 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: justingaga
Date: 2014-08-15 02:55
Can anyone describe the main differences between those two brands?
I used to think Selmer clarinets are more richer and darker, and Buffet clarinets are brighter, am I right?
I have this question because the clarinets I played are mostly Buffet's, so I am not really sure about Selmer's characteristics.
Thanks everyone.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-08-15 05:08
The historic difference used to be that Selmer was much more likely to heavily undercut the tone holes. This gives you an easier time adjusting pitch, or even going as far as bending notes, but with this ease you loose some focus and pure sound. This is why Selmers where more the instrument pick for jazz musicians and Buffets where the "serious music" clarinet.
Today there is a wider variety of "types" from both makers. I thought (until just recently) that the top Selmer (Privilege) was made specifically to unseat Buffet as the "go-to" classical horn. But the ONLY way to make any assessment on what a clarinet plays like (considering how personal a definition can be for "bright" or "dark") is to try it for yourself. There are too many variables for one person's description to be meaningful to another.
But to be sure, both Selmer and Buffet make good, professional grade horns.
............Paul Aviles
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2014-08-15 06:14
The key is that there are no longer simply Selmer and Buffet. There are several models currently in production and distribution from both companies, each meant to attract a slightly different taste in sound and response. They all sound like clarinets, but the differences are enough, or so the people in the marketing departments at both companies hope, to broaden their appeal tremendously over the days half a century ago or more when in the U.S. Buffet meant R13 and Selmer meant 9 or 9* (before the 10 and then 10G shook things up).
Karl
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Author: as9934
Date: 2014-08-16 07:52
I also have heard that the Selmers sometimes have a slightly larger bore than the Buffets causing them to play with a darker fuller sound but this may no longer be true.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Wind Ensemble
Buffet E11 clarinet , Vandoren Masters CL6 13 series mouthpiece w/ Pewter M/O Ligature, Vandoren V12 3.5
Yamaha 200ad clarinet, Vandoren B45 mouthpiece, Rovner ligature
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Author: efsf081
Date: 2014-08-16 09:10
I remember someone in this bboard said that, compare to the low resistance of buffet, selmer clarinet have stronger resistance. It mean when you change to a selmer, you need to use a softer reed, otherwise you will feel the sound is stuffy.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2014-08-16 09:43
It depends on the model. Recital has a much smaller bore than any Buffet. The newer Selmers have pretty much the same diameter bore as Buffet.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-08-16 17:01
Large bore Selmers of the past (eg. BT, CT, Series 9) didn't have undercut toneholes.
Only the narrower bore Series 9* and others since (eg. Series 10, 10S, 10G, etc.) have undercut toneholes.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: MSK
Date: 2014-08-21 05:42
I own 4 different model Buffets, one plastic Artley, & a Selmer Series 9. The Selmer keywork and tone hole spacing is quite different compared to the others. The biggest difference is that the left hand ring finger tone hole is positioned farther toward the right side than the other models. I prefer the Buffet alignment, but that is what I learned on.
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