 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: John_May
Date: 2004-08-10 20:06
I've just come across a Buffet RC... well, I think it's an RC. It says RC on it, but it has the auxiliary Eb lever, so I'm not entirely certain if it might be a prestige (I would have thought that would be indicated somewhere on the horn?). It seems to me that it was possible to get a regular RC with the lever, but I know it doesn't come standard. You people seem to know far more about these things than I do, so I thought I'd ask.
The really strange thing, however, is that the serial number on it does not accord with anything on the Buffet site, nor anything else I can find on the internet. It's F397375. I entered it into the serial tool on the Buffet website (with and without the F) and came up emptyhanded. Any ideas as to what year it might be?
Thanks for any assistance you can provide.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2004-08-10 20:14
Made in 1995.
An F in the serial number indicates a clarinet made for the European market (A=442, A=444) ...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: javier garcia m
Date: 2004-08-10 21:19
very recent years are not listed in the website.
Maybe you can other bboarders that have just bought their Buffets can help you with the serial numbers.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Avie
Date: 2004-08-11 00:24
My R13 is in the Buffet listings under F103xxx and think that it was made in France in "68". Its also is supposed to be pitched to A442, A444. I dont know if can be A443. It is fine when soloing but the pitch doesnt match the common pitch used A440. I was under the impression that the RC is a later design of a type of R13. Good luck... ATV
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Francois Kloc
Date: 2004-08-11 19:52
Hello,
Are you sure that your instrument is a R13? if it carries the F front of the serial number it only can be a mistake from our part when marking the instrument. The R13 is only manufactured with a pitch at A=440.
As someone said earlier the F (French) stands for higher pitch A=442.
Musically Yours,
Francois Kloc
President & CEO
Buffet Crampon USA, Inc.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Vytas
Date: 2004-08-11 20:44
Hello Francois,
It's very nice to see you back on the B.Board.
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Avie
Date: 2004-08-11 23:01
Thanks Francois. I didnt know that! Welcome back to the BB. I appreciate your information.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: John_May
Date: 2004-08-11 23:25
No, I'm sure it's NOT an R-13. It's an RC with an auxiliary Eb key... so I had thought it might be a prestige, because I was under the impression that the regular RC did not have said key. Not that it matters what the name is. Thanks for the help, GBK.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Francois Kloc
Date: 2004-08-12 07:02
Hello,
If it is a Prestige you will have a silver plated medallion on the upper joint with RC Prestige ungraved in it. If you don't have the medallion it is then probably a regular RC with the auxilliary Eb put on as an option. We do this sometimes.
Musically Yours,
Francois Kloc
President & CEO
Buffet Crampon USA, Inc.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Fred
Date: 2004-08-12 12:43
What model would avumba's clarinet be? Presumably no model designation but with an F in the serial number?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Avie
Date: 2004-08-12 13:31
Francois. Fred and I have have discussed this subject in the past having the same model clarinet but we are confused as to what to call it if not an R13?
Listed on the Lars Kirmser's music tracer:
"If you come across an "F" preceding the ser. No. of an R13, this indicates that the instrument has been built to an A442-A444 and is intended for use by European ensembles. The R13 was designed By Robert Carree, the head acoustician for Buffet."
It doesnt matter to me what its called but we are confused as to what model it would be if not an R13. Can you please explain?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Francois Kloc
Date: 2004-08-12 13:56
Dear Avumba,
What is the serial number of your instrument? I will do some research with this. The factory is closed until September for their summer break but I will contact them as soon as they come back. What is written under the Buffet Crampon logo on the upper joint? If you have just the logo and that the instrument was made after 1955, it is then a R13. You are right for the "F" in the serial number it is for instrument with an higher pitch A=442 and A=444. We have had few R13 made with a "F" front of the serial number. This was a mistake. The R13 is only made at A=440.
Is your clarinet nickel or silver plated?
Musically Yours,
Francois Kloc
President & CEO
Buffet Crampon USA, Inc.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Vytas
Date: 2004-08-12 14:31
I've worked on several R-13 that had an 'F' in front of the serial number. The only deference between 'F and no 'F' instruments was a shorter 64mm barrel. Besides that, these instruments were absolutely identical.
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Avie
Date: 2004-08-12 16:14
Thanks Francois. As stated in my previous post my serial No. is F103xxx. Under the Buffet Crampon logo on the upper joint is written "Super Dynaction". It has nickel plated keys. It came with a 65mm Buffet Crampon barrel but im not sure if orriginal. I will say that it physically resembles an R13. Maybe Fred would list his ser. no. and any other possible differances on his "Super Dynaction" clarinet. GBK has already cleared up the "F" designation as European and we all on this BB trust his opinions. I posted the internet quote because of the R13 statement along with it. If you say that we could possibly have an R13 that was stamped incorrectly fine but if not then what model is it to be refered to for future talking purposes if nothing else. Any info will be much appreciated about on going saga. Thanks....ATV
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Vytas
Date: 2004-08-12 16:59
Buffet Super Dynaction is not an R-13. If I remember correct its a bigger bore jazz horn. ('Super Dynaction' is the model name)
There AREN'T any markings on the UJ below "Made in France" on the regular R-13.
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
Post Edited (2004-08-12 17:06)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Avie
Date: 2004-08-12 21:31
A Jazz horn? Now I know why my neighbors look a little upset! Now I can say I own a Super Dynaction!! If Buffet Crampon put R13 on all there model R13's we wouldnt have had this post ![[toast]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley15.gif) . Good Luck with your RC.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Fred
Date: 2004-08-13 02:41
I didn't realize avumba was referring to a Super Dynaction. We had traded some emails a while back - before that computer crashed and left all my correspondence in a discombopulated pile of 1's and 0's.
For the record, my Super Dynaction is F144XXX. I've never been able to get the straight story on what the differences (bore?) between it and an R13 are. The register tube is higher on my SD than on my R13's.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Avie
Date: 2004-08-13 13:30
Its difficult to imagine that of all the BB posters there is only 2 "Super Dynaction" Buffets in existance. I wonder how limited of an edition it was in the late 60's! It would be interesting to know how many were made. I am looking forward to Francois's research assistance in Sept. concerning the "Super Dynaction" and other models with an "F" preceding the serial number.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Vytas
Date: 2004-08-13 22:57
****We have had few R13 made with an "F" front of the serial number. This was a mistake. The R13 is only made at A=440.****
I wouldn't argue if it was a mistake or not but an R13 with an "F" in front of the serial number is quite common and yes the ones I've worked on (with an "F") were build to 440Hz specification but had shorter 64mm barrel.
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
