 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: John Peacock
Date: 2022-12-10 20:44
I just noticed that the Buffet web site https://www.buffet-crampon.com/en/instruments/clarinets/ no longer lists the Vintage model - so has it been officially discontinued? Trawling the Wayback Machine Archive, it was still there as recently as May 2022. So apparently Buffet are capable of shrinking their product range, rather than always adding new models. I'm sad they chose this one for the axe, though, as it was my favourite out of all the current offerings. But I presume this was not a common view, and that it didn't sell. I'd be curious to know if BB members have views on why this might have been.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JTJC
Date: 2022-12-10 21:13
Isn't trimming the range not only a natural consequence of almost continually offering new models but also necessary? It must be far easier and more believable to bring out a new model and say it's the best thing around (mechanics, intonation, sound, ergonomics etc) rather than try to convince people the the fourth iteration of Model X has those attributes.
We see this scatter gun approach with many product lines these days. Take a look at what UK breweries now do. There's a large range of beers in the lineup of many manufacturers and a while later most have gone, never to be seen again. There used to be three or four beers in the range over decades. Perfectly good products are removed as well, as with the Buffet Vintage. These days it must be hard if not impossible to create a new R13 type standard which would last decades.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: prigault
Date: 2022-12-10 22:49
Maybe they realised that they had to discontinue it to make that model properly vintage ;-)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2022-12-11 03:25
^^^ This ^^^
"That's like someone inviting you to tour a factory where they are manufacturing antiques." - Jim Rohn
Getting back into playing after 20 years.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Vandoren M15 Profile 88 (non-13) mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren blue-box #3.5 reeds
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: John Peacock
Date: 2022-12-11 15:01
OK yes I know the suitability of the name can be debated, and it's certainly a source of confusion in internet searches when trying to discriminate the modern variant from genuinely old instruments. But if the playing characteristics were good enough, it would have sold regardless of the name. So were there specific attributes that people didn't like?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2022-12-11 20:19
maybe it is because Buffet spent decades convincing everyone that only R13 bore clarinets were good and then all of a sudden tried to sell a clarinet that plays like a pre-R13 and wondered why it did not sell well.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: donald
Date: 2022-12-12 03:48
Hunter_100, if I understand you correctly you think the Vintage was based on "pre R13" clarinets, but the Vintage is actually supposed to be a 60s R13 that's been souped up... It's the "Tradition" that's the confusing variant of being a "pre R13 bore" but with the tone-hole placement etc of the Tosca.
If I had to choose between a NEW R13 and a NEW "R13 Vintage", I'd definitely pick the Vintage, each one I've played (esp the A clarinets) was easily better than an off the rack R13
dn
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2022-12-12 05:17
my mistake, I thought this was one of the cylinder bore throwback models. I still think the marketing is incredibly confusing.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: J. J.
Date: 2022-12-12 07:57
I don’t find Buffets catalog to be at all confusing. I was going to say that the Gala didn’t seem like it belonged in the professional range, but after reading the description I see that it fits in just fine with the Tradition-style bore grouping.
If anything, it’s the Vintage that was the odd child that didn’t fit into their product ranges. That’s just business, but it’s also sensible manufacturing and product management. If anyone really liked a particular Vintage clarinet, I feel pretty confident that they would find something else by Buffet they’d like. And apparently, Buffet feels the same way.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2022-12-15 09:00
>> If anyone really liked a particular Vintage clarinet, I feel pretty confident that they would find something else by Buffet they’d like. <<
...and if not, they can try to find a vintage Vintage.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: donald
Date: 2022-12-15 12:43
The only model in the current Buffet line that is "like" the Vintage are the R13 Prestige. The newer Buffet models are not at all similar.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
