 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: voggorb
Date: 2007-04-22 17:04
Hi. After having read several topics on this forum about Buffet RC clarinets, and there "features" compared to other clarinets, I have become somewhat confused, because my RC seems different from how it "should" be.
For example, mine has an adjustable thumb rest, which I have read only appears on the prestige (and festival) model. And also, my pads on the upper joint (except one) are cork if I'm not mistaking. They are brown and look like cork at least, while the other corks on the lower joint are the typical white pads (don't remember the material).
Well those are the things I can come up with for the moment, might be more.. I bought it new from a local retail store here in Stockholm, so it has not had a previous owner.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Danny Boy
Date: 2007-04-22 19:28
Sounds to me as if Buffet are working like car manufacturers, constantly tweaking their models.
The Tosca is shipped with cork pads in several places on the upper joint, so I wouldn't be surprised if Buffet now regards this as beneficial, and has started adding cork pads to other models, it's not exactly a life changing move after all.
As for the thumb rest...every clarinet should have one in my opinion, so good on Buffet if it's now appearing as standard on all models.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Docs Music
Date: 2007-04-22 19:36
Since the days of Hans Moennig here in Philadelphia, PA, USA,
cork pads have been reccomended for the top joints.
VDJ
Post Edited (2007-04-22 19:37)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2007-04-22 19:59
I took my RC to the Buffet Rep at CLARINexus a couple weeks ago. I'm unsure as to its pedigree --although it is a great horn.
I wondered if it had the interior shaping of the barrel, and the rep assured me that it does --but could not show it to me. He said that sometimes you can see it, and sometimes you cannot.
My horn was set up for its original owner by Walter Grabner, and has cork pads on most of the holes in the top joint.
It does not have the metal "RC" insignia, but does have "RC" engraved in the joints.
I think that the current model is called the RC Prestige and has the Left hand Eb/G# key.
bob
Bob Phillips
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: hartt
Date: 2007-04-22 20:52
bob
obviously over the years, things change.
my 1976 RC has RC engraved on the UJ only, just below teh Buffet logo.
Being from that era, it has the standard, non adjustable thumbrest.
The Bell.........the ream in my Bell is very obvious. It can be seen every time I or someone else looks.
Best way to see it is hold the bell up to a natural light source and look into the bell end. Do this at about 12" to 18", looking towards the tenon socket.
The ream is a circle about 5/8" to 3/4" in length just below the socket and appears 'coarser' than the the polished finish throughout the rest of the bell's interior. (the ream was done after the bell was polished)
As you may know, the bore dimension is different that that of an R13 as is the outside diameter.
They were introduced in 1975 and silver plate was an option. Mine is nickel plate.
As for Voggorb;s comment, all professional/semi pro Buffets now come with adjustable thumbrests.
When Buffet first introduced the adjustable rest (I believe 1996), it wasdifferent in appearance than what we know of today. It was smaller, the mounting plate used 3 small screws. IT was a 'class act'. not like the oversized current production one.
See attached photo........1998 Vintage model
Also, Buffet has been putting a cork pad on the register key for quite some time. Some R13's even come throught with a cork pad on the LH C#/G#
regards;
dennis
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: hartt
Date: 2007-04-22 20:55
Attachment: rest.jpg (76k)
bob
obviously over the years, things change.
my 1976 RC has RC engraved on the UJ only, just below the Buffet logo.
Being from that era, it has the standard, non adjustable thumbrest.
The Bell.........the ream in my Bell is very obvious. It can be seen every time I or someone else looks.
Best way to see it is hold the bell up to a natural light source and look into the bell end. Do this at about 12" to 18", looking towards the tenon socket.
The ream is a circle about 5/8" to 3/4" in length just below the socket and appears 'coarser' than the the polished finish throughout the rest of the bell's interior. (the ream was done after the bell was polished)
As you may know, the bore dimension is different that that of an R13 as is the outside diameter.
They were introduced in 1975 and silver plate was an option. Mine is nickel plate.
As for Voggorb;s comment, all professional/semi pro Buffets now come with adjustable thumbrests.
When Buffet first introduced the adjustable rest (I believe 1996), it was different in appearance than what we know of today. It was smaller, the mounting plate used 3 small screws. It was a 'class act', not like the oversized current production one.
See attached photo........1998 Vintage model on left / 2001 Vintage on right
Also, Buffet has been putting a cork pad on the register key for quite some time. Some R13's even come throught with a cork pad on the LH C#/G#
regards;
dennis
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2007-04-23 08:17
My 3 yr old 'standard' RC has adjustable thumb rest and silver plate keys. The only 'customisation' I have had done was replacing the speaker key pad with cork. This was done last summer at a 2-year service when I asked if anything could be done about the stuffy sounding Break Bb. Since new it has had one or two other defective pads replaced, and the wood turned down and the cork replaced on the centre joint which was far too tight.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2007-04-23 15:14
hartt
thanks for the elucidation, i'm off to look into my bell
my RC has silver keys, but the wood is dull compared to my '61 Buffet
Bob Phillips
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Itsme
Date: 2007-05-01 10:57
I have a full Boehm RC with 20 keys. Does anyone know when they stoped making full Boehm?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-05-01 11:09
I haven't seen full Boehm Buffets listed since the mid to late '80s, so I'd assume they don't make them anymore (along with the other makers that once offered them) - unless they will make them to special order.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2007-05-01 15:47
I've given up my (near) Full Boehm Buffet (1961 model R16-1/2) for a simpler instrument with much better intonation.
i'm working on an etude in C#-minor, and could sure use some of those alternative fingerings --like the middle-finger up Bb/A#. SIGH
Bob Phillips
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-05-01 15:58
I always found it strange that Buffets with an articulated C#/G# use a smaller diameter tonehole set fairly high and offset to the right (as you're looking at the rings) on their clarinets, as opposed to Selmer etc. that use a large diameter tonehole for their articulated C#/G#.
I thought the idea of the re-sited C#/G# tonehole on full Boehms was to make advantage of the better positioning and larger diameter in order to give a better quality note when compared to standard clarinets where this tonehole is by necessity placed too high and small in diameter to give it the correct pitch, but diminished tone quality.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
