 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2026-07-11 20:47
Baring my introduction to clarinet as a elementary and middle school student,
I've played Buffet clarinets my whole life.
We certainly need not rehash the strengths and weaknesses in this thread of the brand, including not only the inconsistency across instruments, but need, by the more discerning player, to first be "set up" fresh out of the factory.
Not only has a cottage industry of repair techs emerged who do this, our craft has created the verb "Brannenized" to symbolize the work of Bill Brannen, who, among others "cut his teeth" doing this.
Say what you want about Buffet but there's one thing we can't disagree on: they are omnipresent in the clarinet world, and that means that repair techs and parts are available to fix them, especially in our age where mailing you instrument for repair is becoming far more common, while physically bringing it in for service less so.
But should someone make this a criterion for purchase? For example, would Yahama say, touted to produce not only incredible consistent and soprano clarinets, right out of the factory, but that themselves often require very little maintenance, be weighed against repair techs less familiar with them if/when they need service?
Needless to say we all can't use Yamaha'a Atelier service.
Maybe that's less than an ideal example. Taken more to an extreme might you turn down a Schwenk & Seggelke clarinet, touted to be one of the finest made, simply because the nearest shop that services them well is in Bamberg (or maybe that's not true?)
Post Edited (2026-07-11 22:23)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2026-07-11 22:12
Whenever I have to service or fully overhaul a Buffet clarinet I've not previously worked on (from E13 to Tosca and above), I give a heavy sigh and say "Here we go - same old, same old" as I'm finding myself having to deal with the exact same problems that Buffet could have easily sorted out at the factory.
Selmer have also been doing stupid things with their clarinets by fitting those annoying point screws with the plastic collar, springing the throat G# with the spring in the wrong pillar and nylon pins in the LH levers. And that metal sleeved middle tenon that's crimped onto the tenon and can still shift about, only prevented from fully rotating by the LH2 ring key/C#/G# key pillar baseplate slotting into its flange on the tenon shoulder.
Yamaha out of all the big name makers are still currently building clarinets how they should be built, but could do with using more appropriate silencing materials in certain places than using natural cork.
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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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2026-07-12 01:59
I wonder how your thoughts about these manufacturers, as well as your relative ability to remedy issues with their wares might inform your recommendations to others Chris, not in your line of work, as it regards purchase decisions.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2026-07-12 02:20
I think you pose a two part question
ONE: Do you need to supe up your your clarinet before you take it in to your first post purchase rehearsal with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra?
TWO: Where do you go for great service?
As you know there are few folks of Chris' stature around where you can get true artistry performed regarding having a clarinet "perform" to it's highest potential (seal and appropriate spring tension that lasts for years......ten years guaranteed from the great Mr. Brannen regarding pads).
The answer is no, for the first question. You don't need best results
The answer to the second question is that you need to find a tried and true repair person near you (good luck with that), or send your clarinet to one IF you know who that person is, and where they repair clarinets (again, good luck with that).
In the states the only person I trust right now is Jonathan Copeland of Tennessee, but there may be a few others out there.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2026-07-12 02:23
While I'd tell anyone buying a clarinet to try as many out as possible and narrow their choice down to the one that suits them best, I'd still recommend whatever their choice is (which is entirely personal), the brand new clarinet they bought is only built to pass the factory quality control guidelines and will benefit from a service to improve things still.
Companies that say they offer a full workshop set-up prior to sale means both anything and nothing - at most it will be inspected and minor regulation issues sorted out and at least it's still as it was when it left the factory.
I'll only service clarinets after the warranty period has expired as any warranty work should be covered by the dealer. Even then I've seen warranty work done by one of the major UK specialists to an RC clarinet where the top tenon cork had come adrift and they just ran a load of superglue to glue the flappy end of the cork down as well as got a load of superglue running down and left stuck on the joint surface.
I know what saxes I recommend above all others - they're both Japanese with both names beginning with a Y and both ending with an A. The one with the three syllable name being my first choice followed by the one with the five syllable name as my second choice.
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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