 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jamesw96
Date: 2015-10-05 19:52
I bought an old Buffet A clarinet from 1889 on the auction site for what I felt was cheap, and had it overhauled at a nearby repair shop. It now works, but has some trouble in the upper register (especially D5 and above)
Overall, the total cost was about $700, and I was wondering if I can try selling it to help me afford a better A clarinet.
Would collectors be interested in this sort of instrument?
Also, would an instrument this old need a special mouthpiece to accommodate changes in bore styles between the past 130 years?
As for the instrument, it looks decent, has "Carl Fischer L.P." stamped on the bell along with the Buffet icon.
Thanks,
-James
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2015-10-05 20:29
1889 is very early, but not necessarily bad. I have a Bb/A pair from 1908 that play beautifully. The tuning problem is most likely in the barrel. Most older barrels have been replaced or re-reamed. The sign of re-reaming is that the bore will be dull rather than shiny.
Also, look down the top joint for signs of re-reaming from the top to the register vent. Unfortunately, this can't be fixed.
Buffets this old require a longer barrel than the standard 65 or 66 mm - usually 69 mm. The bore is also different. A barrel maker such as Allan Segal http://www.clarinetconcepts.com/ should be able to make one that works.
The "Carl Fischer" stamp is correct. The company had the exclusive import license for Buffet for many years. "L.P." is also correct and means "low pitch," i.e., A-440.
A good quality standard mouthpiece should be fine.
Even from collectors, you'll be unlikely to get more than $700.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2015-10-05 21:28
For what it's worth, I had a 1917 A which sounded wonderful but had intonation problems. But to make it work at all I had to buy a mouthpiece that would let me play in the altissimo without constant squeaking. The mp's that worked fine on my 2001 R13 Bb I couldn't make work on the 1917 A. Your mileage may vary.
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Author: modernicus
Date: 2015-10-05 22:06
I thought Carl Fischer wasn't a Buffet Crampon importer until 1910 or so? I could be wrong, I don't remember the exact dates I read. In the late 1800s many Buffets were imported by Cundy Bettony IIRC.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2015-10-05 22:23
I have a 1889 Buffet simple system HP clarinet which has a very beautiful sound. Since it is HP, about A453, it can only be considered a collector's item.
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Author: modernicus
Date: 2015-10-06 00:17
Very hard to tell all of the connections a hundred years later. Perhaps Fischer and Bettony were importing Buffets at the same time. There is a lot of incorrect information out there I could have soaked up. Anyway, I think a collector would want this instrument, just not sure at what price. Buffets can command higher prices than most. If I were a wealthier collector, I know I would be interested.
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Author: modernicus
Date: 2015-10-06 06:06
Yes, perhaps the bell was replaced with a later one. When did the LP markings on instruments start?
Post Edited (2015-10-06 06:21)
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Author: jamesw96
Date: 2015-10-06 07:36
The serial number is D-149.
I could only find a serial number at the lower end of the bottom joint, unlike where modern serial numbers always are on the top and bottom joints.
Also, I don't know if this matters, but the wood grain of each piece seem consistent with one another, which makes me think the entire instrument is fully original.
The barrel that came with it is a 65mm. I tried using a Backun 65mm ringless on it, but it didn't go well. Bore and socket dimensions are very different.
As for now, I'll take the next couple of days trying to map out the tuning and get back to everyone.
Thank you for the prompt responses!
-James W.
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Author: bill28099
Date: 2015-10-07 04:59
I own 3 old Buffet A clarinets in the 1904-1922 time frame. If you are going to use your modern mouthpiece you will have to find and appropriate barrel or have one made. I have a "magic" no name barrel that came with one of the three horns that makes them very playable and in tune. The original Buffet barrels with modern mouthpieces don't work.....As a side note my 1904 A Buffet was imported by C Fischer and it came with a 64.75 mm barrel.
A great teacher gives you answers to questions
you don't even know you should ask.
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Author: bill28099
Date: 2015-10-07 20:21
OK, given the tools I have, a digital caliper from Harbor Freight and a set of Chinese telescoping gauges here are the measurements.
First it is an unmarked wood barrel 65.5 mm long. The inner bore is a cylinder measuring 15.1 +/- .06 mm. There is no taper that I can measure. The +/- shows the barrel is not quite circular, it appears to be somewhat elliptical.
A great teacher gives you answers to questions
you don't even know you should ask.
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