Buffet RC Prestige Bb Clarinet Outfit

What they say

The RC Prestige is one of the top models in the RC bore family of clarinets. The Grenadilla wood is carefully selected for its acoustic and aesthetic qualities and the wood is carefully polished and left in its natural color.The mechanics are prepared and finished with great precision: milling holes inside the specifications according to the Buffet Crampon expertise. The tenons of the body are capped by metal rings, in order to limit the risk of cracks. The mechanics are carefully assembled and adjusted by expert technicians.

What we say

Visually, this is one of our favourite clarinets. Leaving the grenadilla wood unstained is aesthetically stunning and means that each instrument is completely unique - no two wood grains are the same! The metal tenon caps are also a great addition. Cracks in clarinets are a musician's worst nightmare and anything that will reduce that risk is ok by us.

More important that the visual aspect - the sound. The RC Prestige is made of heartwood which is really dense and this makes the sound richer and darker than you might find on a standard RC. The bell of the RC Prestige has a unique shape, this adds focus and direction to the chalumeau register and increases the projection and balance across all registers. The undercut tone holes allow an ease of response throughout the instrument. The sound is perfect in any situation, from symphony orchestra to wind quartet. The extra Eb lever on the left hand makes extra fiddly passages easier. Sadly, it doesn't take away the need to practice!

Be aware that the RC Prestige is quite a heavy instrument. The adjustable thumb rest helps to take some of the pressure off but you might want to take it slowly at first to avoid any strain.