CLARINETS DIRECT

020 85811113 or 07787 770071

BUFFET R13 Bb CLARINET, £1195

An excellent condition Buffet R13 Bb clarinet. This instrument has lower joint serial F64506, and upper joint F64507. Either an error was made at the point the instrument was stamped, or the joints were made consecutively! The serial numbers date to 1960, this period is commonly referred to as the "Golden Era" of R13 manufacture. 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 Nickel Silver plated key work shows hardly any wear, which is testament to the quality of older Buffet plating. All pieces are original with matching Buffet stamps. The m'piece is an original Buffet C in ebonite in good condition. The original case shows some stains to the interior, but still latches and protects the instrument well.