CLARINETS DIRECT

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BUFFET BC20 Bb CLARINET, £1195

When the American investor Martin Tolchin bought Buffet Crampon company he felt that though the R13 sold well in the USA different models would be more successful in Europe. The S1, Continentale and BC20, which evolved into the RC, were all attempts to make darker, more focused sounding clarinets. The great French player, Jacques Lancelot was particularly associated with the development of the BC20 model, which was launched in the 1960's. Current "blurb" on the Buffet Crampon website is inaccurate. They claim that the Buffet E13 was based on the BC20, this is false: The E13 design pre-dates the BC20 by some 30 years, the E13 [as the model name suggests] is firmly based on the R13.
This is a BC 20 Bb clarinet serial no. F95694 dating to 1967, which is commonly referred to as the "Golden" era of manufacture. Buffet Crampon descibed this model as being designed for Recital and Orchestral playing. The key work is in Silver plate, which is in superb condition, indeed the quality of this plating puts contemporary Buffet standards to shame. The wood is excellent throughout with no cracks, damage or repairs. The key regulation is tight and there is no joint wobble. The instrument has just had a complete re-pad in Pisoni deluxe fish skin pads and it is sold with our full 1 year warranty. The m'piece is an "as new" Vandoren 5RV lyre. The case is used but again in good condition. .