 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2007-07-04 00:49
I have a pair of used Buffet clarinets, A & Bb. How can I determine what model they are? I see the serial numbers on each joint and the Buffet insignias, but nothing about E12, E13, or whatever.
The barrels and bells also bear the Buffet insignia, and so does the mouthpiece. The latter also is inscribed with a letter "C" and a small crown. I would like to know its measurements for comparison purposes. Is there somewhere that can be looked up?
The reeds I'm using are VanDorens, well over 30 years old. They are strength 5, but the box indicates nothing else - no V12 etc.
When I was studying 32 years ago, the topic of setup was never mentioned. I started practicing again 6 months back, and there have been various difficulties with sound, tone, intonation etc. I've been adjusting myself with partial success. I'd now like to at least think about the setup, in particular the theoretical match between my mouthpiece and reeds.
I'd also be interested in hearing from anyone else who resumed playing after an extended lay off.
Respectfully,
Phil Caron
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2007-07-04 00:59
Is there "Made in France" under the logo?
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2007-07-04 02:27
Check the serial number. If it's above 50,000 these clarinets are R13.
The mouthpiece is most likely Buffet/Chedeville. You can tell it by ligature lines. Buffet/Chedevilles have 'one line up and three lines down'.
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2007-07-04 13:24
On your return to playing...
Vandoren 5s are VERY stiff, particularly when starting out.
The stock Buffet mouthpieces are essentially unfinished... I recommend either a handmade piece from Walter Grabner or one of the newer Vandoren mouthpiece designs - built to handle a medium strength reed.
The new Legere synthetic reeds will eliminate many of the reed handling problems as you start out again. (You may find that your preference returns you to natural cane, I like them well enough to use the Legere always.)
Long tones, to get your wind back.
Langenus has several tounging exercises to refit your various notations.
It will also serve you to have the instrument verified for pad integrity; one little leak will derail handfuls of notes.
FYI - the R13 model will have a "relief" under the right hand key cluster.
Welcome back to the licourice stick!
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2007-07-04 15:59
To Vytas - thank you for helping me identify my R13 instruments and Buffet Chedeville mouthpiece. I've found info on the Chedevilles in the archives (and elsewhere). Apparently specimens of this apparent vintage were highly variable.
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2007-07-04 16:27
To Synonymous B - thank your for the encouragement. The reeds were very stiff indeed for me when I first returned to practicing, but I've gotten used to at least that aspect in the 6 months since then. With some of the reeds my sound is ok, as far as I can tell - I'm the only one hearing it. Control has come hard, especially in the throat tones and the area around A - C just above the staff, but it's slowly getting better. Ditto intonation, wind, and etc.
Strangely, while in most areas I virtually had to start over after 32 years off, tongueing was at least as good as ever. Right now it's easily better than I ever could do in the past. Why? Maybe all those years I talked too much, and it strenghtened my tongue.
FWIW, on starting over I did focus on long tones and scales for the most part, with a considerable amount of what amounted to sight reading as I played through various things at the ends of sessions. Nowadays I start practice with long tones, then do scale work for about an hour a day, then switch to etudes and solo things I'm working on. (I have a solo program I'd like to have ready to try out on my family at the end of the year.) About every 5th day or so I skip the routine and just play through stuff, easy or hard, for the fun of it. Though even then there's a lot of stopping to focus on details.
So much to do, so little time.
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-07-05 18:40
"Buffet Chedeville mouthpiece. I've found info on the Chedevilles in the archives (and elsewhere). Apparently specimens of this apparent vintage were highly variable."
Its just a blank that the chedeville provided to the buffet factory to be finished by them. not the legendary chedeville that was hand finished by charles chedeville.
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2007-07-05 19:09
>** FYI - the R13 model will have a "relief" under the right hand key cluster". **<
ANY older PROFESSIONAL level Buffet clarinet has a "relief" under the right hand key cluster including those made in 1900 and earlier. So, it's not one of these things that help to determine if a clarinet is actually an R13 or not.
BTW some R13's have no relief at all.
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2007-07-05 19:17
The "legendary Chedeville" was hand-finished in Philadelphia by Henri Chedeville from blanks supplied by his relatives in Paris. There are some very good Ch. Chedeville mouthpieces, but they are not the "legendary" ones!
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Author: skip
Date: 2007-07-16 00:21
I just started playing again after 38 years away. I find it amazing how well I'm doing after such a long layoff. I have joined a local band to help give me some incentive. I purchased a vintage Buffet Master model and a R13 made for a music store in Texas. I like the R13 better for fingering but the Master Model has a better tone.
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