 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: jacobhardy25
Date: 2013-12-19 04:47
Hello fellow clarinetists. I am deciding that in the next couple of months that I would like a new clarinet. Right now I am looking for a buffet prestige r13 or a buffet Tosca at the moment. Other than the low F correction key, are there significant differences between the two?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-12-19 12:14
The Tosca has a different bore (derived from the Festival) and plays noticeably different from the R13. It's purely a matter of individual preference, and you should give them a side by side trial.
If you can afford it, you should also try the Divine and various Backun and Selmer models.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: seabreeze
Date: 2013-12-20 06:13
The choice need not be between two high-end Buffet models. For instance, Tom Watmough, co-principal of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, recently purchased a Yamaha YCL-C-CSGIII, and so did Jerome Voisin, principal clarinet of the Radiodiffusion Orchestra of France. Voisin performs on Youtube with
Julia Fisher --Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto-France. In his hands, at least, the CSG III is a lithe, sonorous, and colorful instrument indeed. The early model of the CSG some years ago did not project well in the orchestra, but Voisin's presence is strong and mellifluous. Voisin also gives a solo demonstration of the CSG III on Youtube under the following search designation: Jerome Voisin: Presentation of the clarinet YCL-C-CSG III.
Clarinetists looking for a new professional instrument have lots of choices now. The Backun Mo-Ba, the Buffet Festival, R-13, R-13 Prestige, Divine, the New Selmer Privilege (which I have not yet heard anyone play), the Selmer Signature, the Leitner and Kraus Reform Boehm, the Wurlitzer Boehm, the Rossi models, the Peter Eaton models, and last, but likely not least, the less expensive Yamaha CSG.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wes
Date: 2013-12-20 09:05
The Prestige can be purchased from that store in Edam for a very large discount, which I took advantage of a year ago or so. It is still available.
While the Prestige played very well out of the box, I have customized it to my needs, having very large fingers. The rings were all lowered, the Eb/Bb left key was thinned, the F#/B right key was thinned, the left Ab/Eb key was shortened, springs were lightened, the C#/G# key was thinned, the right Ab/Eb key was thinned on the top side, and the tone hole bevels were laquered. None of these changes are visible easily but they make it more playable for me. It has a beautiful ringing sound with good intonation, except for the flat top F# which is correctable with adding a key or the long fingering. Low E and F are fine. I'm very pleased with it.
In the past, I've bought about 15 instruments without trying them and have been happy with them all, several with very good prices. With a good price I expect to have to do some adjustments or repairs, however. For example, a great used Selmer basset horn was bought for $1400 and I buffed the keys and overhauled it. Many new instruments need work and that includes Buffet clarinets because the factory can't put the needed hand work on them. A new Buffet Prestige bass clarinet bought at a low cost two years ago needed no adjustment at all, however.
The choices of fine clarinets are so extensive now that one finds it difficult to evaluate very many of them. Good luck in your search!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2013-12-20 18:51
Ken Shaw got it right again. Try as many different models and makes as you can.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
