 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mozartklar
Date: 2025-10-01 02:55
Does anyone have insight on why the Buffet Prestige R-13 B-flat/A clarinets are becoming harder to find in any sort of quantity? Is Buffet just pushing their redesign of the Festival harder than any other model? Are the tariffs impacting things?
Post Edited (2025-10-01 03:11)
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Author: m1964
Date: 2025-10-01 03:39
It has to do with the Buffet USA pricing policy.
In Europe, RC prestige, R13 Prestige and Festival are priced almost exactly the same.
In the US, however, the Festival priced much cheaper than the R13 Prestige.
So, dealers do not carry Prestige model because it is harder to sell and, at the same time, they can make a case for Festival that has exactly the same futures as Prestige.
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2025-10-01 09:01
It's a minor detail but the Prestige R13 only includes one barrel (65mm) while the Prestige RC and Festival models both include two (65mm & 66mm). The Mopane R13 also only includes one (66mm).
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Homage mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #4 reeds
ATG System, Cordier Reed Trimmer, and A.L.E. Reed Balancer
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Author: ruben
Date: 2025-10-01 13:33
I think the Festival is quite different from the Prestige. It had a few intonation issues that have been corrected in its new version. Its tester: Nicolas Baldeyrou, a great player (that actually plays it! This is not always the case with testers that have helped design an instrument.)
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: m1964
Date: 2025-10-01 13:49
David H. Kinder wrote:
“It's a minor detail but the Prestige R13 only includes one barrel (65mm) while the Prestige RC and Festival models both include two (65mm & 66mm). The Mopane R13 also only includes one (66mm).”
The Prestige R13 used to come with one barrel but now they sell it with two, at least in Europe.
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Author: m1964
Date: 2025-10-01 14:06
Ruben wrote:l
“I think the Festival is quite different from the Prestige. It had a few intonation issues that have been corrected in its new version.”
I played both the Festival and the R13 Prestige - they sound differently.
However, if I could try the Festival only, coming from a “lesser” clarinet, I would buy the Festival, especially knowing that the Prestige would cost $2000 more.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-10-01 14:34
The Festival is part of Buffet's Prestige level lineup. It won't play like an R13 Prestige or an RC Prestige as it's neither of them.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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