Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-07-09 08:48
Well it's time to blow off some steam and attack Buffet. Hopefully they will get some comments about this! You fellow friends know me well and I don't say much, on here other than to give out the very best advice I can. Sometimes I ask for advice as well. This time I have a major problem with Buffet. Enjoy the story...
I bought a set of horns, R13's from RDG Woodwinds and Nancy, the owner, was very nice and friendly, and very professional! A great place here in Los Angeles. I very much like Nancy. She's great! By the way, these NEW R13 horns leaked like crazy! It was hard to pick out a really good horn, because the pads didn't hold a seal. Levy is a nice guy there, but he didn't really fix the leaks. I gave up and repaired the horns myself. A reminder that I spent a summer with Hans Moennig in Philly learning the real way to master clarinet repairing. With my horns they will hold a seal for minutes, not 3 seconds by Levy's work or zero seconds by the Buffet techs.
The double Buffet case is flawed bending the lower register low F middle C key of the Bb clarinet only. The A clarinet is just fine. So every time I went to orchestra rehearsals I'd carry 2 cases. I called my friend Nancy about 3 times leaving her a message on her direct line, she never called me back. (RDG Woodwinds) Strange... I thought Nancy and I were friends? Guess not anymore! I called the Buffet NYC showroom and the lady gave me the California Buffet Sales Rep Michael Wallace, (805) 212-0493 email is michael.wallace@buffetcrampon.com, just in case anyone wants to chat with him! He lives about 5 to 10 minutes from me. I called him 6 times, he never called me back, so I sent him an email and he also never responded. By the way, the lady at the NYC Show Room told me that this has happened a few times before with Buffet cases and she recommended some other cases like the Marcus Bonna.
I called Buffet in Florida about 6 times and it went to the general mailbox. Here's Buffet's number, just in case you have questions, issues, or you just feel like saying hello to someone there. ((904) 821-0234 or the tech dept number is (904) 652-2203. They don't usually pick up, but say hello and tell all of them that Bob says Hi! I'm sure they know my name by now. Finally, a few days ago, A person named Cliff picked up the phone at the Florida Buffet, so I told him what my problem was. He said that the Buffet cases are NOT under any warranty, ever, even when NEW! So I asked him what happens if the key that keeps bending and finally breaks. Is the horn covered? He said YES! Well I said that this doesn't make sense! Wouldn't Buffet rather replace a case than for me sending in the Bb clarinet after every orchestra rehearsal! He said he would talk to his tech department and he would call RDG Woodwinds. Never heard back from Cliff, the tech dept, RDG or anyone. Here's the interesting part I was always cool. Never raised my voice, never said anything bad or mean, just being a good guy!
Today I bought a Marcus Bonna case from my favorite store in Maryland called Chuck Levins Washington Music Center, the place I bought all of my music stuff from when attending Interlochen Arts Academy and Peabody Conservatory. They have an internet store called reverbs.com I got the case for $423, same case that RDG Woodwinds was asking $515 plus tax for, so about about $575. Free shipping with Washington Music Center.
This case is cool. The keys are never touched by the case. Just go to Home Depot or a place like that and buy plastic PVC caps that will fit over the cork on the joints, so you don't get cork grease all over the case.
I hate to say it, but I just might sell my clarinets and go with another company. Just because no one cares! I'll talk to my friends with the Chicago Sym and see what Steve thinks about the Selmer Signatures and what John Yeh thinks about the new Yamaha's. Maybe they can personally pick out a set for me to go nicely with my new case!
I think Buffet just lost a client. I've been with them since 1969.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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The Clarinet BBoard
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