 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: r small
Date: 2020-02-14 09:19
I'm actually looking into getting one. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who's played one. From what I've gathered so far they're pretty nice. Automatic double register vent. Alternate Eb/Ab key. I'm wondering about the register key. Is it the same as on the prestige bass, i.e. sax type design? Or more like Bb soprano register key?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2020-02-14 21:17
I don’t think they have an automatic double register vent, just the single one. I ended up going with a 1950s Buffet alto because I wanted one with the double register vent.
-Jdbassplayer
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: r small
Date: 2020-02-15 01:17
The new (current) Prestige model is advertised by Buffet as having the automatic double register vent. Also the alternate Eb/Ab key. But I haven't been able to find out about the design of the register key (the left thumb touch piece). Just out of curiosity, what is the design of the register (left thumb) key on your 1950s alto? Is it like the soprano register key? Or like a saxophone octave key with the thumb touch piece being to the right of the F hole? I notice that on the Prestige bass the register key has the sax style shape. I would think the alto would be the same but one never know.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2020-02-15 01:30
Mine has a basic teardrop shape.
Based off of the pictures on the Buffet website, it only has a single register vent even though it has the new logo on one picture:
https://www.buffet-crampon.com/en/instruments/clarinets/prestige-alto/
I have not heard any news on a redesigned alto so I would be very skeptical of the source of that information. It does have a separate automatic vent for Bb, but that is standard on all altos and student bass clarinets. On my alto the upper vent is positioned very close to the neck which makes the upper clarion and altissimo much easier to play. The single vent on the Prestige is positioned very low which might make the upper clarion and altissimo harder to play. Surprisingly the only modern altos I’ve seen with a true fully automatic double register vent is the Yamaha and the Amati.
-Jdbassplayer
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: r small
Date: 2020-02-15 02:08
The ad for the Prestige alto on the Woodwind & Brasswind site mentions an "automatic double octave key [sic]". Is it possible that the upper vent on the Prestige is just not visible in the pictures? Anyway, I find it strange that Buffet's own ad for the Prestige alto would fail to mention a true automatic double register vent. So you may be right. I think I'll email Phil Muncy and see if he knows. He shows one on his website. I'll be back when I find out for sure what's going on with the Prestige alto.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2020-02-15 02:40
Well clarinets don’t have “octave keys” and the “double” part is likely just referring to the fact that the one key controls both the single register vent and the Bb tonehole. WWBW is unfortunately notorious for not being very knowledgeable about the instruments they are selling so I’m not surprised. When I get home I post some pictures so you can see what I mean with how high the vent is on my 1950 alto.
-Jdbassplayer
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2020-02-15 05:03
Attachment: B8C406A9-51CE-4F2F-9472-47A891A85204.jpeg (1102k)
Here is a picture of the vents on my two Buffet alto clarinets. You can really see how high the upper vent needs to be placed in order to be effective. The edge of the vent is less than 1mm from the bottom of the neck socket. I have never seen a Prestige alto clarinet configured like this.
-Jdbassplayer
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: r small
Date: 2020-02-15 06:17
Thanks. Interesting pics. What is the horn on the right? Is that a different horn, one with just a single vent?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2020-02-15 20:04
My Prestige is 12 years old and is a WONDERFUL horn. Back then they came with two neck joints but the present one comes with an adjustable neck joint that makes tuning much easier. Bought the adjustable one a year ago and now only use it. It seems to make the whole horn play a bit better.
This alto has a BIG sound, not your usual wheezy altos that gave them a bad name. The intonation is spot on too. I have been asked to play it rather than the basset horn as it projects so much better and its tuning is so good.
The octave mechanism just has a toggle between the Bb and octave key. It is the one thing on the horn that requires adjustment every now and then. Mine has had two visits to the shop over the 12 years on this issue.
Eefer guy
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: r small
Date: 2020-02-15 22:15
Does the register vent switch to the upper vent when you go from clarion Eb to E? If so that would be a double vent system. Also, does your register key touch piece look like a pearl drop design or a saxophone type design (touch piece is to the right of the F hole? Thanks, R Small.
Post Edited (2020-02-15 22:16)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2020-02-16 00:17
There is no double register mechanism on modern Buffet altos. I haven't seen any instrument above serial 25000 with it.
Of the big 4 (or big 3 since Leblanc disappeared) only Yamaha has an alto in production with this mechanism.
On altos, two register holes are hardly needed. I have never seen a basset horn with double register mechanism.
Of today's altos the Buffet can play circles around the competitors.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: r small
Date: 2020-02-16 01:23
I tried out a Leblanc alto a few years back. Single vent system. Played and sounded great from low Eb to throat Bb. As soon as I crossed the break to B it played like there was a towel stuffed down the barrel. Within 20 minutes I packed it up and sent it back to WW&BW. Still maybe the Prestige is worth a look.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2020-02-16 03:00
No, the Buffet Prestige has a toggle for the Bb to the octave and no second octave key. This single octave key seems to work just fine and anything but stuffy!
Besides that the normal plateau RH first key has a hole that allow much better B and F# resonance too.
Eefer guy
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Daniel Frazelle
Date: 2020-02-16 04:24
For a short period of time, I played Alto in the U.S. Navy Band in DC. I was shocked how good the new Buffets are. Since that time, everyone who has jumped over there to help out has had the same reaction. It’s become a very playable position with the introduction of quality instruments.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: r small
Date: 2020-02-16 08:32
Thanks Eefer guy. You obviously know this instrument well. Can you tell me what type of register key touch piece it has, traditional shape as found on Bb sopranos or the more ergonomic sax type shape found on most modern basses these days? I googled the Prestige alto and then went to the images and couldn't find a single pic that showed the instrument from the back.
Post Edited (2020-02-16 08:33)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2020-02-16 11:16
>> Of today's altos the Buffet can play circles around the competitors. <<
Even though I wouldn't say the Buffet bass is necessarily better than others (like Selmer, which is about the same), I prefer it. Generally I like the Buffet ergonomics better than Selmer, for all clarinets but especially the larger ones. That said, I actually preferred the current Selmer alto. The Buffet alto was a little disappointing compared with their bass. It's not bad or anything. It's very good. It was surprising and if anything I was biased to prefer the Buffet and expected to like it better than others. Not that this necessarily means anything for anyone else if they tried the same altos.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: r small
Date: 2020-02-16 19:32
clarnibass---does the Selmer alto have an alternate L.H. Eb/Ab key as is usually found on the pro model basses?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2020-02-16 21:05
Yes the octave key is like a smaller version of the one they use on their bass. Has a very good feel.
It also has the extra Eb/ Ab lever and is in a good spot that doesn't interfere with the other left hand pinkie keys.
Agreed wth clarnibass on the bass ergonomics. The alto is of that same philosophy. It feels like a small version of their bass.
Eefer guy
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: r small
Date: 2020-02-16 21:14
Thanks Eefer guy. Good to hear that the Buffet alto has the more ergonomic register key. And another big selling point for me is the alternate Eb/Ab key. Without this key it is impossible to slur low Ab to low Eb and vice versa. I notice that the Yamaha alto does not have this necessary key. Not sure about the Selmer.
Post Edited (2020-02-17 03:59)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2020-02-17 00:51
Clarnibass,
Did you play a modern Buffet alto with serial above 30.000?
When it comes to resonance it overshines both the Buffet basset horn and the two pro bass models. I have tried several instruments of each model.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2020-02-17 02:23
The other instrument in my picture is a 1963 Buffet alto. It’s interesting to note that every Buffet alto clarinet I’ve ever seen going back to the 50s had a left hand Ab/Eb key. Earlier instruments lacked the extra key and were built more like clarinets with open tone holes and a range to low E only.
-Jdbassplayer
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2020-02-17 09:37
>> Did you play a modern Buffet alto with serial above 30.000? <<
I'm pretty sure but when was this "modern" model start (approx year)? I didn't check the serial numbers.
>> Agreed wth clarnibass on the bass ergonomics. The alto is of that same philosophy. It feels like a small version of their bass. <<
It really didn't feel that way to me (the second part).
>> clarnibass---does the Selmer alto have an alternate L.H. Eb/Ab key as is usually found on the pro model basses? <<
I don't remember, maybe someone else would know.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2020-02-17 14:11
Serial 30.000 for Buffets is mid 90s.
That's when they did some serious work on these instruments and for instance made the lower joint longer so the low Eb does not vent through the bell.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
