 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jonathan from Hong Kong
Date: 2002-05-19 14:44
I have just come back from my 2-weeks sighting seeing visit in Europe. I just want to share my experience in buying a pair of Buffet Festival in there.
Before the commencement of my trip, I had in my mind to buy a pair of Buffet Greenline Festival so I sent several messages for enquiry to some music shops in Paris. However, I got the replies that neither the shops nor Buffet had any stock of Greenline clarinets at that moment. I was told that it was because Greenline is less favourable than ebony, its production is limited. The next batch of Greenline, as I was told that, will only come out in June when my trip would be over so I have to give up my intial plan.
The music shops in Paris are mainly located at Rue de Rome which are very easily to get access from Europe Metro Station. The shops in there are Musique et Art, Le Menetrier and Feeling. There is also one big shop outside this zone called Woodwind and Brasswind located at La Villete (within 5 minutes walk from Holiday Inn Hotel, La Villette; also very close to Ponte de Pantin Metro Station). I believe they all have their own websites so one can take a look.
I first came to Le Menetrier and was given 6 to 8 Festival Bb and 1 Festival A to try at its practice room. Most of them are of very good quality. But I notice that tone characteristics are varied from different batches (which you can tell from their serial numbers). Eventually, I only picked up a Bb.
I then went to Musique et Art and was given 4 Festival A to try. Accidentally, I picked up one with serial number come close to that of my Festival Bb.
Now, coming to the most important matter - money. I had paid 5,307.45 Euro for Festival Bb and A with a double case (before tax) and would be refunded 869.55 Euro for tax. So the net price is ended up with 4,437.9 Euro (or slightly more than USD4,050). It is a very good deal as compared with shopping in Hong Kong where you can only get at most a pair of R13 or RC for the same money.
At this point, I think I need to mention the current lines of Buffet professional clarinets. Of course, the top line is Elite. The second comes with Festival, RC Prestige and R13 Prestige (same level) which have the same specifications save as the bore designs. The bottom line ends with R13 and RC. Because R13 and R13 Prestige are for USA market, you can hardly find them in Paris and even you are able to find them, their retail prices are marked higher than RC/RC Prestige. Perhaps, the reverse situation is found in USA market with RC and RC Presige.
After some short practice with my new Festivals, I notice Festivals have a larger sound than my old pair of RC. They are much heavier than RC. The throat notes in Festival A are much improved. The standard barrel for Festival A (tuned at 440 hz.) is 660 mm instead of 650 mm but notes E and F above the middle-C in Festival A are lower in pitch and required some adjustments.
Just coming to the question about pitch, I have one thing to add. Indeed, although we say the instruments for USA are tuned at 440 hz. and those for European countries are tuned at 442 hz. or even 444 hz., there is indeed no difference in the design of their bores (of the same model of course) except the length of barrels. For example, both of my Festival Bb and A come with two barrels one 660 mm for 440 hz. and one 650 mm for 442 hz. Whether you want a 440 hz. or 442 hz. clarinet, you will only get the same instrument and make the difference by putting up a different barrel.
This is so far for clarinet shopping. Besides, I have visited to Vandoren, Paris and details are provided in a separate message.
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Author: Stéphane
Date: 2002-05-19 17:57
Jonathan,
I am lucky enough to be French and to live near Paris, and this is indeed a very good description of clarinet shopping in our capital. You mentionned the main shops one can find in Paris if interested in buying a good horn. Another good thing to mention, is that you also have some very small retailers, that are outside the retail mainstream but can provide a great service in helping you to find the right horn, providing you can dedicate some time. Those people usually don't have a lot in stock, but they will set up a visit for you directly at the manufacturers (Buffet, Selmer or Leblanc mainly) where you will have a chance to testplay and hand pick the very right horn of your dream. I did that a few months back with one of them at Selmer and that was great.
About WW&BW in Paris, I would like to add that they are located near two of the few temples of music we have here, The Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, which is the supreme French music institute in the country if you wish to become a professional player, and La Cite de la Musique where there is a fabulous museum of music instruments definitely worth visiting if you have a chance to come over here.
I am taking the occasion to tell you all that if one of you is coming to Paris and would like some direction about good clarineting sites and do's in Paris, I'll be more than happy to oblige. Simply use my email address.
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Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-05-19 22:35
Is coffee still as expensive in Paris as it was when I studied there? Man it was three to four bucks a glass!!!
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Author: beejay
Date: 2002-05-20 03:55
A list of places to buy instruments in Paris should also include Paul Bleucher, whose principal store is near the Bastille Opera.
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Author: Jonathan from Hong Kong
Date: 2002-05-20 05:11
I usually like to use "McDonald Price Index" to compare the living standards of different countries. Currently, you can buy an usual menu (e.g. double cheese, frech fries and coke) at less than Euro 6.00 (approx. USD5.52).
Of course, you can spend more at a more decent restaurant. For lunch (2 persons), I usually had to spend about Euro 20 to 30. The most expensive lunch I had was at a very decent restaurant on Ave. des Champs Elysees. It was about Euro 90 for 2 persons.
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Author: Stéphane
Date: 2002-05-20 05:44
Very well put diz... McDonalds as a price index in France? Oh my...
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Author: Mandy
Date: 2002-05-20 10:17
I too have been told that no Greenlines will be available untill June-July.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-05-20 11:31
Stéphane, did they tell you what they do with the instruments that seem to be rejected by every player?
Do they send them to New Zealand, as far away as possible, to torment me as a repairer?
I note that each batch of imports from Selmer have widely varying serial numbers, and have had quite a bizaar range of faults.
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Author: Stéphane
Date: 2002-05-20 21:35
Well Gordon, I don't know and I hope not! If it is a severe fault like a crack under warranty, then the cracked wood will be thrown away and they will recycle the rest into a new horn (actually the new same one as it will bear the same serial number as the original cracked wood to match the unfaulty part). But that's an interesting question I will ask.
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Author: ken
Date: 2002-05-20 22:17
Gordon(NZ),
Being just across the pond, I've often entertained the same dark thoughts on the ultimate destination of those rejected instruments.
Didn't someone who once worked at Mantes-Sur-Ville say that the factory slang for a bad horn was "kangaroo"...
Ken
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Author: ken
Date: 2002-05-20 23:20
Don't knock McDonalds outside the USA. The tastiest/delicious McDonalds Cheeseburger I ate in my life (I actually went back and bought a 2nd) was in downtown Thessalonica, Greece...of all places. Blew doors on any stateside McDonalds by far.
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