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Re: Evette and Schaeffer ?altered serial number

Author: Vytas
Date: 2007-07-15 03:25

Sue Raycraft (susieray) came across this E&S MM clarinet on eBay, it had the separate posts for the throat G# and A keys but the flat trill key guide. I once mentioned on BBoard that Buffet never used that combination. I thought there was something fishy about this particular clarinet. The keywork was not Buffet at all. The bridge-key had 'ears' on the bottom. The first key cup on the LJ is under the angle. Banana keys were fatter. Tenon cap on the top and the full cap on the entire bottom tenon (on both shoulders) of the UJ. Post locking screws were different and some were placed in different spots etc. The serial number was D31xx. Clarinet had the normal E&S logo with the "Master Model" below and not as part of the logo. I was pretty confident at that point; this clarinet was not made in the Buffet factory. The more I looked at this clarinet the more it looked exactly like Malerne 4 Star Professional serial #D257X clarinet I just recently overhauled. I checked the Malerne and it was a perfect match. There is no doubt this E&S MM was made by Malerne and it's the same as Malerne "4 Star Professional" or Malerne "Artist" model.

Thanks to Sue this fact alone led to further shocking discovery. LOL

Buffet claims that E&S model was always made in the main factory but that is simply not true and it has nothing to do with this single E&S MM clarinet made by Malerne. The shocking part is that all E&S clarinets other than K-series have not been made by Buffet at all but rather by other manufacturer. The Buffet started K-series E&S clarinets (so called French bore) in the 30's and continue up to this date for their semiprofessional line clarinets. That's why you never find any 'B' or 'D' series E&S clarinet on the serial number list. Also, it was always strange to me to see E&S B-series clarinet made in the 40s-50s when K-series were still around (K-series started earlier than B-series). What kind of sequence is this?

Anyway only the K-series E&S have been made in the main Buffet factory and the others are Malerne "Intermediate", Malerne "4 Star Professional" or Malerne "Artist" models etc.

I think Buffet will find who to blame for this. It's the distributor's fault LOL. The distributor made up this 'the same factory story'. Just like it happen with the R13 and Buffet knew nothing about existence of this model before the introduction of the polycylindrical bore. The same story is with the E13 model. In the brochure from the 30's E&S is listed as E13. I wander if Buffet is aware of this or it's just the American distributor's fault again?

Also, the bore, tone hole undercutting, keywork etc. is different on K-series than you find on the professional Buffet clarinets of the corresponding era. Some of E&S clarinets do not have undercut tone holes at all. So, how in the world you can call E&S clarinet a "Modele Buffet-Crampon"?

And yes I have all the pictures I need to prove it.

Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player

Post Edited (2007-07-15 13:45)

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