 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Daniel
Date: 2006-02-08 05:42
Hi Everyone,
I am buying a new Bass Clarinet soon and i am having a hard time deciding whether i should get the new proffesional model from Selmer or the professional model from Buffet. Can someone tell me the differences? I know I have a private teacher who has a model from Buffet and she says she loves it, and now I have a teacher who has had one from Selmer and is telling me they are really good also. Thanks.
Daniel
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-02-08 06:01
The old Belmer vs. Suffet debate....
I've played about ten new Buffets and about five new Selmers. I've also played about three of the previous 37 and 35 models from Selmer. Everything I write here is just my opinion and others might think differently.
The Buffet basses has a more clarinety sound than Selmers, which sound a little bit more saxy.
Buffet keywork in my opinion is MUCH more confortable. The Selmer 35 and 37 keywork I think is very bad, and it is improved a lot on the new Privilege but is still not as good as the Buffet.
The Selmers are less resistant, especially in the clarion register (but has more to do with the less angled neck imo than the rest of the instrument).
The very low notes (let's say E and lower) are much better on the Buffet and also the throat notes. The clarion notes are slightly better on the Selmers.
I have a Buffet and chose it because I liked its sound and comfort much more than the Selmer (but I bought it before the Privilege came out). A few months ago I played many Privileges and didn't regret I went with the Buffet.
Good luck.
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Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2006-02-08 09:36
I've not much to add; I'll just brag that I got to play the new Selmer and the Buffet at NAMM last month. One sample of each. They were both heavenly. The Selmer did strike me as very clear and easy in the clarion. Perhaps this supports what Claribass said above. I am not a strong bass player, but I am clear that I could do my best on either one. I'm sure there are subtle differences, but we adapt to those, don't we?
Wayne Thompson
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2006-02-08 10:12
I have only played the top of the line Selmers but have been somewhat jealous of the tone I hear from those I know who invested their "new car" money in a Prestige instead. Too bad I don't have enough cash for a new car. I might do the same thing.
...........Paul Aviles
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-02-08 14:07
I've only tried a couple each of the Selmer 37 and Prestige 1193 bass clarinets, but of those, I preferred the sound of the Selmers. I didn't spend enough time with them to comment on their keywork.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-02-08 14:59
I do prefer the Selmer sound but couldn't justify paying out an extra £2000 for the 'privilege'(!) but I do like the leverages and lightness of keywork on the Buffet, they've obviously put a lot of thought into their Prestige basses.
Not normally a Buffet fan myself (I know their soprano clarinets are massively popular, but they don't do much for me), I was surprised by their Prestige basses and bought one.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2006-02-08 15:49
May we assume that those who tried out both instruments used the same mouthpiece and maybe even reed on both? If you used the stock mouthpieces, for example, I don't think the tone comparisons are valid.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-02-08 15:53
I used my own mouthpiece - the stock Buffet mouthpiece is now used as a door stop.
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2006-02-08 18:40
I've tried several new Buffets and I had a chance to play on the new Selmer Model briefly at the 2004 ClarFest. Frankly, out of the box, I'm not fond of any of them! I have yet to play on a new Buffet Prestige bass that was any way near well set up: every single one I've tried had leaks, poorly regulated spring tensions, badly botched pad clearances, etc. This includes horns that were supposedly regulated by dealers who tout themselves as master technicians. However some of the same horns, belonging to my students, really amazed me after they were tweaked by real master technicians who understand the bass clarinet! I think if you are going to buy a new Buffet Prestige you really need to have it worked on immediately to have it acheive anything near its potential!
Even though the Selmer I tried had been played on by Henri Bok and Alain Billard, a couple of my bass clarinet heroes, it had for me a very unfriendly feel; more like an infernal machine than an extension of my (?) musicality.
The keywork was definitely clunky in feel, and I didn't feel like I could easily achieve any kind of nuances when I played it--but I've never been a Selmer man.
Fact is, as far as I know these two brands are the zenith of the current bass clarinet crop. It's a shame they aren't better for the money!
Post Edited (2006-02-08 18:43)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-02-08 21:14
I agree that the finishing and set-up on Buffets is poor, though I have (as a matter of course) taken it apart and sorted out the problems - incredible that this is the top model Buffet bass, yet the majority of pads don't seat, poor regulation and venting, but the good thing is that the venting can be adjusted relatively simply on the main action. Plus a couple of keywork alterations - I now have the G# pad cup linked to the RH main action to ease playing in sharp or flat keys, and the LH 2nd fingerplate (in fact - the E/B vent) holds down fingerplate 1 so the index finger can be lifted instead of rolled down to uncover the hole for the altissimo notes.
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Author: Daniel
Date: 2006-02-08 21:59
ok.. so let me get this straight... They both obviously have some minor problems that can be fixed with a good technician. But in the end is a Buffet actually better then a Selmer or is it all based on personal opinions?
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2006-02-08 22:27
My personal opinion: The Buffet has quality issues that can be addressed by a talented (not just good) technician. The Selmer has design issues that don't fit with my own personal preferences in an instrument! For me that's not a minor problem to be fixed by a tech! I'm not saying I think the Selmer is a bad product--it just doesn't seem to do what I want to do with it.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-02-09 05:58
Ye most Buffets I've tried had some minor problems that are fixable. The Selmer in my opinion just have an uncomfortable keywork which can't be changed.
Actually, on my Buffet all pads seal perfectly from the beginning. All mechanics work ok and I can play whatever I want, but I feel it could work better and make it even easier. Unfortunately there is no one around here who can fix that.... Maybe one day when I'm in Paris I'll go to the Buffet bass clarinet specialist to really get my instrument to its full potentioal.
In the USA you usually don't have this problem since you are likely to have a repairman that is good enough not too far away from you.
Also, when I tried al those Privileges many others tried them too and the Buffet Prestiges too. Some preferred the Buffets and some Preferred the Selmers.
The only you will know for sure which one you like better is try both of them.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2006-02-09 13:49
I have a Buffet that played well out of the box. Of course, it was probably tweaked by the dealer, International Music Suppliers in Des Plaines, IL when Lisa Argiris was in charge. I've had virtually no problems with it since and have had it overhauled once. (Well, it occasionally hits the wrong note.)
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