 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Richard Ruppel
Date: 1999-06-23 16:08
Dear Clarinet Afficionados:
I wrote earlier and got a good deal of helpful advice about buying a clarinet for a high school freshman.
We have the opportunity to buy a Buffet Festival, with a model number of 1139 GL (I believe the letters stand for Greenline), for $1,700, but I can't find either the name "Festival" or the model number on the Web.
Buffet says the "Greenline" is their attempt to cut down on the amount of grenadilla they use in their instruments (the store claims they are more durable).
What do you all think, both of the price and of the clarinet?
Many thanks in advance.
Richard Ruppel
rjruppel@mail.Viterbo.edu
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-06-23 16:49
I own a Buffet Bb Soprano Festival clarinet of all wood construction from the 1994 year production run (based on this BBS's database and the horn's serial number). It's a fine musical instrument in what I call the "premium pro grade" level of musical instruments. The standard nomenclature for grades of musical instruments is: student, intermediate, professional. However, I believe there is a difference between, say the Buffet R-13 and the Festival, both in quality of parts (wood, keys, etc.) and quality of workmanship. As far as I can tell, the Festival is a step higher in quality on both fronts. Beware that this is my opinion of the situation. You may get agreement or disagreement on this point.
The Buffet R-13 Greenline has been on the US market for a couple of years now, but I don't know how well it's been selling. Only Buffet and their distributors will know this fact. However, as far as I can tell from postings on this BBS, both of these Greenline series clarinets should play as well as their wooden sisters, but without the need to worry about taking the horn out in the weather.
I wanted to see the Festival Greenline in the US market for a couple of years now. I believe that this will meet the need of advanced clarinetists to have an excellent horn and at the same time a very rugged horn for almost any playing condition. Let me know if you get the Festival Greenline clarinet. I'd love to hear your opinions of it.
By the way, if the offered horn is new, the quoted price is less than the "mail order" price of an all wood Festival ($1700 vs $2000).
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-06-23 18:07
paul wrote:
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>However, I believe there is a difference between, say the Buffet R-13 and the Festival, both in quality of parts (wood, keys, etc.) and quality of workmanship. As far as I can tell, the Festival is a step higher in quality on both fronts. Beware that this is my opinion of the situation. You may get agreement or disagreement on this point.
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I'd be one to disagree on a chunk of this. I think the R-13 and Festival are very similar in workmanship, but the Festival does have a few features that command a premium - prettier wood, silver plating, aux Eb lever, and Gortex pads are standard on the Festival. The Festival <b>is</b> slightly different in tone and tuning than the stock R-13; in both cases mostly better IMHO.
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By the way, if the offered horn is new, the quoted price is less than the "mail order" price of an all wood Festival ($1700 vs $2000).
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Just to keep things clear - the Festival is not available via mail order, which is why you won't see it in mail rder catalogs. It is listed on the Buffet web site, and is available to many of the Buffet dealers, including some places who do mail order business. You just can't buy it that way.
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Author: jim lande@erols.com
Date: 1999-06-24 02:29
You didn't mention what age student. I went in to the Washington Music Center to buy an R13 (because the insurance would pay for one) and took along my ten year old son. Chuck Levin (who sold my dad my first clarinet in 1959) looked at my son and pleadingly said "Don't buy him an R13. Get him a Vito or a Bundy."
Chuck's advice was right on. My wooden clarinet barely survided 5 years of Jr & Sr high school. Kids don't treat a horn right. Now, if you are talking about getting a pro horn for a Jr or Senior who is going to study music in College, yes, it makes sense. Otherwise, put the difference in the bank and see if the kid is still playing when you are shopping for college graduation presents. (That's when I got my first R13 and boy did I love that horn. Write down the serial number and save the receipt so you don't spend 8 months fighting with the insurance company when it is stolen.)
good luck
jim
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Author: Sara
Date: 1999-06-24 04:21
jim lande@erols.com wrote:
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My wooden clarinet barely survided 5 years of Jr & Sr high school. Kids don't treat a horn right. Now, if you are talking about getting a pro horn for a Jr or Senior who is going to study music in College, yes, it makes sense. Otherwise, put the difference in the bank and see if the kid is still playing when you are shopping for college graduation presents.
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That may be true for some kids but my friend has had a Prestige R13 for about 5 years now and and she's only 14. I know for a fact she babies her horn and its in immaculate condition. I think the way someone treats their clarinet depends on how much dedication they have towards playing, and if the student is totally dedicated than,yes, geet a pro line, if not get a student grade. Your commentsmake it seem as though we kids have no care and respect for our instruments.
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-06-24 18:58
If the Festival is a good horn, why doesn't Buffet allow it to be sold via mail order like the R-13? Ditto for the Greenline Festival for the US market, too.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-06-24 19:09
paul wrote:
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If the Festival is a good horn, why doesn't Buffet allow it to be sold via mail order like the R-13? Ditto for the Greenline Festival for the US market, too.
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Marketing. The Festival series is only sold by selected Buffet distributors, and is restriced by Buffet from being a mail order product. It maintains some "exclusivity" that way.
I may not agree with the premise, but that's what I've been told.
Greenlines are now available for all the Bb and A soprano Buffet product line except Elite and possibly Vintage.
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Author: Richard Ruppel
Date: 1999-06-24 19:47
Hi Again All: Many thanks for the responses to my question about the Buffet. Sounds as though it's a good instrument, though possibly a bit high-end for my h.s. freshman.
One last comment. It seems that the Green line would make a good intrument for a student because it appears to be more durable than the pure-grenadilla horns. Is this true? And is there any sacrifice of sound quality?
Richard
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-06-24 20:38
Richard Ruppel wrote:
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One last comment. It seems that the Green line would make a good intrument for a student because it appears to be more durable than the pure-grenadilla horns. Is this true? And is there any sacrifice of sound quality?
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A number of performers are using the Greenline, and without looking at the clarinet I think very, very few people if anyone could ever tell. They're guaranteed never to crack. They are a bit heavier than the regular wood clarinets, though.
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-06-24 21:41
If the Greenline Festival plays and performs like its wooden brethren, then it's a pro grade horn with all of its capabilities and requirements. For instance, I can "shade" the notes on my Festival by holding my fingers just above the tone holes. It's a nice professional trick, but can you see how finicky the instrument would then be for sloppy fingerings for a high school aged player? This horn takes a lot of discipline just to play scales on it. It's almost too much horn for a novice. I'm not trying to scare you away from this horn. Rather, I'm trying to tell you the level of self discipline that is required to play it.
This is what I mean by saying a student and an intermediate grade horn are much more forgiving than a pro grade horn. The lesser grade horns let the player get away with all kinds of mistakes, but the quality of tone (sound produced) and quality of intonation (tuning) may not be as good as a pro grade horn. They will sound a bit bland and they may not play as well in tune. But for the younger, less mature players, these horns are ideal. They are build to take abuse in the field, minimal care, less than perfect fingerings, and perhaps less practice by the player. What's more, these horns are also significantly less expensive than pro grade horns. Make sure you consider all options for a young player, including the player's maturity level, ability to stick with a project for a long time, desire to learn through dull hard work (i.e. practice), and especially the thickness of your wallet.
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Author: jim lande@erols.com
Date: 1999-06-25 03:15
Sara wrote:
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Your commentsmake it seem as though we kids have no care and respect for our instruments.
Jim wrote:
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To be honest, I was thinking about boys. My 13 year old's horn was left on the bus on the last day of school. (I have been hoping that HE would call the school.) I also remember the wooden clarinet I lent to a cousin. (Kid must have drooled like a goat. The swab was mint.) However, there were two very fine clarinet players in my high school band
and I think both these GUYS babied their horns.
So let me revise my advice. Look around the kid's room. Is the good stuff put away. Not too much looks beat up. Kid doesn't skin knees on the way home. Not too forgetful. And the kid really loves music and playing. Go for it. Otherwise, student model.
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Author: Sheryl
Date: 1999-07-09 02:22
Sounds high.....I just bought new Buffet fer under $800
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-07-09 02:29
Sheryl wrote:
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Sounds high.....I just bought new Buffet fer under $800
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I don't think it's an R13 model. If it is - tell me where!
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