Comparison: Yamaha CSVR-ASP & Buffet RC Prestige

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[FedericoPalaciosClarinet]

Dear Cally, my name is Federico Palacios, I’m Artist Relations Manager in Yamaha Music Europe. I just reached your video, and let me tell you that I loved it, CONGRATULATIONS ! 🤗🙏💐
If someday you came to Paris, France, where I’m based, please come to visit us, I would like to make you visit our facilities and our special Clarinets Showroom. Maybe you could also find some “gadgets” to improve your lovely Atelier Special (ASP). Wish you all the best in your musical career and your life. Best regards. 🙏

[SarahSkilton]

Thank you for another fab video, Cally. I love my Buffet RC (not Prestige). I would definitely like to try a Yamaha one day as I have always played Buffet.

[davidnaden]

Those who play Buffet really like Buffet. those who play Yamaha really like Yamaha. It is personal choice. I personally have never like Yamaha clarinets, but NOT because of the sound, intonation, etc. For me, Buffet clarinets are simply better built. But, that is my personal opinion, as I have now changed from Buffet to Uebel due to the availability of a plateau instrument that I now need due to hand issues...

[licustoms]

Ahhh. Everything you said about the struggle or differences with the air usage in upper registers with the Buffet, I too notice all of those same differences! I never really knew there were other clarinet's that didn't have that problem, I thought it was just me and my own struggle! I too wish I could use the same or nearly the same air throughout the octaves. I kind of feel like I have to pinch off my air in the highest notes and shape the sound with my throat more and it's a struggle for me to make the highest notes speak correctly. I really don't know what model my clarinets are, just brand and material... and it's old. Ahah!

[jeffreyprice]

This was a wonderfully prepared “conversational” video. It was thought out well, but just felt like we were just chatting over coffee. Clarinet choices for equipment are so personal. It is neat to just listen to your perspective on your experiences with your equipment.

[allyhinckley]

I have absolutely LOVED my Yamaha csrv and have wanted to get the buffet rc prestige. So THANK YOU!

[armadillodog]

“So I started to question…everything in life.” 😂 I feel like that sums me up, in regular life and in my clarinet playing

[faeriesmak]

I have an older model bean key Festival and have always had to put it together slightly askew as well. I am glad that I am not the only one doing that! Thanks for the comparison! I have been trying to learn about different makes and models lately since there is so much out there these days!

[alexgabriel]

Thank You for your detailed review of the two brands for which you also gave the models played. I 'm almost inclined to get a Yamaha after getting a Buffet not long ago.

[GeorgeGeorgalis]

My clarinet mechanic instructed me to invert the Buffet thumb rest, that raises it about 3/8" but you also have to cover it with a bit of soft hose and some cotton, together this helps (me) ergonomically. Also, if I find my thumb gets sore, I just put it above the rest and point the clarinet upward, above horizontal for a bit 🤪to re-calibrate, helps with docility too.

[partticle]

Great Information on both Instruments Cally!!🎼💨🎶

[migblamquartz]

I'm about to buy a new clarinet. This video don't say tips, but this wonderful conversation so nice and it was like i was talking with you in person, i learned a lot and i think this will help me a lot on my choose. Thank you

[williamrappaport]

I enjoy your videos—thanks for another interesting one. An exercise that was suggested to me might help you with your wrist/forearm pain—I hope you don’t mind my sharing it here. Play the first five notes of a scale (or any passage) starting with your right elbow near your side and gradually move it out away from your body as you play the notes. Then reverse the exercise by starting with your elbow out away from your body and play the same five notes in the same order but slowly move your elbow in toward your body this time. Repeat both directions several times.

If you practice this way, you can gain freedom, mobility and ease that I think helps to protect from injury. You can do it with both arms at the same time as well. A pianist/chamber music teacher taught me this. It may help you—it helped me.

[MusicLiberates]

Excellent comparison details and presentation. Thanks!!

[nicolabishop]

This was a great video, Cally, thank you. I have the Buffet RC (not the prestige) and a lot of what you were saying made sense. Helps put things in context from a playing perspective.

[thelookingcat]

I like the ASP a lot due to the amazing tuning. Wish I could get one one day.

[kevindeibert]

Jelly bean key ? How cute! I don’t like extra keys on clarinet. I play an old Selmer Centered Tone from the 50’s . Have been for 40 years. I’m a woodwind doubler and play more Jazz & Big Band music (studied Classical Clarinet in college back in the late 70’s

[Jaujau]

Stay with Yamaha! you can't go wrong ! Yamaha intonation is excellent.

[TheClarinetCamerataofMexico]

Yes! So, I'm *not* the only one who has been experiencing these ridiculously frustrating things with my Yamaha! For a while, I thought I was going crazy! In my case, I played Buffet for 30 years. I now play on a Yamaha SEVR that is now just a year old. It's a love/hate relationship I have with this instrument. I LOVE the sweet, round sound but HATE the soft keys and rings that have not only bent under normal use but (like yours) have apparently been pressed out of alignment repeatedly due to the cute-but-crammed case's interior design. This has caused intonation issues in the low register, especially in the low B-natural and A. Why are the keys so darned soft on Yamaha's professional models?! They're like the keys on generic, cheap Chinese plastic clarinets, seriously! I don't get it... my top student also plays Yamaha and has a CSVR that is five years old but in beautiful condition; the keys on that one are *not* soft but as sturdy as the keys on any Buffet and plated noticeably thicker with silver (more thickly than my nearly new SEVR). Yamaha has evidently downgraded in key quality between when that early CSVR was manufactured and the current ones, and it's unforgivable. Maybe they're trying to cut corners and save money? In any case, I'll be switching to something else within the next couple of months. Meanwhile, I've intentionally lowered all of the rings on my SEVR to give it more robust resonance and less nonproductive resistance, and to counteract the issues I was having with the soft metal that seemed to go wonky every couple of days. I use a Kooiman Etude 3 ergonomic thumb rest, a Vandoren BD4 mouthpiece (standard model pitched at 442), and much softer reeds than I've ever used in the past (Vandoren Traditional #1.5). It stabilized in pretty much every way and is now a joy to play. Thanks for your informative and engaging videos. I'm encouraging all of my students to view them as well. 'Saludos' from Mexico! —Chris

[billducker]

How much is subjective. The Reed, room acoustic makes a difference. The great players of the past did not have all the gadgets of the present and often we are not even aware what instruments. How many ligatures have there been since the Rovner literature it seems to be endless and I believe a lot of it is to do with feel yes they will make some kind of difference but is it really that noticeable. There was a time when the section in an orchestra sounded better when the players played the same equipment.

I can think of a Young professional player who got rid of a particular mouthpiece only to meet one of his idols from the past who rushed out to Rabbi the discordant mouthpiece because she is a little place that particular model.
Thank you for your videos. I just think we are in danger of thinking there is some real difference which is not always apparent to the listener but has more to do with how we feel as players. I do not know how many more ligatures there will be try trying your Reed on with string
God bless you Cally
Bill. UK