 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Hy-Dex
Date: 2020-05-27 23:23
Please share your impressions and experiences with Buffet's Tradition clarinet - second generation - concerning tone, response, and intonation. Thank you.
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2020-05-28 00:24
Very sweet, round sound that holds well and excellent tuning. Not as cutting and aggressive as the R13 and Festival, warmer and more intimate. Blends with other instruments and orchestral sections superbly. This model will probably be my next clarinet. Listen to Jonathan Gunn's new CD on the Centaur label. I think the results he gets on his Tradition (he was part of the Buffet design team) are characteristic of what the Tradition is capable of. Compared to the higher priced Legende and Tosca, I'd say Tradition II (if that is the right designation) is a more relaxed, laid back clarinet, with slightly less punch to the sound but still with good acoustical presence--an introverted vibrancy rather than an extroverted one. The Tradition is less buzzy than the R13, and quality control seems better (in the 3 or 4 I've tried).
Post Edited (2020-05-28 01:16)
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2020-05-28 00:47
I'm really curious how the 2nd gen compares to the 1st. When I tried it I liked the 1st gen much better than any other new Buffet model I've tried in recent years, so it seems strange that it was so short lived. I'm wondering if it's worth saving up for the new model.
-Jdbassplayer
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Author: Hurstfarm
Date: 2020-05-28 11:07
The last two posts reflect my own experience. I’ve posted previously how a (first generation) Tradition took my attention and ultimately led me to buy a beyond budget Legende (same bore, Tosca style keywork), which I’d tried hard not to like! Now I have pair of Legendes. The second generation Tradition brings new keywork to match Buffet’s other premium instruments. Now it’s essentially a better value Legende without the gold “bling”.
Jdbassplayer - I think that whether to save up for the new model really depends on whether you think the feel of the new keywork is worth the extra money, particularly as model means there are some good deals to be had on first generation Traditions. For example, there’s a great looking used pair on one retailer’s website here in the UK for not much more than the price of a new
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2020-05-28 11:20
I have the Legende, which I got before the Tradition II came out. If it’s the same bore, then I would say this instrument is absolutely beautiful! Although when testing it with a tuner, it shows some odd tendencies, in real life testing it tunes beautifully with orchestra, wind band, and piano. I can’t explain how that works, I’d love to know other people’s thoughts.
I’m still on my old Prestige A which is a wonderful instrument. If indeed the Tradition II is the same bore & Tosca style keywork, I’d definitely save a bit of money and buy this model. Although I do love the gold bling!
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Author: Hy-Dex
Date: 2020-05-28 20:14
Thank you, Seabreeze. May I inquire about your mouthpiece/reed/ligature set-up? Thank you.
Hy-Dex
Post Edited (2020-05-28 20:15)
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2020-05-29 00:46
Can someone please give me the year of first production for the Tradition and the year of the introduction of the Tradition 2nd generation , Thanks
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2020-05-29 01:42
Hy-Dex,
With the Tradition, selection of mouthpiece, reed, and ligature may be rather different from what would work best on a Buffet R13, Festival or Tosca model. On those models, players often select mouthpieces that dampen some of the buzz in the sound. So Vandoren BD5 or B40 or B40 lyre are popular choices, and composite ligatures like Rovners along with reeds made of thicker cane stock like Vandoren V12 or the thicker model Reserves make the sound less cutting. With the Tradition, the sound is warmer, mellower, and less pushy so more vibrant accessories might be a better match, or at least they are for me. I got excellent results with a close Behn Prescott mouthpiece or an old Alelandais with a close 1.00 mm facing and Behn 3.5 reeds, together with a very thin gauge Bay Rhodium plated ligature. An even better ligature choice for me was a new Platinum plated Bonade ligature someone gave me (I believe it's a Platinum Noir from RDG Woodwinds in Los Angeles) and that was an ideal fit (though a regular Bonade might be a good choice too). My first impression of the older Tradition was that it had a relaxed, mellow tone but not much depth. But when I tried the newer model I found that you can easily add depth to the sound with more vibrant accessories, and the intonation and sweetness of the instrument are very welcome.
Still, for players who need the tonal presence and projection of a Tosca or Festival, those may be the better (if more expensive) choice.
Post Edited (2020-06-28 03:04)
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Author: Zacharywest158
Date: 2020-06-01 14:33
I can’t speak for the Tradition II, but I have a set of the original Traditions that are fantastic horns. I find that the Tradition wants to play lower in pitch than the R13, particularly in the throat register. If you are used to compensating for sharpness on other horns, you may find you don’t need to do that on the Tradition.
The instruments are extremely colorful in sound, with an even scale and nice quality wood. Along with the Festival, I think this model is one of the best “bangs for your buck” that Buffet offers!
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Author: Patrick
Date: 2020-06-02 02:36
Looks like the Tradition II shares a lot with a Tosca IMHO. I found the Greenline Tosca I occasionally play tunes much lower. I am guilty of preferring the sound of the Greenline Tosca over a regular one.
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Author: LGS316217
Date: 2020-06-06 18:35
Nice summary of the differences between the Tradition 1 and 2. However there's a mistake in the content: they've reversed the bore specs on the Tradition and R13s. They're saying the R13 family has a cylindrical bore and the Tradition has a polycylindrical bore. The Tradition bore is based on the BC20, which was a cylindrical model.
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Author: donald
Date: 2020-06-07 01:48
Whoever writes the product descriptions etc for John Packer has proven many times to be a bit dim where such things are concerned. This is one reason I've never bothered trying out their student range, my tolerance for dealing with idiots, even if they are otherwise nice, has diminished with age.
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Author: donald
Date: 2020-07-24 14:36
The Legende I played last year really impressed me, but while I liked some qualities of the tradition (that I have found lacking in recent Buffet clarinets) I generally have found the sound a little "small" for my liking. I appreciate the concept of a focused sound projecting (as opposed to "blasting" the sound) but I found the Tradition just "pushed back" a little than I was comfortable with.
Last week I found myself next to a brand new pair of Tradition-2, with 10 min to spare, so whipped out a mouthpiece and gave them a play.
I wish I hadn't done so, they were GREAT. They had the focused shape/sound of the Tradition 1, but with much less sense of feeling hemmed in by resistance. And less of a feel that the resistance was defining/shaping the sound.
Very nice clarinets, sadly I can't see myself buying new horns in the foreseeable future.
Post Edited (2020-07-24 17:28)
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Author: Hy-Dex
Date: 2020-09-04 06:29
I was finally able to play-test a set of Buffet Tradition clarinets. A leading clarinet specialty dealer assured me that this set was not only among the best of the best of Buffet Tradition clarinets but also rivaled the quality of Buffet Prestige models. I was extremely disappointed. These instruments struck me as very intermediate quality, not at all premium - or even professional - quality. The A clarinet was better than the Bb clarinet, though it was uneven and lacked color. The tone of the Bb clarinet was so spread that it sounded more like a saxophone than a clarinet, and both clarinets lacked resonance and sounded dull. The positioning of the right-hand pinky keys with the low-F correction key was debilitating for me technically. I was so unimpressed with these instruments that I did not even bother to check the intonation with a tuner. I boxed these instruments back up in less than an hour and shipped them right back the very next morning.
I also had the opportunity to play-test a set of Yamaha CSVR clarinets through another dealer and what a delight! These instruments are lively, respond very well, sound lovely, play in tune reasonably well to quite well depending on the exact instrument, and are an absolute joy to play. The A clarinet works well for me and this dealer has ordered additional Bb clarinets for me to play-test.
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Author: m1964
Date: 2020-09-04 09:20
"A leading clarinet specialty dealer assured me that this set was not only among the best of the best of Buffet Tradition clarinets but also rivaled the quality of Buffet Prestige models. I was extremely disappointed."
Well, they want to sell so …
We all know that two identical clarinets may play completely different...even if they have close serial numbers.
I am not defending Buffet, just saying that it would be ideal if we could go to a dealer and choose from a few different clarinets of the same model but most of the time, esp. now, it's not possible….
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