 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Wookie001
Date: 2017-07-15 16:48
I'm wondering whether the high end models like Tosca and Divine are really better than the professional clarinets. or is it just a matter of taste?
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Author: gatto
Date: 2017-07-15 18:42
When I recently bought an A-clarinet, I had the choice between two RC Prestige's and one Tosca. My 20 year old B-clarinet is an RC Prestige. So, finally I decided for one of the RC Prestige's in A.
My impression was the following: all three clarinets were not perfectly adjusted (at least for me). But I had a very good service in the shop, my specific complaints were worked over immediately. But my conclusion is that none of the famous models is perfected, they have to be adjusted and customized.
To me the keywork of the Tosca made a slightly higher quality impression. This has also to do with the more elegant design of the keywork, additional skews etc.
My impression was also that there was no essential difference in the quality of the wood between these three clarinets. Viewing into the bores I could recognize some places which did not look perfectly polished. (But I don't know whether this might be done deliberately for acoustical reasons.) In that sense the bore of the Tosca did not make a better impressions. (The bore of my old "B" is completely smooth.)
The sound of the Tosca was slightly different, more focussed and a more direct response. But of course, the bore design is different. The low F on the RC Prestige's was less flat than on the Tosca, but it comes with the additional lever to correct it. But even then it was not better than the RC Prestige.
I decided to buy one of the RC Prestige's, the one which had a better intonation and tone in my opinion (but again: mind adjustments before you decide!). One of the reasons was that my "B" is also RC Prestige, and for my fingers the RC Prestige "A" felt a little bit more comfortable than the Tosca. I saw some advantages of the Tosca, but I found them not convincing enough in order to spend some additional 1500 Euro. In my opinion a higher price is justified (in particular because of the key work), but the actual price difference is too high. At least for me as an amateur player.
To summarize, I would say that the high end instruments are not necessarily "better". It depends on your taste and on the very specific instrument you could get into your hands. And do not decide before necessary adjustments were made.
Post Edited (2017-07-15 20:13)
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2017-07-15 19:38
If you have acidy fingers, then good silver plating on the keys is a big deal. Obviously, the bore design is a big deal. Beyond that, different instruments of the same model can sound and play very different, at least with Buffets, so it's entirely possible that a lower model could play a lot better than a high end model with the same bore design.
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-07-15 20:44
It's some substance and a lot of the smoke and mirrors our moderator refers to.
Better woods are saved for the higher end models, but are just as subject to the whims of wood: the same quality of which was found in a 1950-60 R13s when granadilla supply was stronger
A left pinky Eb lever can be nice although not needed. I have students with such models that I still insist perform midnote pinky swaps and slides so they will know how to do (and someday teach) such techniques.
(Then again, I make students practice etudes that involve left or right pinky notes with both pinkies (not at the same time of course)...it makes them more versatile players I think.)
A low F correction key....hmm....it's a lot of money to pay for a feature that I wonder if it works better to correct intonation than Ridenour's hard rubber products do without such a correction key. (I don't know.)
..and someday Buffet will come out with a better model to correct the imperfections of the Tosca. Top of the line really means "top of the line for the time being."
Buffet has to give people a reason to buy new.
Manufacturers create different models more to capture the marketplace than anything else. This is the idea of offering similar products at different profitable price points to get the customers willing to pay top dollar to do so, while getting the customers who would walk away from a high price, but still be willing to buy at a profitable (albeit less so) price to purchase.
They also do so, as our moderator suggests, because some people enjoy the bragging rights of buying top of the line stuff that most others don't own (his reference to positional/Veblin/a.k.a. Giffen goods).
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Author: gatto
Date: 2017-07-15 21:12
>Better woods are saved for the higher end models
@ WhitePlainsDave
Do you think, there is a wood quality difference between Prestige/Festival and Tosca/Divine?
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Author: ClarinetRobt
Date: 2017-07-15 21:25
I'm sure Buffet's intentions are (kinda) noble to try make a better mouse trap. Other than bore size and a few mechanicals (and that's debatable), the rest is fluff. Consistency, consistency, consistency. It's the execution they fall flat. Others have figured it out, why can't the 'premium' brand in the world (echo, evil laugh) do the same. (I wish I was truly asking this as a rhetorical question.)
But seriously, why can't they...
So the answer is simple...try 20+ R13s or Festivals or Divines or Toscas, you'll find the best of the best. Or order one Yahama CSVR and, bam, you have a great horn.
~Robt L Schwebel
Mthpc: Behn Vintage
Lig: Ishimori, Behn Delrin
Reed: Legere French Cut 3.75/4, Behn Brio 4
Horns: Uebel Superior (Bb,A), Ridenour Lyrique, Buffet R13 (Eb)
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Author: jthole
Date: 2017-07-16 00:33
Don't overlook the vintage ones. I have a 1972 Buffet with great intonation and a lovely ring to the sound. The wood is not dyed, unlike the modern R13 and RC clarinets, and the keywork is still in great condition.
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-07-16 02:45
"Do you think, there is a wood quality difference between Prestige/Festival and Tosca/Divine?"
I simply don't know. Perhaps others on the board do.
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