Klarinet Archive - Posting 000017.txt from 2004/01

From: "Lelia Loban" <lelialoban@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Old Buffet (was: [kl] Selmer Signet Soloist...)
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2004 13:47:04 -0500

Robert Whiteside asked about the value of a Buffet clarinet, serial no.
#37051. That serial number probably comes from about 1949, although the
records giving exact dates aren't available for serial numbers 28,000
through 58,835 (roughly late 1945 through 1957, with production of
approximately 3000 clarinets per year). If there's no model name anywhere
on the clarinet, then it's Buffet's professional model of the time, the
pre-R13 instrument (the R13 was introduced in 1955), and may be an
excellent clarinet, depending on condition, individual quirks, etc.. I own
two "obsolete" Buffets from the 1930s, and I like them a lot. The money
value isn't high because most professional clarinet players want newer
instruments. In 2002, I paid $300 for a Buffet clarinet in A from 1931
that was clean and playable. I've done nothing but very minor tweaking on
that one. In 1998, I paid $100 for a Buffet Bb clarinet from 1937. It had
no damage and was playable, though dirty, when I brought it home. At
first, all I did was clean the clarinet, wash out the inside of the case
and replace all the corks. However, the felt inside the old pads had
deteriorated. The pads looked okay, but they began to pack down very
quickly, causing leaks. Metal fatigue showed up in some springs, too.
After a few weeks of gentle breaking in, I gave this clarinet needed a
basic overhaul. Later, I replaced the old case. If a vintage clarinet
seems to have old pads, even if it plays pretty well when you first buy it,
then I'd recommend factoring the cost of an overhaul into the price you're
willing to pay.

Lelia Loban
E-mail: lelialoban@-----.net
Web site (original music scores as audio or print-out):
http://members.sibeliusmusic.com/LeliaLoban

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