 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-01-19 23:50
A friend reports that Buffet has opened a showroom at 160 West 48th Street in Manhattan that is also the workshop of Kristin Bertrand, the widely acclaimed tech, who has moved from Roberto's Winds. Her on-line business card gives the new address and mentions Buffet.
Apparently, you can try various clarinets (not sure how wide a selection they have at present) and, if you find one you like, arrange to buy that same instrument through a retailer. Apparently this is akin to the the set-up at the Vandoren store in Manhattan. You can play-test, then arrange to buy through a retail outlet.
Has anyone visited the new Buffet location?
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2009-01-20 00:41
Hi All:
I visited Kristin's new repair shop in the Buffet Showroom for some work on my clarinets. It was about a month ago, and Kristin was there all alone, as Buffet had not moved in yet. Her repair work is excellent, as I mentioned in an earlier post. Buffet is lucky to have her working with them in their new shop.
Perhaps you might try calling her on her cell phone at: 646-670-6565, to see if the Showroom has opened yet?
Good luck,
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-01-20 01:14
Thanks, John. It has indeed opened. My friend play-tested some Tosca's and R13's today. Just curious to know if others had stopped by as well to test or to buy, and how it worked out.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-01-20 13:40
Let us know when they're having a half-price sale on their low-C bass clarinets, and maybe I'll buy one.
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Author: clariknight
Date: 2009-01-20 22:34
weberfan - did your friend say what the selection is like? do they stock enough clarinets to find a good pro horn?
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-01-20 22:59
Clariknight asked if the new Buffet showroom carried "enough clarinets to find a good pro horn."
My friend concluded that the selection was limited. He played four or five Bb instruments but said that if you were inclined to try, say, 20, you'd be out of luck. At least for now.
The showroom is on the fourth floor of the address listed above. There's no telephone number I can find other than the one listed for Kristin Bertrand.
Perhaps a call to her would provide a more definitive answer. My friend said she was extemely helpful.
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2009-02-18 17:56
I went there last week end.
Kudos to Kristin who did some very fine intonation work on my Bb. She also adjusted the action and seal and it plays like a charm, probably better than ever.
The Buffet showroom was a little disappointing, here is what I remember:
2 Bb tosca
1 A tosca
1 vintage
~5 r13 silver
~5 r13 nickel
~10 A (I think R13s)
1 Eb RC prestige
some greenlines some not.
no R13 prestige, no RC (no prestige), no festival, no basset clarinet, basset horn, alto or bass clarinet.
So there is no shortage of clarinets, just a little too much of the same. Also, my understanding is that they are not adjusted/set up yet, so some seal rather poorly.
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: Neal Raskin
Date: 2009-02-18 18:47
Does Kristin do work on the horns Buffet brings into the showroom?
www.youtube.com/nmraskin
www.musicedforall.com
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2009-02-19 15:07
No doubt Buffets are among the best mass produced clarinets around...but they are grotesquely over priced. You can buy a top of the line Yamaha , the equal if not the better of any Buffet clarinet, for thousands less and Peter Eaton will sell you a super hand-made clarinet (better than any Bufffet factory model) for $3100
The Buffet pricing system is an insult...maybe the current economic downturn will bring them in line!
Clarinet Redux
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2009-02-19 15:15
Neal:
My memory escapes me, but I think she told me she was planning on going through them and adjusting action/seal, but I am not really sure.
Old Geezer:
As long as people pay, they will sell at the price. Yamaha is cheaper yes, Chadash, Rossi, Orsi-Weir, Eaton, will make beautiful clarinets for cheaper too, but Selmer and Leblanc are pretty much aligned price wise and they are the competition, not the small hand made shops.
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Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: vin
Date: 2009-02-19 15:50
Guy Chadash's clarinets are not cheaper than Buffet's.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2009-02-19 15:55
I didn't think Rossi's were either, but I believe that Sylvain is drawing a comparison between Buffet's top line instruments and those boutique craftsmen.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2009-02-19 16:13
From wwbw.com
Buffet Tosca Bb: $5,935.00
Leblanc Legacy: $5,949.00
Selmer Signature: $4,449.00
Yamaha CSG: $2,670.00
Rossi: $5,500
Taplin-Weir: $3,150
Eaton: $3,485
Could not find Chadash price but last time I checked it was around $4000, it may be more.
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Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2009-02-19 17:03
R13 max price from same store: $3140.00, the second cheapest as compared to the list above. The cheapest version they sell of the R13 is essentially the same as the Yamaha CSG discussed above.
James
Gnothi Seauton
Post Edited (2009-02-19 17:04)
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2009-02-19 17:21
How does the Buffet showroom compare with the other big stores?? I haven't been to Weiner's since their last move but they had at least that number if not more. Certainly more eefers and basses. Even Carl Fisher in Boston had that many back in the 80's.
Can non-dealers go to the Jacksonville site??
eefer guy
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Author: Francois Kloc
Date: 2009-02-19 20:00
Hello everyone,
I am please to see that many people are already aware of our NY Showroom. For the person who made the comment that we were lucky to have Kristyn be at the studio I answer yes we are.
We are planning on a grand opening sometime soon. As for the stock in the showroom, we are just starting to have instruments sent there and as we go the selection and variety will certainly be a focus. However, it is not designed to have 10 Bass clarinets or 20 Eb. We have authorized dealers throughout North America and they are professional at selling instruments. We have decided to open a showroom so we can have a place where we can come and unveil new instruments and work with our many artists to give feedback to France.
I have already been at the showroom to meet few players and will come on a regular basis when we get things going.
We will make sure that the quality of the instruments at the studio is to the level of Buffet Crampon's reputation.
As for the question about being able to come to Jacksonville, you sure can as long as you organize the trip through a dealer of your choice. We will be happy to welcome anyone in sunny Florida. We have great French food too ;-)
Thank you,
Francois Kloc
Director of Sales & Marketing
North America
Buffet Crampon USA, Inc.
Francois Kloc
President & CEO
Buffet Crampon USA, Inc.
Post Edited (2009-02-19 20:03)
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2009-02-20 15:10
The Yamaha CSG is quite superior to any R-13 Buffet makes. A Peter Eaton Bb now is $3150 with a prompt payment discount.
The global economic downturn can only expand...Buffet better look out!
If the big distributors were allowed to discount prices (as they have always done in the past), Buffet clarinets woud be thousands cheaper.
Clarinet Redux
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2009-02-20 16:20
Old Geezer wrote:
> The Yamaha CSG is quite superior to any R-13 Buffet makes.
Says who?
It is a completely different bore design and build than the R13, but is it better?
Also, one should not discard Tom Ridenour's clarinets. His "pro" model costs $1000
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2009-02-20 16:25
I'm in with Sylvain on both counts here: Tom's clarinet is excellent, and for the money it becomes stupendous. I can't in good conscience tell my students they need to buy an R13 when you can get a clarinet that is equal for a third of the price.
The exception are those students of mine heading for music degrees, and that is more because of possible disadvantage to them upon entrance auditions.
The statement that Yamaha CSGs are better than Buffet R13s is just an opinion, and most definitely not a fact. I will not argue, however, that Yamahas are better "out of the box" than Buffet's products.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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