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Re: Unmarked Buffet Clarinets?

Author: Kruzi
Date: 2007-01-24 22:37

@cygnus: The clarinet shown on the photo is exactly the same model as the cheap wooden noname clarinet my father bought for me eight years ago. It has also a "serial number" stamped into almost every part (even under the keys!) except the mouthpiece, bell and barrel. The "serial number" of my clarinet is 21 and IMHO this means it was put together on assembly line no.21 rather than it was the 21st instrument build in one of the huge musical instruments factories in Shanghai where most of their zillions of R13-copies have their origin. This instrument in particular is made of african Mopani wood which was painted black and then got a clear polyurethane laquer sealing on the in- and outside of the instrument.Making it look very plastic. The wood got the black paintjob because unlike rosewood, Mopani darkens very unregular and this doesn`t look that nice on an instrument. The laquer sealing prevents moisture from entering the wooden material - advantage: you can play for hours and hours - if you have an instrument that is willing enough to let you play which most of the chinese R13-knockoffs don`t even think about;-).
The disadvantage is: you can`t oil the instrument except if you want to destroy the laquer surface. And one day the wood will just crack - as it has happened to the barrel of my clarinet twice. The clear laquer finish was put on quite dilettantic, too - it was sprayed over the bell`s lower ring so that one can`t polish the metal surface.
The keyworks are made of silver-plated nickle silver and look quite rough and sturdy - not elegant like those of a R13. The mouthpiece and the factory setup of the chinese horn made it unplayable - with a better mouthpiece, a new barrel from a real Buffet clarinet (in fact, the Buffet barrel had cost more than the whole chinese clarinet) and some pad and cork adjustments it has become an entry-level student instrument that was finally acceptable and has accompanied me for several years. Today I`m still using it as a backup instrument or when marching with the band outside in heavy weather. I don`t know what else to do with it, it`s practically worthless, has no resale value at all if not for firewood, and I have spend several hundred € for feeding and care plus I got some sweet memories of it that I don`t want to part with the weird thing. It`s got a nickname, I call it my howling chopstick;-)

Greetings,
Kruzi

Take what you`ve got and make the best of it!

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Unmarked Buffet Clarinets? new

Cygnus

2007-01-23 18:42