Selmer Présence vs Présence Evolution vs Buffet Crampon R13 vs R13 GreenLine

Présence was introduced a few years ago as an introductory level professional clarinet by Selmer Paris. The price point competes with the Buffet Crampon R13s. Currently, they come in mostly white greenback Valentino pads (or some imitation of it), two leather pads for the front keys on the upper joint, and of course a cork pad for the register key.
The "Evolution line" was introduced last year. Basically, an Evolution is a Selmer Paris professional clarinet with what seems like an ABS plastic insert in the wooden upper joint, but only about half of the way through. I won't give you my thoughts on what this does to the feel/ sound, I'll let you be the judge. I'll just say I really like these clarinets! At this point I believe you can get any Selmer Paris clarinet in the Evolution form.
Buffet Crampon's R13 is a by far the most popular professional level clarinet in the United States and has been since... the 50s? 60s? Robert Marcellus, Harold Wright, Richard Stoltzman, Charles Neidich, all played these clarinets for the most of their careers. Interestingly, they're not so popular in Europe.
The "GreenLine" is a clarinet made entire with wood+ (???) composite. Nobody outside of Buffet is supposed to know what it really is, but basically but the Evolution and the GreenLine are designed to be *almost* immune to cracking. I still think wooden clarinets sound and feel more special than most GreenLines, but for the kind of work I do on the clarinet, GreenLines seem like the wiser choice.
Hope you all enjoy the video!
Tony
Selmer Paris Présence Clarinet
amzn.to/3c7CkJ8
Buffet Crampon R13 Clarinet
amzn.to/3T3RBvg

[@heaneymusic]

You definitely sound most at home on the standard R13; saying this as a Selmer fanboy. Also, this video confirmed some of my personal frustrations with my own Presence clarinet in the throat tones lacking some center. Glad I’m not crazy!

[@tpark89]

Haha yeah large bore vs small bore. I’ve been playing Buffets for about 20 years now! Présence is definitely a good instrument, but from my experience they tend to crack quite a bit- hope yours is holding up! The new Evolution is absolutely a favourite of mine, although I’m not sure how the bore will hold over time. I hope Selmer keeps on pushing so Buffet finally feels the pressure to up their qc ;)

[@tpark89]

You should try some different barrels. Buffet-style barrels might help with the smaller bore. How do you find the altissimo? I’ve found on Présence it’s consistently flatter than Buffet.

[@heaneymusic]

@@tpark89 My Présence has held up fine with the body, however the original 66mm barrel did crack last winter. I found replacing it with a 65mm barrel was a good move. I don’t have flatness in the altissimo with this barrel, in fact I find that I experienced it more with R13 style clarinets without a reverse-taper barrel. I am interested in trying the Royal Global and Brad Behn barrels for sure! Selmer also offers “Centered Tone” and “Evolution” barrels, which seem interesting.

[@DaleFedele]

So much more sound with the R13, so much more projection. The instrument for those who don't want to get hernias from playing in the orchestra! At least the American orch that plays too loud. Sounds great as always, Tony!!!

[@robertatallo9771]

Buffet perfected the R13 by the 70’s. I don’t understand why they keep trying to improve it.

[@jimis3167]

Please, can you turn on comments on BD mouthpieces video?

[@tpark89]

I can’t. Something wrong with KZbin.

[@tpark89]

Fixed it!

[@jimis3167]

👍

[@jimis3167]

I think I like the R13 more..

[@tpark89]

Thank you- which one?

[@jimis3167]

@@tpark89 The third you played, the R13, not the GreenLine..