CLARINETS DIRECT

020 85811113 or 07787 770071

BUFFET R13 Bb CLARINET, £1245

A good condition vintage Buffet R13 Bb clarinet. It is a one owner instrument, having been professionally owned and played by a London based Jazz musician, who is primarily a Baritone Sax player. This instrument is an early R13 with matching serial numbers 49989, dating to 1955. Total manufacture of all professional models averaged 2000-3000 per year, which contasts sharply with the current 80,000 a year. Back then this was the finest professional instrument Buffet made, with unstained, matched wood. This was before the introduction of the ""Prestige" range, which effectively downgraded the standard R13 considerably. These days R13's are made from inferior quality wood, which is stained to hide imperfections. Buffet are currently attempting to recreate this Gold standard of manufacture in their current "Vintage R13" range, please go to www.buffetcrampon.com for more details. Certainly this instrument will not disappoint; the quality of scale and intonation are everything one has come to expect from this period of careful hand manufacture.
The instrument has just had a complete overhaul in our workshop, in fish skin pads, and is sold with our full 1 year warranty. The Grenadilla wood is crack and repair free, indeed in excellent condition throughout. The German Silver key work shows hardly any wear, which contrasts strongly with the quality of contemporary Buffet plating. All pieces are original with matching Buffet stamps, apart from the barrel which is an up-grade to a Hite model. The tuning of this early instrument is remarkably good, aided by this special custom barrel. The m'piece is a used B45 in good condition. The original case shows much interior and exterior wear, but still latches and protects the instrument well.