 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: PhilipWheatland
Date: 2020-04-22 06:36
I thought I'd gauge the feeling of the forum about Buffet's Tradition and Legende instruments. Does anyone have any recent experiences they'd like to share?
I have a BC20 from 1968. It's a fine instrument but I've never seriously considered using it in place of my RC from the mid 1990s.
Thoughts, anyone?
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2020-04-22 10:54
One Tradition that I tried a couple of times is one of the best clarinets I've played (not just from Buffet). Two other Traditions I remember trying in the last few years were... ok... I mean, they were fine, definitely decent clarinets, but nothing special.
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Author: donald
Date: 2020-04-22 13:16
I played the Legende that the Buffet rep for Australia/NZ/Asia was carting around as his demo model. Man, it was the first new clarinet that I've liked in a long time- a very nice balance between the resistance that gives a concentrated sound with well balanced tone at wider dynamics... but also it had an easy response- the resonance was immediate, but not with that "empty" feeling that you get with many of the less good Toscas.
I offered to buy it, but of course THAT PAIR were not for sale.... who knows if another pair are as good...
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2020-04-22 21:45
The BC20 had a large, wide sound (that some players felt was more suitable for jazz and commercial music than for classical) and also had some intonation issues. The Tradition has good intonation and a round, even sound. The first ones I tried a few years ago seemed mellow but a little dull, but the newer model is nicely vibrant if a little laid back. The Legende has excellent intonation, sensitive response, and a well-centered, vibrant tone (easily rivaling the sound of a Buffet Prestige or Tosca but perhaps a little lighter and more transparent). The Legende is one of the best Boehm system clarinets on the market today, if you can afford it. It will probably be some time before one sees Legende clarinet for sale used, at reduced prices.
Post Edited (2020-05-29 01:01)
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Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2020-04-22 22:55
I've tried out three Tradition B-flats, as well as three Tradition A-clarinets. I liked all B-flats, but only one of the A-clarinets (that one was set up by Lohff&Pfeiffer).
For me, the tone was exceptionally full with a Playnick "Puccini Tosca"-mouthpiece, but unfortunately the intonation was unmanageable (this mouthpiece is obviously made for larger bore clarinets than the Tradition). The predecessor of the "Puccini Tosca", the PlayEasy B2 French had better intonation, but the sound at least in the low and middle register wasn't as full as with the "Puccini Tosca". However, in the upper register I actually preferred the sound of the B2, as a little bit less edgy, more even and solid.
Best intonation I got with a Vandoren B40 (or probably any Vandoren, apart from the 13-series - for an a 442 level) and a Selmer C85, but the sound wasn't what I'm after.
Something that disturbed me was fuzziness of especially the C4, C#4, E4, G#4, A4, Bb4 and B4 tones (with some variability between the Bb and A-clarinets). Lohff&Pfeiffer said they can eliminate it, while another workshop said they can reduce it but not eliminate it completely. The fuzziness may not transfer very far and may thus not be too evident for an audience, but it's certainly not inspiring for the player. So if it's a design flaw, I hope Buffet could address it already at their factory.
Nevertheless, I was actually positively surprised by the general tone quality of these B-flats and one of the A-clarinets. So far larger-than-usual bore sizes have given me more of the fullness that I'm after, so it was almost shocking to find out that also a smaller-than-usual bore could give it (Buffet is aiming at a 14.55mm size, at the lower end of the upper joint). However, the sound is also a lot about combining the clarinet with the "right" mouthpiece - and then the mouthpiece with the "right" reed  . In this case, a quite "free blowing" mouthpiece could be a good choice, given the small bore size of the clarinet. The "Puccini Tosca" is certainly such, though intonation doesn't work (at least not for me, with my embouchoure).
The Legende I haven't tried out.
Post Edited (2020-04-23 10:56)
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Author: donald
Date: 2020-04-25 07:31
A pair of Legende will set you back $24,000 (NZ$) here in NZ, so not really much chance of me every buying a new pair!
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Author: PhilipWheatland
Date: 2020-04-26 07:29
Donald, I agree. I'm in Melbourne and would be looking at around the same price here.
The Tradition isn't completely out of reach though and I may have the opportunity to try a couple in the next few weeks.
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Author: gatto
Date: 2020-04-28 18:07
Maybe one should note that since last year (or so) there is a new model of the Tradition, with low-F correction and a Legende-like emblem.
Do the Legende and Tradition have identical bores?
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Author: Hurstfarm
Date: 2020-04-28 21:25
I’m an unexpected convert to these instruments. Although I have Buffet harmony clarinets, my main instruments have been a pair of wide bore Peter Eatons bought c20 years ago. I’ve tried various Buffet pro instruments over the years, but never liked them as much as the Eatons. I play tested a Tradition soon after they launched, and to my surprise I liked it - warm tone, a very even response across the registers and good intonation. However, I got no further than thinking “that’s interesting” as I wasn’t looking for a new clarinet.
That changed about 2 years ago when I decided to look for a new front line Bb to share the workload and prolong the life of my Eatons.
I spent a couple of happy sessions working through various options from Buffet, Selmer, Uebel, Yamaha and (beyond my planned budget) Backun. I quite quickly filtered out most of the Buffets, which seemed to confirm my preconception that I wouldn’t be buying one. Even so, I ended up with a Tradition, a Yamaha CSG III and a Selmer Privilege to try for a few days. One of the shops had a newly-arrived Legende in stock which I didn’t bother to try - too expensive, and I wasn’t keen on the gold ‘bling’!
I was still undecided when I had to return my trial instruments. On impulse I asked to try the Legende, knowing it was an upscale version of the Tradition, just to rule it out. Unfortunately it was lovely - the same characteristics that stood out on my first encounter with the Tradition, including an effortless transition into the altissimo register and great dynamic control without compromising pitch.
You’ve guessed it - I ended up stretching the budget and buying the Legende. Two years on I gritted my teeth and bought the A to match the Bb. I certainly didn’t plan to buy a pair. If I had, it would have been the Tradition.
Now new Tosca style keywork means that now there’s less of a distinction between the relaunched Tradition and the Legend. It just looks like a Legende without that gold bling! Prices have gone up, but equally it means there are some bargains to be had on original version Traditions, including a pristine-looking used pair on Reed & Squeak’s website here in the UK.
As an aside, having tried a few pricey hand finished mouthpieces from my collection, I’ve settled with a bog-standard B40 Lyre, which is great for most purposes.
Of course every instrument and player is different, but as a long-standing Buffet sceptic I find myself I have to concede that for me the Legendes are probably the best all-round instruments I’ve played.
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Author: donald
Date: 2020-04-29 04:46
Yep, trying the Legende I was initially inclined to dismiss it because of the gold element, and the legacy still hanging over from the awful Divine clarinets.... but once I played it I was shocked by how good it was- totally unexpected.
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Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2020-04-29 18:33
gatto, the Tradition and Legende share the same bore size (14.55mm) and Buffet say they both belong to the same "new family of cylindrical bores". Some say the sound is the same and some have called the Legende just a more expensive Tradition, but judging from this thread it may not be that simple. For my part I wouldn't hesitate to try out also the Legende, just getting the opportunity.
Post Edited (2020-04-29 18:38)
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