Buffet Clarinets | Wood vs Greenline | What's the Difference?

In this video we discuss and demonstrate the Buffet Wood vs Greenline materials used for Clarinet production. In this instance we use a Buffet R13 as an example and play it in both materials to see if you can hear the difference?
Buffet R13 Wood: www.dawkes.co....
Buffet R13 Greenline: www.dawkes.co....
Dawkes Music are the UK's leading Wind & Brass specialists. Our award-winning staff are on hand to help you choose the best equipment to enhance your playing. Our store has multiple specialist testing suites, the UK's largest Wind & Brass technical department and workshop. Check out www.dawkes.co.uk for more info.
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[@RichJCW]

After a series of problems with wooden clarinets, I decided to give the R13 Greenline a go and have never looked back. If you really worked at it, I guess you could train your ears to discern the difference but that still wouldn't mean that one was 'better' than the other. I do understand why people still feel romantically attached to wood over a synthetic material. However, the greenline is so much more consistent and avoids all of the problems which blowing warm moist air down a perforated wooden cylinder entails.

[@dawkesmusic]

Thanks for your comments Richard - In blind testing here amongst staff and players we've found there is no discernible difference in the sound and as you say there are many practical advantages. If nothing else it serves to show the power of 'perception' over reality sometimes and people do feel emotive about wood. Thanks for checking out the video.

[@blevinsmusic]

Richard, if you see this, are you still enjoying your Greenline? I have two out on trial, have chosen one, I am over the moon about how they play and sound. And living in the high desert, I was leery of paying so much for a new R13 and then worrying about it...constantly....because of our dryness.

[@brekedekdang39]

Nice. Glad you didn't say which was which at the beginning. I actually thought the second one sounded better. I am a saxophonist, and a doubler, and I also use synthetic reeds most of the time. So, playing the Greenline is something that would be right in line with my normal decisions. I choose practicality over aesthetic. The Greenline is less susceptible to damage and sounds just as good, if not better, than the regular wooden R13. I haven't saved up enough to get one yet but one day I will.

[@dawkesmusic]

Sensible approach. We've tried blindfold tests in the shop a number of times and most of the time no-one can tell the difference!

[@DynamixWarePro]

Listening through monitor speakers, I could hear the wooden one is a little bit bit brighter and the Greenline sounds a little bit darker/denser and there was a little more of a breathy sound with it.

[@DrewSorensenMusic]

Hardly a difference. I’d choose the second one if forced. Which is the green line. Which I currently play. So happy about that.

[@loryclarinet5991]

The only thing I don’t like about greenline is that you can’t see the beautiful wood grains

[@interwebzful]

i've had a greenline r13 for over 25 years and it's still holding up nice and sounds great (imo). one thing i'd like to know more about is the carbon footprint, so to speak. using the grenadilla wood powder is a way of recycling the scraps when grenadilla wood instruments are made, right? how can i find out more about its sustainability?

[@dawkesmusic]

Yes, the overall sustainability and footprint of different manufacturers and models would be really useful. Some manufacturers are working on this in the background but there's no 'industry standard' way of either measuring or communicating this currently.

[@blevinsmusic]

I am getting a greenline (two for trial) R13 this week. I live in the high desert, it seemed the logical choice because I am so worried about our very low humidity. Will greenline weigh MORE or LESS?

[@dawkesmusic]

It should be very similar in weight - i.e. a negligible difference.

[@blevinsmusic]

@@dawkesmusic Thank you so much! I read on google (which knows everything and nothing :-) ) that it would weigh 20% more and I was kind of freaking out.

[@dawkesmusic]

We're going to weigh a set tomorrow and will reply here to let you know for sure :)

[@blevinsmusic]

@@dawkesmusic Thank you :-). Tomorrow my two arrive at some point, hopefully before I die of anticipation. So I will at least know how it feels to me. And I do have a 1982 R13, so I can compare too. Ancient regular vs. greenline brand new. LOL

[@blevinsmusic]

Just for the sake of experimentation, I weighed my 1982 R13 and my R13 Greenline of choice (I have two on trial at the moment). The Greenline is 781 grams and my old R13 (not a greenline) is 731. I honestly don't feel the difference when I play.