for sadie robar
i learnt on a buffet b-12. you can get a good 2nd hand 1 for £150 and there good for about 6 years until you want a better quality one. there certainly not crap though

hello everyone.
I am a freshman in high school, and I want a wooden clarinet. I found this nice buffet e11 and I want to know you oppinion. Thanks

I like my Buffet because it`s tone quality is smoother, richer, and deeper than most clarinets.

My leblanc is great for outdoor play though because it`s got the sharp and rich sound most marching bands have to them.

i think it depends on the person and the mouthpiece you use.many pple grow up with buffet so alot will play buffet well~but some will be more adapt to the other brands.so you have to go try try your own.but make sure you got a mouthpiece you like first~


Cheers~

in the end it comes down to selmer and buffet

HI farahdale,

your question and now its answer.

If you are a freshman in highschool you should be steppiong up to something higher than an E-11-dont get me wrong, it is a good sturdy horn-but better suited to late begginners and maybe some early intermediates. You need something you will be able to play on the rest of your life-think of it this way. You should consider an advanced yamaha or a selmer, or (what i play on) and R-13. But BE CAREFUL, i recomend that you try at least 20 horns, if you have a private teacher arrange a time with them to get together at a Fine music store (not just your local) and playtest them, your teacher should be able to arrange having some clarinets shipped in to play test. if not i suggest that you get in touch with one of the lead players in a local professional orchestra... if u cant do any of that-email me at slimshadyscott@wi.rr.com and ill help u to get in touch with somebody in your area. It is important to buy a new horn which U (emphasis on the YOU!) enjoy holding and playing. Playtesting is hard because yur not used to the instruments-however, if u have only had a plastic clarinet in the past, i think u will enjoy playtesting the wood ones.

Most importantly when u polaytest, use the mouthpiece and ligature and reeds that you normally do!

If you want a list of suggested horns email me.

I hope i have been of some help!

Scott Sutton
(slimshadyscott@wi.rr.com)

I play on a Buffet R-13 i like it very very much, i have founhd through the last four/five years that it can handle anything i through at it. Many accesories are made for the R-13 as it is such a popular and well known clarinet.
However, picking out an R-13 can be TRICKY!

For many reasons:
1) There are different variations of them! (ex vintage, festival (harder to find now), greeenline, new model (called just an R-13), prestige, and a few others are coming out soon!

More specifically , i play a 2000 Buffet R-13, one which has been playtested by Francious himself (Owner of buffet curently). (i did not know that at the time i bought it lol)

Currently, i used the "chadash" R-13 barrel ( i highly recomend it - if u need help finding it contact me) and gortex and cork pads!

I have found the instrument to be outstanding in orchestra settings and pretty good in chamber music. It excels with solos.

Of course ,this is me, not you (necessarily).

If you are going to by any clarinet, insist that several models are brought in -preferrably from buffet directly (currently out in california)-and if the store you go to is not willing-dont give them your business, its definently worth the extra time and gas money to go someplace you will be able to get a quality horn from -one that fits you and your style and life individually.
Also be sure to playtest at least 6 of whatever model you are looking into, and dont forget to use your normal mouthpiece and ligature with a good reed, sometimes u might even want to prepare several reeds for the playtesting, it will be worth it in the end,- i hope i have helped everybody here
have a good day everyone
-scott sutton