 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: dtiegs
Date: 2011-04-11 01:22
Hi,
I've, recently, been looking at the reviews on the clarinets. And one person managed to say something about a "Buffet Fetish" which did raise a a question in my head: Why does it seem that Buffets are more popular and more "Liked" than Yamaha Clarinets. Is there a drawback to the Yamahas? I would think that since Japan are further ahead of France, on the technology world, that they would be able to create better, more consistent clarinets.
So, is there a MAJOR difference, that a majority is leaning on the Buffet side?
OR AM I JUST MISSING SOMETHING???
What Yamaha/Buffet clarinet would you suggest?
Cheers,
Dalton
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Author: curiousclarinetist
Date: 2011-04-11 01:37
I once read that the reason Buffet clarinet are seen as so great is becasue of Hans Moennig. Apparently he set up and tuned some Buffets back in the day for some top players and made the instruments play very well. People heard these players and all went off to buy Buffets. Much like how people hear someone today and have to go off and buy whatever barrel/clarinet/mouthpiece they were using. People made the mistake of attributing a persons talent to their equipment. This is what I heard anyway.
In my experience, Yamaha clarinets are much more consistant than Buffets. All Yamahas I have played are very good clarinets. I have tried Buffets that are terrible and Buffets that are excellent. I think if you can try enough Buffets to get a good one, then that is the way to go. The R13 is the industry standard and a great horn, but again, only if you can try enough to find a good one.
As for a Yamaha clarinet, I really have liked the CSG series, but try as many as you want. Even go for other brands such as Selmer or LeBlanc. You might find a golden clarinet in the ones you try, even if it isn't the revered R13.
Best of luck in your search!
Curious Clarinetist
http://curiousclarinetist.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Curious-Clarinetist/155848744465821
Post Edited (2011-04-11 01:39)
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2011-04-11 04:00
I've had the same experience with Curious Clarinetist. I tried some Yamahas, Buffets and a Selmer at various places, and found the Yamahas to be very consistent. I own a set of CSV's now and fallen in love with them! I've had people try them and like them just as much as their Buffets (a couple more...). Their custom line also sells for about the same price as the Buffet entry level clarinets, so they're at a much better price point as well, and have the same features as higher level clarinets. Have your go at trying different clarinets from all types. None are really looked down upon (especially from the major brands), as long as it plays well and is in tune!
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2011-04-11 10:04
There is also a price bonus with the Yamahas. They are less expensive than their Buffet or Selmer counterparts. However, the relatively new (and expensive) Selmer Privilege is a very pitch consistant and worthwhile horn to try as well.
....................Paul Aviles
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Author: TianL
Date: 2011-04-11 20:53
To me, buffets have a specific sound quality that's different from yamaha. yamaha has a different kind of tone, I'm not trying to say it's worse or better than buffets' tone -- that's up to your personal preference, but for a lot of people, including myself, they are used to the buffet's sound.. thus sticking to buffets even though yamaha has better tuning.
it's kinda like the vintage selmer's saxophone.. it's not even close when talking about evenness across the ranges compared to modern saxophones, but many people are used to that non-evenness so they just prefer it.
but in the end, it's whatever makes you happy and also keep in mind that everyone's view changes constantly, so maybe one day i'd suddenly start liking the yamahas more and you change your mind and go back to buffets
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Author: Fishamble
Date: 2011-04-12 08:39
I think it's largely down to brand perception, not absolute quality.
For example, my stronger association with Yamaha is motorbikes. (And, at that, the Harley folk I know look down on Yamaha - they like to call them Yamaha-ha!)
Even if you think first of Yamaha and instruments, Buffet carries the connotation of a specialist (and Selmer and Leblanc too). Yamaha seem more generalised (all woodwind, brass, pianos, guitars...). I can only speak for myself: while my head understands that Yamaha are excellent in every area, my heart warms more to the specialists.
Buffet have established their brand as the market leader, which gives them momentum in the face of countless positive reports of competing products. I also understand that a great many teachers who are not retained by Buffet recommend Buffet (or in some cases insist on them!). How about that for marketing success!
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Author: CocoboloKid
Date: 2011-04-12 14:41
"It will work great for everyone."
...after a complete overhaul once you take it out of the box, yes. ;-)
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Author: Ed
Date: 2011-04-12 18:51
Yamaha makes great instruments. Any I have tried have excellent tuning and very even response.
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Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2011-04-13 03:00
I've played Yamaha CSGH's for the past 3 years (thanks to Paul for his recommendations) and they're great. They have a great (neutral) sound, play in tune and have great feel/response, all with minimal effort (i.e., reasonable resistance). In short, I can focus on playing any style of music without thinking about the instrument any more.
As an aside, I've been evaluating a Greg Smith personal-facing mouthpiece and it is free-blowing, has a great (neutral) sound, spot-on intonation, and phenomenal response. It's a joy to play. Like the CSGs, it simply lets me be me and allows me to focus on the music, not the equipment.
I would seriously recommend trying Yamahas. If they work for you, you could well invest the money you save on something like a Greg Smith mouthpiece!
However, I would also recommend that anyone evaluating equipment keep an open mind and try as many options (under controlled/objective conditions) as possible. Don't be limited by preconceived notions. I've been pleasantly surprised over the years by what actually works for me as opposed to what others have suggested.
Finally, I (and many others) believe that you will sound pretty much the same over a wide spectrum of equipment, so anything that makes it easier for you to focus on the music and your playing and not on the equipment is probably worth keeping.
Bob
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Author: Leanne E.
Date: 2011-04-14 04:24
I am the proud owner of two Yamaha clarinets. A plastic student model, and the Allegro.
When I went shopping for the second clarinet (the wood one), the owner of the music store took me into a practice room, and brought different clarinets for me to try. I was not told the brand, and I wanted a good experience, so I was honest and didn't peek. Actually, I wanted a Selmer Signature like my tutor's when I went in. I did a blind play test on, I'd say 6-10 clarinets, and I ended up with the Yamaha Allegro. I turned down that Signature, and Buffet R13, and some other really excellent instruments. But for me, the Yamaha surpassed the others.
My parents were also pleased, it was the most affordable of the instruments.
I recognize that every player is different, but I can't see counting Yamaha out. They make great wooden and plastic horns.
Ten years after the purchase, and I still cradle my Yamaha Allegro like I brought it home from the store last week. I just love it so much.
But, every clarinet player is different. Go to a music store and talk to a manager about buying a clarinet. They'd probably be willing to do a blind play test so you can choose a clarinet based on your playing.
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Author: gwie
Date: 2011-04-14 07:00
I used to play two Buffet R-13's, overhauled by the Brannens, with the complete Backun bell/barrel combo. They're gone now, I have a set of Yamaha CSG's which are just amazing. They're lighter, easier to hold up, and play much more in tune...I mainly play chamber music with strings so the benefits were immediate and noticeable to my string quartet colleagues.
I used to have a Selmer SA80 Series II Alto Saxophone, in beautiful black lacquer with gold engraving. The tone was full and centered, and the intonation was really good. Then on a whim I tried a new Yamaha 82Z...sold the Selmer and haven't looked back since.
The old attitude of "I don't want a company that makes motorcycles making an instrument for me" doesn't make much sense. If anything, Yamaha has MORE resources available to it for research, development, and production because of the financial support that a larger corporation is able to throw behind it's various divisions! I look at the fit and finish on my latest acquisition, one of their professional-model trumpets...it's impeccable!
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Author: Franklin Liao
Date: 2011-04-14 10:12
I hope sincerely that Yamaha would run a trade-in program of sorts actually. Would be nice to be given the option of trade-up to that CSGIII...
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