 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GARNET67
Date: 2004-12-31 16:17
I have an antique Evette Sponsored by Buffet Clarinet with a serial number of 12369. I have tried looking at Sneezy and at Boosey, but could not find a serial number list/date list for this clarinet.
After reading many of the BB entries, I'm thinking that it's an E11 model, but not sure.
Looking to date and perhaps price this wood/silver clarinet. Any help would be appreciated!
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Author: Dee
Date: 2004-12-31 19:20
Evettes were predecessors to the Buffet E-series. You might be able to find it on the Buffet site (which seems to be not working right now). If you go to their website and enter the number in the search for student or intermediate clarinets, you should find the approximate year of manufacture. Note don't just pick clarinet as that will search the R-13 list.
Note that it is NOT an antique. It is at most only a few decades old. For value just check the eBay closed auctions. This will give you a fair idea. Unless it is in near perfect condition, it probably is around $100.
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Author: GARNET67
Date: 2005-01-01 14:46
Hi Dee - can you give me the Buffet website address? I'll keep trying there. Thanks for the info.
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Author: Bnatural
Date: 2005-01-01 20:21
www.musicgroup.com/
navigate to it from there... they own buffet
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2005-01-02 05:14
It looks to me like they have redesigned their website. The serial number search, if it is working at all, is loading verrrrrrrrry slowly.
The actual lineage of the E11 model is:
"Evette Sponsored by Buffet," made in France prior to 1963. I don't remember when Buffet began marketing this model but it might go back to the 30's or earlier.
"Evette" (in large letters in the center of the oval, no "sponsored by") made in France from around 1963 until around 1977 or 78 (if memory serves) when production was shifted to Germany. Then made in Germany from around 1977 or 78 until 1981 or 82. Serial numbers have a D prefix.
"E11" (made in Germany from 1981 or 82 to the present
If the definition of "antique" is > 50 years old, yours might qualify -- though 12xxx is, I think, a fairly high serial number for this model so it might fall a little short of antique status (but it is at least 40 years old). Even if it is an antique, however, it is probably not a valuable one.
Buffet used the "Evette" designation for both wooden and plastic student instruments. Wooden Evettes were the bottom of Buffet's wooden line. There have been quite a few design changes between the "Evette Sponsored by ..." and the E11 so the difference is more than one of name. By today's standards, IMO, the "Evette Sponsored by ..." is not a particularly desirable instrument. I am apparently not alone in this opinion, because, as Dee notes, they aren't worth much on the eBay auction. I've owned a couple and neither played nearly as well as French D-series Evettes made after 1963.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: GARNET67
Date: 2005-01-02 16:18
Thanks, Jack - great information (I was hoping you'd be the one to answer my questions). Yes, the musicgroup.com website is INCREDIBLY slow. I'll keep trying.
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2005-01-02 18:21
Evette Sponsored by Buffet is (and always has been) model E-10. This clarinet doesn't have any linkage to the E-11 whatsoever.
Evette & Shaeffer (since Buffet started their production) was/is - Model E-13,
Evette (wooden) was/is - Model E-11.
Evette Sponsored by Buffet - Model E-10.
Hard Rubber Evette Sponsored by Buffet - plastic B12
Brochure from 1930s: http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/download.html/1,270/E&S-30s.jpg
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2005-01-02 22:53
As Vytas knows, prior to Buffet's adoption in 1981/82 of E11 as the designation for their wooden student model Evette clarinet, the designation E10 and E13 etc., were not official to Buffet but rather were designations assigned by Buffet's U.S. importer, Carl Fischer. The model pictured in the brochure to which Vytas refers, is the Evette Sponsored by Buffet model, and the picture clearly supports his point that this was designated in the Fischer catalog as the E10. (It also indicates that the Evette dates back at least to the 1930's.) I think Vytas errs, however, when he says that the "Evette" (presumably the D-series model?) was the E11. Per a Carl Fischer Catalog in effect in 1968, this latter Evette (and the catalog picture is clear that this is not a "sponsored by" model) was also designated by Carl Fischer as an E10. Therefore, unless Fischer changed its designation for this model to E11 sometime between 1968 and 1981, E11 was a new designation introduced by Buffet and never used by Fischer. (Perhaps Vytas has evidence from a later Fischer catalog that he can share.) Somewhat recently, Buffet has adopted the E10 designation to identify a student model similar to the E11 but with a plastic barrel and bell.
Based on all the evidence I have seen to date, the E11 (Buffet's designation) descends from the E10 (D-series "Evette") which, in turn descends from the E10 ("Evette sponsored by ..."). As I have mentioned above, however, there are significant differences between the three models. Close comparison of the pictures and descriptions bear this out. IMHO, until I see further evidence, while it is correct to refer to an E11 as an Evette (i.e., a member of the Evette family), it is incorrect to refer to a D-series Evette as an E11.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Dee
Date: 2005-01-02 23:41
Except for automobiles, the rule of thumb for antique is older than 100 years.
Other exceptions are items of great historical interest.
Clarinets might even take longer to attain "antique status" since design features basically haven't changed in a very long time. You can lay a well maintained old clarinet on the table next to one just a few years apart and many times can't tell the difference.
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