The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: elmo lewis
Date: 2002-06-24 23:30
The local band here just bought 8 Prestiges for its clarinet section. Although the guys are using different mouthpieces and reed strengths all 8 complain that the instruments are stuffy and very resistant. ¿Is this a common problem¿ ¿Can anything be done about it¿
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Author: james
Date: 2002-06-25 03:13
Wow!! I was just going to post something about my expierence about driving to the woodwind and brasswind and trying prestige's and regular r13s. When i got there i was hoping to play a prestige and be so utterly amazed that I would have to buy one right there on the spot. Surprisingly enough, I didn't like them. They are such beautiful instruments, but for some reason, i found them to be very resistant and therefor not for me. I think it would make a great clarinet for orchestral work, but i don't think it would be very flexible. once again..... it looks like not even a dressed up R13 can't beat the regular.
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Author: Eric
Date: 2002-06-25 05:52
I found the same thing about the prestige. I heard that the bore is bigger or something which makes it more resistant. I really don't like it, I think the sound is too bright and not very flexible. Almost felt like my A.
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Author: Jean
Date: 2002-06-25 13:44
I just want to know how your band can afford 8 Prestiges. What has everyone played on in the past? What mouthpieces are you using? Are you talking students/adults? Are you "stuck" with them? I would think you would have a grace period to try them. Do you think they will "loosen up" after they are broken in? More quesitons than answers. I know when I was trying some new instruments at international in chicago I couldn't believe how much I disliked certain instruments.
Good luck,
Jean
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Author: james
Date: 2002-06-25 15:31
I should say, just so i don't start any controversy that it's be a little bit since i was there at WW and BW and maybe they have gotten in some really good prestiges. who knows????
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-06-25 16:00
james wrote:
>
> I should say, just so i don't start any controversy that
> it's be a little bit since i was there at WW and BW and maybe
> they have gotten in some really good prestiges. who
> knows????
What's stuffy to you may be more a result of the equipment you were attaching to the Prestiges and your expectations. Someone else may have found them just perfect.
So they may have been really good Prestiges. For someone else.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2002-06-25 18:35
>Although the guys are using different mouthpieces and reed strengths....
So, the matter seems not on the Buffet R-13 Prestige at large but the lot of them purchased. I feel those may better be checked by a good repair person since I often hear French instruments are shipped with notorious pad adjustments and the seller might not have re-adjusted them properly.
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Author: connie
Date: 2002-06-25 23:25
Gee, I played Bob Gardner's Prestige at band camp and found it WAY less resistant than my R13...going back to the R13 felt like going to an A...I offered him $300 and mine in trade, but the selfish so-and-so wouldn't deal!
connie
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Author: David L Morris
Date: 2002-06-26 02:38
on May 29 this year i purchased a Prestige and found it to be no more resistant than the Selmer 9 that i have been playing. It was purchased at ww and bw. I do agree Hiroshi the instrument should be checked by a good repair person. sounds like you may have a couple of keys that the pad highth is misadjusted. good luck dave
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Author: ken
Date: 2002-06-26 23:10
On the chance the local band ordered/bought the horns "off the rack" without having an agreement to play test some or all first, I would think that organization deserves what they get...unless the poor section didn't have a choice to begin with. Adding $400-500 to the bill for additional shipping back and forth to discover the gems shouldn't be a big deal. Especially on what appears to be around a $24,000, 5-7-year investment/purchase. That's a pretty expensive propostion for what might amount to just tossing paper airplanes at one another. Prestiges are good pro-level horns, but they do have a reputation of blowing a little stiff.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-06-29 14:52
Bob Gardner got his Prestige from me and my prof selected it in Paris at the factory with the help of 6 other clarinet professors. I always found it a bit stuffy--but better than a lot of R-13s. The "stuffy" part can be good. A little resistance helps the sound travel through the instrument and helps with intonation. It's not intended to be a beginning-intermediate instrument. If you're looking for free-blowing--don't buy a Prestige. My prof would have a fit if he knew I sold it to Bob!!
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