 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: juan07
Date: 2007-05-29 21:06
I've been looking into buying another proffesional clarinet but i pondered in between the r-13 prestige and the Tosca. Well the thing is that for me the Tosca is quite unfamilar and the price seems like it can be a charm. The thing is that im not sure about it and i don't know about any of the features that might make it worth it's price.
Thanks for the all the help.
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Author: oleliquoricestick
Date: 2007-05-29 21:28
I have an RC Prestige that I love. It plays as well as anyone would expect for a nice clarinet. I believe the big deal about the Tosca is that it is on true pitch at all the registers, something that is difficult prior to this instrument. A revelutionary model, so they say. I have been looking into getting one myself, but it will be a while before my nickles add up that high....oh, and one in "A" too, Ha
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2007-05-29 22:42
Also, the price difference between the two is very small after the price floors set last August.
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2007-05-30 00:00
Do not overlook the (new) "Vintage" model when auditioning instruments.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-05-30 07:16
You will probably motice that all Buffet pro models have pretty much the same keywork, and it feels very simliar, but the Tosca keys feel different.
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Author: pelo_ensortijado
Date: 2007-05-30 15:13
hm. one big difference between them, atleast on the RC and R13, is the right hand. one needs to stretch the fingers more somehow on the r13. it feels like the toneholes are more apart than the RC. but that may just be a feeling...
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Author: redwine
Date: 2007-05-30 15:38
Hello,
You should really consider trying the new Orsi and Weir Euro bore clarinet. I found that it blew much like a Tosca for about half the price.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2007-05-30 15:59
Ben why did you change from Selmer Recital to Orsi and Weir Euro bore? I think when I listen to your performance with Washington Musica Viva that the sound of the Bb Orsi and Weir is more open and lively than of your A Selmer Recital clarinet.
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Author: redwine
Date: 2007-05-30 17:57
Hello Stefan,
There are several reasons that I made the switch recently.
Firstly, I've been contemplating ending my relationship with Conn-Selmer because of several recent business decisions that the company had made. The most important being a fairly recent personnel change which I won't write about, but if you catch me in person, I'll be glad to divulge.
The Selmer Recital clarinet is a great instrument. It's very well made and is the first clarinet I ever played that I didn't have to make major adjustments to play in tune. I also very much like the sound.
Secondly, the majority of my playing has shifted lately from large ensemble to small ensemble. I have found that to get the sound that I want on the Recital, I have to "push" the sound a bit. This is great for large ensembles, but now that I'm playing mainly chamber music, I find that I'm drowning out poor violists, etc.
Thirdly, I am very much a proponent of small business.
So, last summer, I already had my eye on making a switch, but really hadn't made up my mind. At the Oklahoma Symposium, I tried a bunch of clarinets. I liked the Tosca, but there again, it's a big company and the price was staggering. Right across the aisle from Buffet was the Orsi and Weir table. I tried both the American bore and the Euro bore and preferred the Euro bore. I found that the Euro bore actually felt much like the Tosca in the way it blew. So, the next test was to clip on my tuner. The intonation was incredible. The sound I could achieve was similar, in fact, to the Recital, but I found I didn't have to work as hard to get the same results. Then, I asked Mr. Weir what the price tag was and was astounded that the clarinet was about $2,100 (I think they're about $2,300 now).
So, here I had a small company, making an affordable, really well made clarinet that allowed me to do what I wanted easily. It should have been a simple decision, but, of course, it took me another 6 months or so to finally decide, take the plunge, and fly up to Canada to have a clarinet made specifically for me. That was a great experience too--the only way to buy a clarinet, in my opinion. Since then, the US Navy has been kind enough to buy me another one and I've got an A clarinet on order. We were hoping to have it done in time for my recital at Oklahoma this summer, but it looks like the instrument will take a bit longer to finish. So, my performance with Steve Cohen will be on my Selmer Recital A clarinet and my recital performance will be on the Orsi and Weir B-flat clarinet, Euro bore.
You are astute in the different sounds you heard on the YouTube videos. I completely agree with you regarding the difference in the "liveliness" of the Orsi and Weir. With the design of the bore, I find it to be a lot more flexible too. I'm thrilled with these new clarinets!
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2007-05-30 18:57
Ben, please list the YouTube sites. I missed them.
What is the difference between the Euro and American bore?
Allan
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: redwine
Date: 2007-05-30 19:26
Hello Allan,
I believe that if you just go to YouTube, then type in Ben Redwine, or maybe Washington Musica Viva, my videos should pop up.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: redwine
Date: 2007-05-31 00:43
Hello,
As good or better. Of course, I only spent about 20 minutes with the Tosca, whereas I've been playing the Orsi and Weir professionally now for about 6 months.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2007-05-31 11:39
I have tried numerous Tosca clarinets and found in some regards the keywork to among the finest..as to timbre the Tosca really did not give me the depth of tone I had expected..in fact a well made Prestige Buffet is much better than the Tosca clarinets.
The tosca line of clarinets are also very expensive!!!
Currently I think Yamaha are an excellent alternative..not having tried Orsi and Weir I suspect they are more in line with Buffet R13 and RC clarinets...however, if a Buffet style bore what is in mind the Orsi clarinets may be worth a try!
The Yamaha Custom line includes four different models all with different bore configurations...so at least in one regard their is a variety. Currently I use YSG Yamaha clarinets and have no problems adjusting my sound in any setting...I have a solo recital coming up in July and a concert with a local band tonight...in all settings I think the YSG hold up very well...intonation is incredibly accurate so the proof is in the pudding.
With a tuner my set YSG clarinets are far more accurate than any of the other
models I have tried..
these include Tosca..Selmer Recital..R13s of all types..Lelblanc..etc.
Yamaha have really improved their clarinet line..however I am not tradition bound as some. I simply need as a professional a reliable and in tune set of instruments and have come upon something that works well for me.
Others may find the other models which work better for themselves.
David Dow
Post Edited (2007-05-31 11:50)
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2007-05-31 16:26
Sound quality, intonation, etc. is so subjective; the Tosca is good enough...but if you get a chance really try out a Yamaha CSG.
The intonation and sound will surprise you, they're both great! And the price less than half of a Tosca.
But only a personal trial will do...I have one and it puts my Buffets in the shade!
Clarinet Redux
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Author: coasten1
Date: 2007-05-31 22:17
If you can find someone who sells Buffet Festival models, try those out. They are part of the R13 line but are upgraded a bit more. Better wood.
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