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Patricola CL2 vs Buffet R13

Author: systemxpert
Date: 2009-09-18 20:56

Hi there,

I've been playing an R13 Buffet for the last 10 years of my 25 years playing clarinet. My R13 was made in 1976 and is considered to be from the golden age of Buffet.

I went to symphonic band yesterday and one of the other clarinet players was showing off a new Patricola CL2 she had just purchased. She let me give it a go using my B45 mouthpiece...and all I can say is WOW!...such a focused sound with better intonation than my R13. Now it didn't have the projection power of my R13...but it was unique. We went on to chatting all things clarinet and she told me it was handmade in Italy. The info posted on the patricolar site confirmed this. Now I could be wrong but doesn't buffet make its pro-line instruments by hand?

I had been considering a clarinet change soon, but was kinda looking at the Tosca Green line. Now...I'm not so sure. I never really gave much thought to the manufacturing process...but are there advantages to custom made clarinets vs. Mass production...or is it all bunk. When I bought my R13 in 1998 I remember trying out like 10 different R13's before finding "the one". Is there that much variation between instruments all made at the same time...or just used instruments from different years?

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Re: Patricola CL2 vs Buffet R13

Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-09-18 23:23

You can pick five clarinets in a row, all made from the same assembly line on the same say, and no two will be identical. You will find variances in the woods used, as well as other differences. Best bet is to try as many different instruments as you can.

Jeff

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Re: Patricola CL2 vs Buffet R13

Author: yearsofwisdom
Date: 2009-09-19 01:17

yeah every instrument is completely different from each other. its based on the fact that no tree is the same... but yeah i was going to orignially purchase a R13 but found a beautiful selmer from the 40s that was GORGEOUS and it is known that selmer had better wood than buffet before its factory burned down. i did get it at 2200 dollars but i guess its worth it considering most new R13s just arn't as good as the ones from the golden age or prior.

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