 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Joseph O'Kelly
Date: 2001-10-25 20:59
I've been going through the process of testing my Evette Master Model against my practacly new (a little over a year old) Buffet Festival. I actually like the Evette better for all around playing. I hand chose the Festival myself to ensure that I got the best one avalible to me at the time. At the time I could not imagine a better instrument until I got the Evette (intended to be used as a backup horn.) Imediatly I fell in love. Due to different obsticles (including an incident where someone tried to ruin my festival and R-13 A clarinet by pouring amonia on them.) I also loaned out the Evette to someone and thereforeI had not the chance to do a back to back test. I finally have both horns with me and tested them both. Some people say the Evette MM is an R-13 while some don't. I don't really care because to me it plays better than my favorite Buffet Festival. I wish I had got this horn (payed $125) before shelling out the $2500 for the Festival. The Evette now sits alongside my Buffet R-13 A in the double case while the Festival takes a back seat. I am not the only one who notices how nice this clarinet is. My very tallented teacher (who seems to only play on new Buffets because she feels older horns are stuffy. We usually don't see eye on equipment) played on the horn and was impressed. While hearing me on the Evette clarinet she exclaimed she was impressed with my sound and liked it better than before (I must also point out that I was sick as a dog the day she heard me play on it.)
I personly think the Evette MM are pro. horns and is attested by this and other MMs I've played. The best part is their affordability. While the R-13s on Ebay tend to go for $600+++++ the Master Models seem to remain under $400. I think that just because the Buffet Crampon & Cie logo is stamped on it dosn't make it worth more. I once paid $1200 for a 1949 R-13 (fully restored) that wasn't nearly as good as well as playing tons of other Buffets. If I was in the market for a new clarinet and given to me to try out was my Evette with the Buffet logo a, told it was a new R-13, (Prestige, Festival, ect...) I would easily shell out the $1600+ price for it(if I had it.)
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Author: Joseph O'Kelly
Date: 2001-10-25 21:15
Why would I say such stuff unless I believe it. It is not like I can't afford a top of line clarinet so I brag about my Evette. I own a Festival Bb and R-13A clarinet that are just over a year old and personly chosen by myself. Therefore my oppinion is completely untainted. I am trying to let people know the Evette MMs are an affordable alternative.
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Author: Eileen
Date: 2001-10-25 21:19
I'm intrigued by your story about someone deliberately pouring ammonia on your clarinets. What was that all about?
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Author: Joseph O'Kelly
Date: 2001-10-25 21:28
People can be very stupid when it comes to practicle jokes. I left my doule case in a locked locker in the band room. The culprit (don't know who) managed to get the combination (very easy to obtain as they are posted on the band directors desk) and sprayed an amonia based cleaning solution in the case. I noticed it quickly that day and wass able to treat it and bring it to a tech. before much serious was done. It did however take the stain off the barrels and on parts of the R-13.
You know those locks with the little keys on the cases? LOCK THEM.
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Author: madvax
Date: 2001-10-25 22:18
A couple of years ago I took my Master Model to my clarinet choir for the others to try (there were 5 others). Just for fun, I conducted a blind test asking each player to guess the make and model after playing it, without actually seeing it. The musicians ranged in experience from advanced through professional, and each currently played an R-13.
The result...All of them guessed that the Master Model was a Buffet R-13. A couple of them didn't believe it and asked to try it again. All were very surprised.
I have had several Master Models over the years. Each time I have my woodwind technician measure the bore and all of them has had a poly-cylindrical bore with the same dimensions as the R-13.
As with R-13's, the playing qualities of each Master Model will vary. Some are better than others. I'm glad you found a sweet one.
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2001-10-26 00:33
About a year ago I discussed my old Evette (an MM even though it doesn't say that), so forgive the repetition.
In 1969 I had the opprotunity to spend an evening alone in a studio with a shipment of 25 Evettes and 25 R-13's. I narrowed my search down to two horns which were fabulous. One was an Evette (then $250) and the other an R1-3 ($850 as I remember). The only difference was a little different case and the R-13 had finer more closed grain structure... the bore looked a bit smoother. I bought the Evette and played it for almost 30 years before my daughter discovered it and wouldn't return it.
In 2000 I had it rebuilt including plating the previously nickel keys silver. The tech had it tested out by her tester, a professional clarinettist who would not believe it wasn't an R-13. He thought it was one of the best R-13's he had ever played.
Last year my daughter took it to college. When she auditioned the band/orchestra director was amazed it wasn't a really nice R-13, he is the school's clarinet prof. and his wife is also a professional clarinetist. BTW my daughter is now the first chair in both orch and band.
I replaced the Evette with a vintage (aprox 1954 R-13) which I had completely overhauled by the same tech. It is nice, but doesn't hold a candle to the Evette. My 1925 FB Buffet sounds as nice as the Evette, but is no where as in-tune with itself as the Evette (I have to do a lot more adjustment with my embochure).
So ignore anyone who has his nose in the air when he reads "Evette", there are superlative Evettes out there which equal or surpass almost any other professional horn. The other side of the coin is that you may have to go through a lot of Evettes before you latch on to that special one... remember there were 24 of them I didn't pick!
Congratulations on another winner Evette!
Terry
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Author: C@p
Date: 2001-10-27 03:56
I have a circ 1953 Evette Schaeffer Master Modle which my parents purchased for me when I was in 7th grade. 47 years later it has far less focused tone of any off the rach R-13, Festival or Vintage or other newer clarinet in the $1,600 to $2,600 price range. It has a slightly better feel than the Vintage I purchased but the tone is not as good.
The gentleman who also has a very old MM who plays next to me swears by his MM.
As usual, as Professor Peter Schikele likes to say: If it sounds good, it is good. (And vice versa?)
C@p
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Author: donald nicholls
Date: 2001-10-28 10:42
i used an Evette-Schaeffer mouthpiece (refaced by a friend in Tulsa) for a while in1996 before having to return it, it sounded great and i've looked for one for ages.... do you guys have the original mouthpieces, and do you ever play them?
donald
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Author: Joseph O\\'Kelly
Date: 2001-10-28 20:02
The origonal Evette/ E&S mouthpieces were Chedvelle blanks. I wish my Evette came with the origonal mouthpiece. It did come with a Selmer HS* mouthpiece which I don't particullary care for.
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