi incorporates some adjusting screws on his custom-made clarinets (but I suspect you don't want to spend $3,000+ for your daughter's clarinet).

Best regards,
jnk

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 Re: Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: saxologist 
Date:   2006-07-13 22:52

thanks. Would you lean towards Yam or Buffet?

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 Re: Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: anet&clarence4ever 
Date:   2006-07-13 23:57

If it were me, i would lean toward Buffet, as it's one of the leading clarinet brands. I have a intermediet Buffet clarinet, which is an E11, and it was about $700, which is resonable for an intermediate clarinet. If she's just starting, i would buy a used one first, so you don't buy a brand new one and she doesn't like it after a period of time. I hope i helped.

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 Re: Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: saxologist 
Date:   2006-07-14 11:08

this is helpful I too was leaning toward buffet..but most schools have yamaha I guess to large purchasing agreement and reliable horn

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 Re: Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: BobD 
Date:   2006-07-14 14:27

Maybe it depends on whether you're considering wood or plastic. If I were contemplating a plastic horn I'd choose Yam over Buffet.

Bob Draznik

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 Re: Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: Jack Kissinger 
Date:   2006-07-14 14:44

In terms of playability, I think it's six in one, a half dozen in the other. At this point, I would be looking at a plastic student model, if I were you. Less weight for a youngster, less investment, and a plastic instrument for outdoor use.

A few random thoughts:

A Buffet B12 would likely be a better choice than a B10.

For quite awhile, Buffet used metal-plated plastic socket rings. They took some heat for that. While the rings probably don't serve any useful function on a plastic clarinet, plastic rings could break -- not very attractive. According to Francois Kloc, Buffet is now using metal rings on the B12. If you buy a new one, you might want to make sure it has these.

Buffet tunes their student model instruments a little sharp (A=442) so that kids can play in tune in their school band while their embouchure develops. Once it has developed, however, they will likely play sharp. Your daughter may be able to fix this by pulling out her barrel about a millimeter but, in an extreme case, might need a new barrel.

On a B12 (also E11, BTW), the keys of the right-hand pinky cluster are a little smaller than normal to accomodate small hands. This will not likely be a problem as your daughter grows. It's usually only noticeable to someone with very large hands.

Yamaha student mouthpieces, IMO, are decent. Buffet's are not. In either case, you will likely do your daughter a favor by buying her either a Hite Premier or Fobes Debut mouthpiece. These are designed for beginners. Both are relatively inexpensive.

Buffet's tend to hold their resale value a little better. From a buyer's standpoint, this may actually tip the scales toward Yamaha. IMO, Yamaha has always been the most price-competitive of the "Big-4" with their professional models, pricing their entry-level professional model to be competitive with other makers' high-end intermediate instruments and pricing their higher-end professional model to be competitive with other makers' entry-level professional instruments. When you put the two factors together, the result is that one can often find recent (< 10 years old) professional Yamahas on eBay for about the same price as a new Buffet E11 (wooden student model) from a discount seller. I have a pair of Yamaha CS72's (Bb and A) for which I paid about $600 each. Between the two of them, I only had to replace one pad.

If you are considering a plastic clarinet, another "brand" you might want to look at is the Forte. I have never played one but it has received positive reviews from many who have. It has some good design features, a high-quality mouthpiece and an attractive price. Search the board on "forte GBK" without the quotes.

Best regards,
jnk



Post Edited (2006-07-14 17:38)

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 Re: Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: saxologist 
Date:   2006-07-14 20:21

by the way, the Buffet factory is here in Jacksonville, fl. About a mile from my house. They sell to retailers, but I think you can go and try them according to my Technician here. He can fix anything. 30yrs experience and a clarinet player himself.

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 Re: Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: pewd 
Date:   2006-07-14 21:44

really? the buffet factorys moved from france and germany to florida?

i've never seen a buffet stamped 'made in florida'

- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas

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 Re: Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: Gordon (NZ) 
Date:   2006-07-14 22:26

I totally agree with Jack.

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 Re: Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: FDF 
Date:   2006-07-14 22:57

20 May 2006

Buffet-Crampon USA Grand Opening

Jacksonville, Florida USA



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 Re: Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: Mark Charette 
Date:   2006-07-14 23:07

FDF wrote:

> Buffet-Crampon USA Grand Opening

Not the factory - the NA Marketing/Distribution/Support center.

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 Re: Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: FDF 
Date:   2006-07-15 01:13

Mark Charette wrote:

> FDF wrote:
>
> > Buffet-Crampon USA Grand Opening
>
> Not the factory - the NA Marketing/Distribution/Support center.


Ah yes, thanks for the clarification.



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 Re: Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: aclar03 
Date:   2006-07-16 02:43

If she is a beginner, I would suggest a non-expensive Yamaha. As she progresses and decides if she would like to continue to play you might consider a Buffet (an excellent brand). This way, you won't waste too much money on a clarinet that she might decide she doesn't want to play anymore.



Post Edited (2006-07-16 02:44)

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 Buffet Distribution center
Author: saxologist 
Date:   2006-07-17 22:14

I drove by the Buffet/C center. They emailed me asking questions. I am hoping to go over there and see the horns and chat with the staff

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 Re: Buffet Distribution center
Author: statmike 
Date:   2006-07-18 13:53

I know this is a bit off topic.

What repair tech do you use in Jacksonville Fl?

Jacksonville is to proline Buffet clarinets what Elkhart IN is to Paris model Selmer clarinets. Good Luck!

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 Re: Buffet Distribution center
Author: ClarinetMaster 
Date:   2006-07-19 22:01

I'm not expirienced with Buffet but I really enjoy my Yamaha YCL-34. It's about the same as a Buffet R-13 but I love my Yamaha. When I was buying it I found a website from a Brittish school in Singapore and their suggested model was the Yamaha YCL-34. I bought the $800 instrument for $200 on ebay and if you know what you're looking for I suggest you look on ebay because you could get the instrument for a lot less than the normal sale price. Hope I helped
~Katie

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 Re: Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: GBK 
Date:   2006-07-19 22:44

ClarinetMaster wrote:

> I'm not expirienced with Buffet but I really enjoy my Yamaha
> YCL-34. It's about the same as a Buffet R-13



If you are not experienced with the R13, how can you say the YCL-34 is "about the same as a Buffet R13"?

It's not ...GBK

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 Re: Yamaha vs Buffet
Author: sherman 
Date:   2006-07-21 04:30

Well, the Yamaha 34 is about equal to the Buffet R13, and the Yamaha 52 is even better. The yamaha has a better scale, much more even and they are more consistent....which is why most who order Buffet almost always order three or four and then pick the horn they or their teacher likes best.
More specifically and repectfully, the Buffet clarinet has almost always a sharp throat register and flat low e and a flat high f and high g, which I find their most consistent aspect. Each time I pick up one of my Yamahas I am most impressed with the fine work they have done evening out their clarinet which started pre-1970 with the Nikkan clarinet as a decent Buffet clone, (I have one of those as well. Plays prettily, but the pitch is similar to its model.) .....Just an old clarinetists opinion.




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