CLARINETS DIRECT

020 8893 3172 or 07787 770071

BUFFET R13 A CLARINET, £1195

A good condition Buffet R13 A, which is a commission sale for Clarinets Direct. The matching serial nos. are 85364 which probably dates to 1965. The volume covering serial nos. 79865-93203 is missing: However Buffet were averaging 6000 instruments a year at this period, and 79864 dates to May 1964. This period is commonly referred to as the "Golden Era" of R13 manufacture. 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. In fact this A plays so much better than contemporary R13 A clarinets, which often feel very "stiff": the response is lively, and it is much closer to the feel of a Bb clarinet.
The pads are all sealing well, though they are not new. I understand from the vendor that this instrument was last overhauled in Switzerland, and it was in fact twinned with an S1 Buffet Bb, which is listed on my website No. 7. Their sole former owner was a keen amateur player. This clarinet has not had excessive use, and it is good condition for its age. The wood is crack and repair free, excellent throughout. The Nickel Silver plating shows some spot wear and also scratching to the side Eb/Bb, see photo 3. Along with the original Buffet barrel, of 65mm, there is also a non-Buffet barrel of 61mm in plastic. The Buffet double case in black leather is probably original to the S1 which dates to 1976, there are some scuffs to the exterior corners, and wear to the interior, but it is fully serviceable.