 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-04-18 07:09
I just sold my R-13 to help me finance some of my business operations. I'm planning to get a new buffet clarinet in about 6 months. I have my heart set on a Prestige, but I'm not sure which one? I remember that I liked the R-13 for its mechanism (very crisp), but I'm not entirely sure about the tone. (I like it, but what is the RC like?)
What I want to know is:
1. What do you have: RC or R-13?
2. Did you try the RC as well as R-13? Why did you choose one over the other?
3. What kind of mouthpiece, lig, reed setups do you use with them?
I have reviewed the RC vs R-13 posts, but I just wanted to know your personal preferences on why you chose what you chose. (BTW, I'm looking for clarinets tuned to A=440)
Thanks!
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-04-18 08:25
Any Buffet Festival owners out there as well? Is there any difference between the festival and the prestige R-13? Lots of questions, so little time!
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2001-04-18 09:53
Hey David. You've confused me a little but I'll do my best to answer your questions. I used to have an R13 Bb for a long time, and last year I sold it and picked a good Festival with the help of my teacher. I found it a beautiful instrument to play. It had a richer and darker sound than the R13. Personally if I were you, I would keep away from the R13 prestige. I don't think much of them but it's personal preference. The RC prestige is quite nice but of all the ones I have played, I have prefered my festival. I used to have an R13 A clarinet which was paired with the Bb, but it was absolutely terrible to play. Not all R13 A's are like this, but mine was just horrible. (I didn't try it before I bought it years ago - big mistake.) Anyway, I tried lots of models of A clarinets..... about 3 Festivals, 2 R13's, 4 RC's, 2 RC Prestiges, 1 R13 prestige..... I narrowed it down to RC and Festival because I found they both had similar sound characteristics. Both dark and rich. Not at all piercing. Very smooth sounding. I think they also have larger bores, and more refined tuning characteristics than R13's. As for your 3rd question, my setup is Pomarico wooden mouthpiece, rovner eddie daniels/ BG Standard/ Vandoren Optimum, and usually vandoren classic 4 reeds.
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2001-04-18 11:04
david:
I went from the R13 to the Prestige. I think (!) it was a good move. I liked the r13 but was offered a chance to move up. The prestige plays a litte smoother and I like the action better.
I use a Greg Smith Kasper mp and a Bg lig. I have 4 other mp and they all play well with the Prestige.
All you can do is to try one and see what you think and do you want to spend the money.
I'm spending my kids inheritance.
If you come to the fest. I'll let you try mine.
Bob
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Author: joseph o'kelly
Date: 2001-04-18 15:07
I have owned by a wierd set of events and R-13 Bb R-13A and two Festival R-13Bb clarinets. As you probably already know each R-13 will play differently from one another. The R-13 is a great instrument when you find a good one, however I have only played about two that I liked and they were not for sale. I tried around nine in the stores and thought they played horribly. It seemed out of the Festivals I tried out only one I didn't like and the others were great. The R-13 and Festival are essentially the same exept with slightly different grades of wood. When I bought my R-13A I tried out many until I found one that was "perfect." The only problem is that it plays good somedays and somedays it plays bad. I do not have this problem with my Festival.
My overall view of the R-13 is that unless you search hard and find one that plays well then they are worthless. Yes, I too like the mechinisms af the Buffets alot. I have not tried an RC but I think that if you like the key mechanism of the R-13 but have doubts about the sound, the Festival will clear up those doubts and make clarinet playing alot easier. You'll also have a left hand Eb/Ab key.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-04-18 15:11
David -
The Prestige is not a separate Buffet model. According to Buffet ads, it indicates denser, more carefully selected wood, and it has an extra key for left hand Ab/Eb, an adjustable thumbrest (although I think all top model Buffets have this now) and a silver badge on the upper joint just below the trademark. I know that the R-13 and the RC are available in regular and Prestige versions. I think, but am not sure, that all Prestige instruments have silver plated keys.
The RC and Festival models have a redesigned bore and a register vent set about 1 mm. higher than the R-13, which improves the intonation and gives a slightly different tone, at the cost of a throat Bb that is not quite as good as on the R-13.
I play thoroughly tweaked R-13s made in the 1970s, but they're different enough from the current model that I really can't comment. I recently played a couple of Vintage models (the original 1950s version of the R-13), which I liked a lot. I also played a Prestige RC in A that was excellent, and very well in tune.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-04-18 15:28
Bob Gardner has my former Prestige and he likes the action because it was set up after purchasing by a clarinet man who specializes in making the action "smooth." I also had the cork pads and other custom stuff done to it to the tune of an additional $300.00. When it came out of its case brand new, it didn't play any smoother than a regular R-13. In fact, I almost cried because I was so disappointed in an instrument that had cost me multiple of thousands of dollars.
The Prestige is made from a bit different wood than the R-13, and I found it a bit harder to get volume--but it is a nicer instrument than the standard R-13. It's also a very beautiful instrument and gains immediate respect from the players around you. I play in an international orchestra one month of every year in Israel, and it "broke the ice" one year with a Russian clarinetist who couldn't speak English. When he came to the first rehearsal he immediately looked at the label of my clarinet and smiled. He then pulled out his R-13 Prestige and gave our "team" a thumbs up for the season. Then, through an interpreter, he began to talk me into finally selling him my Bay mouthpiece.
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2001-04-18 18:19
The main difference between the RC and R13 is the shape of the bore, the lower section of the RC is conical which makes the sounds a bit more focused but not as dark as the R13 which is probably why american player are not too crazy about the RC.
The RC has also a slightly better intonation due to the register vent being higher.
The prestige (RC or R13) label means silver plated keys and supposedly better quality wood. The key action is often smoother.
-S
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-04-18 18:45
I appreciate everyone's comments made. I've learned much. I guess the overall conclusion is to play test some Festivals.
Now, I heard from the other posts on this subject that Festivals produce a brighter sound than the R-13, but some of you think it's darker. I guess I'll just have to check it out on my own.
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-04-18 19:45
I just called a local band store (Anaheim Band Instruments) and they've got 10 Festivals in stock - 1 for $1950 and the rest for $2250. Great prices for awesome instruments. Plus, I won't have to pay for the plane tickets to fly to South Bend to the Woodwind and Brasswind.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-04-19 03:04
I once owned a RC Prestige.
Its bell has a rectanglar bore devised by Carret. Maybe to change harmonics constituents. I did not liked it. I do not like R-13's tone, which is rather 'American'.
(My ideal tone is that of Jacque Lancelot.)
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Author: beejay
Date: 2001-04-19 20:43
Hiroshi, didn't Jacques Lancelot help develop the RC in collaboration with Carre? My teacher, a former student and collaborator of Lancelot, helped me choose my standard RC and said, "I can bet this one was tested by Lancelot." I'm absolutely delighted with it. I usually play with a Charles Bay medium-tip mouthpiece, 2.5 Vandoren V12 reeds and a Peter Spriggs ligature. The tone is clear and warm rather than dark.
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Author: Erin
Date: 2001-04-21 01:28
I was interested in Joseph's comments about poorly playing R13's. When purchasing my horns, I tried many R13's, and some definitely played better than others. Maybe it's yet another matter of personal preference. I did get the keywork checked over and balanced, and that made it really smooth.
Has anyone played an E-11 lately? I tried a couple and they were horrendous.
I also tried a Festival model at a conference. For the additional amount Buffet charges, I wasn't impressed with the response or the tone. Any one else tried one?
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