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Re: How to choose a good Buffet clarinet

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2018-07-25 14:52

"Back-in-the-day" it was a given that you needed a number of clarinets (any clarinet....but "back-in-the-day" it was just Selmer and Buffet) in front of you (at least five if possible) so that you could choose amongst them to find the one that responded and tuned best for you. Some of that is HOW you play. Some of that is variation from horn to horn. Some of that is caused by what happens to wood AFTER fabrication, finishing....and all the things that happen to the inert clarinet before it gets into your hands from France.

That hasn't changed much today except variation from horn to horn is quite low. I don't know for sure how much Buffet has gone to CNC production, but I had tried quite a few R13s in the past ten years and found them to be quite a bit more constant in playability across the board.

That said, the finishing (pads and corks) for the R13 has become even poorer. The "cork" key silencers are now this smushy white foam that compresses quickly and changes tolerances just as quick. This is just what you DO NOT want at the "one-and-one Bb" and the "crow's foot."

And then there are the perfunctory bladder pads that are put on the basic R13. They may last a year or so, but even the initial seal can be less than satisfactory. Of course many many players would immediately re-pad a new Buffet horn as a matter of course anyway......at least "back-in-the-day."

That all said, it would still be ideal to try at least one other horn against what you choose so that you have a comparison.

But with any trial you should be "tuner certain" that you are happy with how the twelfths, octaves, and close fourths and fifths tune before you buy.

...................Paul Aviles

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