 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: pdkbach
Date: 2005-09-11 03:51
Hi there...
Does anyone own and play an RC bore Buffet? I have read the descriptiions on them, but was wondering what someone who owns and plays one thinks about it. Any pros and cons? Likes and dislikes? Comparisons to R13s?
Thanks,
Paul K.
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2005-09-11 07:15
Yeah I play an RC Prestige (same as RC except a different shaped bell, higher quality wood and an extra key) and love it but your question is really difficult to answer. I like RC's because I am able to produce a less bright and less piercing sound on them as opposed to R13's. I find the sound to be warmer and richer and definately prefer the intonation tendancies on RC's. The register tube is placed higher than the R13 which has a huge effect on intonation in the upper joint. However - I have a good friend who plays very well on an R13 Prestige and she loves it. When I play hers with my mouthpiece and reed setup I sound discusting...and she finds exactly the same when she plays any RC i've ever put in front of her... Anyway, good luck with your decision
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-09-11 09:17
The only RC (and later RC Prestige) player I know in the UK is my former teacher, and he was an excellent clarinettist with an excellent tone and technique (and definitely not the usual slack-jawed British sound that so many players and teachers have over here) - though he was envious at how easily the altissimo register spoke on my old Selmer CTs.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2005-09-11 10:44)
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2005-09-11 13:38
I play an RC Buffet A clarinet (along with my R-13 Bb) that I purchased about 15 years ago at Quintette Musique in Paris. I've been very pleased with this instrument, find it less stuffy than many R-13 A's.
One caveat--the barrel of the RC A is larger bore than that of the the normal R-13; if you are shpping for additional barrels you have to keep that in mind.
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Author: BelgianClarinet
Date: 2005-09-11 15:55
Almost all Buffet player (= almost all clarinet players) here play (if they have a professional grade instrument) on RC or RC-based clarinets.
We don't have R13 here, it's not even made in 442Hz (according site of BC) so they would be pretty useless here.
However it facinates me to know why the R13 is so popular in the US (it s an older design) and I would really like to hear/know/feel the difference once. But really I don't know of anyone having one.
I have a A clarinet however that is old enough the be pre-RC (serial number F114699, according to the site serial number search produced in 1970, so before RC, but I don't know if the serial number for A and Bb are mixed, so that my search is valid).
Anyhow this A clarinet has no type/name on it, but the serial number starts with F (442 pitch) so it is unlikely to be a R13.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-09-11 16:20
The R13s are hugely popular in the UK as well - and it seems people will have their mind set on getting one as soon as they can without even trying the alternatives.
I was tempted by them when I was 15, but I found the old Selmer Centered Tones had much more character, and the fact the ones I bought were a steal at £200 for the pair, even if they did need rebuilding - it was a labour of love for me.
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Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2005-09-12 12:00
I play an RC and I live in the UK! I tried RC's and R13's when clarinet-buying and preferred the RC, but I cannot say why. it just 'felt' and sounded nicer.
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Author: pdkbach
Date: 2005-09-12 17:25
From what I am reading here, it seems that the RC is most popular in UK and other places. I am wondering if anyone in the US plays the RC? I understand that it is available in US pitch (A=440) as well as European (442). Any US players have any comparisons to offer regarding the Buffet RC versus the R13???
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Author: Steve B.
Date: 2005-09-12 18:53
I've tried both the current R-13 and the RC. In my opinion, the RC was much more free blowing than the R-13. Some players will like this while others will not.
As far as I know there are several differences between the RC bore and the R-13
1. The lower joint on the RC is conical vs polycylindrical
2. The lower joint is slightly longer 1 or 2 mm.
3. The bell is egg shaped internally (on the RC prestige)
4. The register vent tube is placed higher than the R13
I believe the only difference between the European (442) RC and the
American (440) RC is the barrel length. 65mm vs 66mm in case of a Bb horn
As for myself, I am currently playing a Festival which has the R13 style bore but the higher placed register tube which really helps the upper joint tuning.
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Author: GoatTnder
Date: 2005-09-13 07:56
My main clarinet is a Buffet RC, vintage 1983. I haven't had it too long, but here's my opinions so far:
1. The tone is more focused and straight than most R13s I've tried. This may simply be a difference in the quality of wood though. I don't know when the prestige lines started, so mine may or may not have 'prestige quality' wood without being called prestige. Anyway, the tone is very clear. It's a little brighter than my Evette Schaffer (the one it replaced), but still beautiful.
2. Resistance is comparable to R13s for the most part. Higher at some notes, lower at others, but still fairly even.
3. Intonation is superb!
4. The register key, being located higher, is also smaller. I get a stuffy throat Bb that I haven't been able to figure out yet. This is my biggest complaint with the instrument. However, the placement makes the 12ths pretty near perfect (see previous #3), so I can deal with that.
-Andy Cabrera
a.l.cabrera@gmail.com
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Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2005-09-13 08:06
Pdkbach - there seem to be as many R13 as RC players in the UK. Certainly amonst the people I know.
GoatTnder - I would agree with the stuffy Bb, but as the intonation on the rest of the instrument is superb.
Post Edited (2005-09-13 09:53)
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Author: William
Date: 2005-09-14 15:22
For me, the Buffet soprano RC clarinet produces too "tubby" a sound and I prefer my vintage R13s and LeBlanc Concertos. However, I love my Buffet RC Prestige bass clarinet.
But if you like the way the RC plays, why worry what others may think--just play it. Intonation, rhythm and musicianship are still more important to success than basic sound. Play the instrument that makes these objectives easiest for you to achieve.
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Author: Chris2787
Date: 2013-03-04 14:05
I love the Buffet RC Prestige. I just purchased one and I think it is phenomenal. I was able to try a Buffet R13, Buffet RC Prestige, and 2 Leblanc Symphonies, out of all 4 I blindly chose the Buffet RC Prestige. I absolutely love the sound it produces, the attack and tone really got me. I also bought a Backun FatBoy 66mm Cocobolo barrel and Backun Cocobolo Bell with voicing groove. I love the barrel and bell from the RC pretige but I just love that warm tone from the cocobolo. Best clarinet I've tried.
Cheers,
Chris L.
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Author: EBC
Date: 2013-03-04 17:33
On the topic of the "pitch" of RC vs. R13 clarinets: If it's true that R13 clarinets are only made at A440 (something that can't be entirely true, given the Buffet site lists both Tosca and Festival clarinets at 440/442), it's still a non-issue. I live in Quebec, where nearly every orchestra plays at A-442, and yet nearly every orchestral clarinetist plays some model with an R13 bore. There is no difficulty playing up to pitch on a nominally 440 instrument. My university orchestra (McGill) plays at 442, and I use a Tosca A (w/ 65mm barrel) and Prestige B-flat (w/ 66mm barrel), both "440" instruments. My mouthpiece was even a 13 series for many years! (Currently a "442" PlayEasy B2.) I'm always pulled out slightly when fully warmed up. I don't feel strain playing that high, and the only consistent comments I've had on my tone in the past few years have been to "tighten it up," not the opposite.
Eric
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Author: John Peacock
Date: 2013-03-04 19:23
It's very hard to make general statements about this issue, because of the range of variation between individual instruments. You need to try quite a few specimens to get an idea of the average behaviour. I play R13's but have tried quite a few RC's and I think I agree that they can be a bit more free-blowing. This can be superficially qute attractive when you first experience it, but after a while I decided that this sound could be a bit hollow and lacking in body. Somewhat similar to the feelings I've had playing a few recent Selmer models (Series 10II and St Louis). The slight extra degree of resistance in my R13's made for a better balanced sound, to my ears.
But some RC's can certainly be stuffy. The worst I ever experienced has been the new Divine, which claims to have an RC bore (only one example, though). And I've certainly sat in a shop and played examples of Prestige variants of R13 and RC where I simply couldn't detect any difference. Plus I find the Tosca (which claims to have an R13 bore) feels more RC-like whenever I've tried them.
And it should not be forgotten that the barrel makes a big difference. I don't mean the various aftermarket jobs in garishly mismatched woods: just the standard Buffet grenadilla models offer enough variation between allegedly identical products that you can change the sound by a comparable amount to the mean RC-R13 difference.
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