The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: eridium
Date: 2007-07-17 05:08
In a moment of nostalgia I opened my old clarinet from junior high, a Buffet Crampon with serial 275184. Could someone please tell me more about what model this might be? Using the Buffet Crampon website I'm given this info:
Brand : Buffet Crampon
Instrument : BC 1131
Serial number : 275184
Year of manufacturing : 25/09/1985
Just curious to know exactly which model this is ... (and no, not to sell it on eBay, I love this clarinet!)
Thank you!
- Erick
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Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2007-07-17 07:45
Just out of curiosity, I did the same with my RC and the model number came back as BC1111-2. Can someone explain to me why it didn't come back as RC?
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Author: pabstboy
Date: 2007-07-17 08:14
If GBK says it is an R-13 then that's what it is. End on discussion !!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2007-07-17 08:33
pabstboy wrote:
> If GBK says it is an R-13 then that's what it is. End on
> discussion !!
Actually, one of the Buffets in my collection is 2743xx which is also from the same year - 1985. (a very nice playing instrument, btw)
Although E11's could also have a 6 digit serial number, I don't think that they are as low as the 200,000 range.
Thus, I'm betting R13, especially if it has "Made in France" under the logo, and a cut out under the right pinky keys...GBK
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2007-07-17 12:47
THe number "BC1111-2" is an internal designation within Buffet, and probably is a tad more specific than RC. Part of the designation on R13s for example, tells wheteher the keywork is silver plated or nickel plated. With the number, the manufacturer can tell exactly what the clarinet had oon it when it lefdt the factory.
A bad analogy, but the VIN number on cars serves two functions:of course it iserves as a serial number, but it also gives model and equipment information, such as whether the car had an automatic transmission or a stick shift, high output engine, etc.
Jeff
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-07-17 13:56
"A bad analogy, but the VIN number on cars serves two functions:of course it iserves as a serial number, but it also gives model and equipment information, such as whether the car had an automatic transmission or a stick shift, high output engine, etc."
Hmmm... makes me wonder if my car has been converted from an automatic to 5-speed manual at some point well before I bought it - the log book says Volvo 940 Classic LPT Auto, as do searches with Volvo and DVLA and insurance companies.
But I can always tell when an oboe or cor anglais has been converted from automatic to semi-auto from the filled in slots and pillar holes on the top joint (and several other tell-tale signs).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2007-07-17 19:18
BC1131-2-0 Bb (silver plated keys)
BC1131G-2-0 Bb Green Line(silver plated keys)
BC1131-5-0 Bb (nickel plated keys)
BC1131G-5-0 Bb Green Line (nickel plated keys)
BC1231-2-0 A (silver plated keys)
BC1231-5-0 A (nickel plated keys)
BC1231G-2-0 A Green Line (silver plated keys)
BC1131L Bb with Eb lever
BC1231L A with Eb lever
BC1531-2-0 Eb (silver plated keys)
http://www.buffet-crampon.com/en/instruments.php?mode=productSpecifications&pid=109
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: sue
Date: 2009-05-22 04:35
entering serial number 4266xx into Buffet's website returns BCF 1131NI manufactured in 1997. Can anyone tell me what the F stands for here?
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Author: Ed Lowry
Date: 2009-05-22 05:03
I believe the F means that it was manufactured for the French (or perhaps European) market. I purchased an RC in Paris in the mid 1980s and was told that the Buffets for the American market did not have leading letters before the serial number, and were "tuned" to A=440, whereas the "F" serial numbers were "tuned" to A=442. Which may simply mean a shorter barrel, I'm not sure.
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Author: sue
Date: 2009-05-22 06:46
Thanks Ed. I understand that F in front of the serial number indicates the higher pitched instruments, but this one doesn't have an F in the serial number, just in the model designation from Buffet. If it is designed to be A=442, will a longer barrel suffice to bring it to A=440 or will that throw out the tuning?
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Author: Ed Lowry
Date: 2009-05-23 04:44
Sue --
I think you need to try several barrels to see which one works. You might want to search the archives for the klarinet list. I believe there's a discussion in which someone asserts that the only difference between the A=440 and A=442 Buffets is the length of the barrel that comes with the instrument. I can't say whether the assertion is correct, however.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2009-05-23 18:34
Re: BC1111-2
In order:
BC - Buffet Crampon
11 - Key of Bb
11 - RC
2 - Silver-plated keys
Buffet has also used 12 as the two digits to designate RC. I don't know whether they have switched designation from one to the other at some time in the past or whether, e.g., one specifies American market (A=440) and the other European market (A=442).
In Paul's list, the first two digits after BC specify the key (11 = Bb, 12 = A, 15 = Eb), the next two digits, 31, specify that all of these instruments are R13s. The optional letter that comes next specify Left-Hand Eb lever (L), Greenline (G) or (not on Paul's list) Vintage (V). The number after the dash specifies plating (2 = silver, 5 = nickel).
Mike, does your serial number have an F-prefix?
Best regards,
jnk
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