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RE: Old Buffet

Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 1999-09-20 18:45

John -

You almost certainly have a Boehm system instrument. The sure way to tell is to look at the keys for the right little finger. The Boehm system has 4, with the Ab/Eb and F/C side be side and then the F#/C# and E/B side by side and lower down.

One of the common additional keys for the Boehm system is a ring for the left ring finger which also closes the pad above the left middle finger, giving a "forked" Eb/Bb. However, the fingering needs additional venting, since it is flat with just the middle finger hole open. On modern clarinets, there is a tiny additional hole just above the left middle finger ring that opens on the forked fingering. The "doughnut" key does the same thing without the extra hole. However, it's heavy and looks odd, and requires a flute-type pad, which clarinet repairers are not used to working with.

On instruments of this vintage, the serial number was stamped very lightly with small numbers, so they're all hard to read. The number should be on the back at the very top; of the upper joint and the very bottom of the lower joint. It usually helps to take an old toothbrush and a little water to get any crud out of the impressed numbers. Also, the numbers are more visible when wet, and of course you should look at it in the brightest light possible. Once you figure out the number, there's a chart here on Sneezy that will date it for you.

The old Buffets have a wonderful tone, but there is often so much bore erosion from years of swabbing that they don't play very well in tune.

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

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