Author: seabreeze
Date: 2017-12-12 20:44
The three previous posters have raised some valid points about the Selmers and Buffets. I'd say that the best of today's Buffet Prestige models have a very attractive orchestral sound that is resonant, projecting, vibrant, and well centered, and not a lot of effort to play. But you pay for that in the rather hefty price. The Selmer Signature has a dark, covered sound (Tom Ridenour praised it as "Germanic") but is rather resistant and not as easy to vary in timbre as the Buffet Prestige; it tends to sound just one way rather than offer a rainbow of colors.. The Yamaha CSVR tunes well, is easy to blow, has good key work and consistency, and a strong, rather large tone with good presence but lacks some of the sparkle and sweetness of the Buffet Prestige models. The right barrel (e.g. Chadash or Behn) could add a little more sparkle (and sweetness?) to the sound.
The Selmer Presence does have sparkle and luminosity to the sound. It is concentrated with nice shape and very easy to voice. You have to try several (if you can find a place that stocks them--the big clarinet fests are a possibility) to get one with the best intonation. For vibrancy, the Presence is probably the closest match to a good Buffet Prestige, but the Prestige has more weight and dynamic range to the sound. The Selmer Privilege has a weightier sound than the Presence but lacks the focus and the charm (sweetness) of the less expensive Presence. Considering the current selling price, both the Selmer Presence and the Yamaha CSVR are bargains. Both definitely worth a try. If you have the $$$, by all means consider the Buffet Prestige (both R13 and RC)
My impression of the Uebel Superior from having tried it just once is that the sound is very Germanic and a bit out of the mainstream for most American orchestral players. The wood and keywork are excellent. It is, like a Selmer Recital, a heavy instrument of thick wood. Definitely a choice for players who want to sound that way. I'm looking to try the Uebel Superior II, which promises to be more of a mainstream French/American sounding clarinet. The less expensive models of the Uebels to my ears do not match the quality of the Yamaha CSVR or the Selmer Presence and are not that much cheaper.
Bottom line: You don't have a lot of money but want a very good clarinet, try a
Selmer Presence and compare it with a Yamaha CSVR. Or find a really good well-maintained and refurbished used Buffet R13. (Saxquest has some nice ones for sale with online video demonstrations). Any one of these three options could be something even the best of orchestral players could live with at an expenditure of just around $2800 - $3200.
Post Edited (2017-12-13 01:02)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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