 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Emily's Dad
Date: 2008-06-28 21:17
Ok. I have been wanting to write this for some time, but have been waiting for information. Much has been written about the C12 on this BB, if you look hard enough. To summarize, it was sold in the US in the '80's and 90's. It consistantly cost about $300 less than an R13. It was essentially an R13 with slightly lesser keywork, with less "finishing" and without the cutout under the pinkie keys. It was intended for aspiring professionals who wanted to save a few bucks and is considered a "professional horn" by the Buffet serial number search page.
I sent the following e-mail to Buffet. "I noticed you still show a ""Conservatoire"" model on your website. Is that a step up from the Limite? Is it available in the United States? I currently have a C12 (circa 1984). Is that the same model as the Conservatoire? The C12 is not available here at all."
Their response was; "The C12 is a “Conservatoire model”, which is definitely different from the Limite. The Conservatoire models are available in the United States."
Has anyone ever seen a (new) Conservatoire for sale here in the US? The Buffet dealer near me had never heard of it, and didn't even show it in his catalog. I pointed him to the Buffet website. Does anyone here own one, and if so, have you ever compared it to the older C12's? Buffet's response was very vague. Although they said it was "definitely different from the Limite", they did not say how. Any help?
Post Edited (2008-07-01 01:59)
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Author: Ryder
Date: 2008-06-29 02:44
You brought up an interesting point. I realized that as much net surfing and "computer screen" shopping as I do, I have yet to see a C12/Conservatoire for sale on any US websites.
I did however check out the US dealers list on the Buffet website. There is quite a large number of authorized dealers here in the US.
You'd have to weed through them to find the ones with web sites and those who have it or not.
I suspect that the reason not many US retailers sell it is just for money making purposes. If it is in fact a cheaper model of the R13, sellers probably think that they can just sell the R13 and not even mention the Conservatoire because of the minimal difference in overall quality and price.
In my opinion $300 is not much once you break the $2000 mark for clarinets. Others in different positions may think otherwise though.
____________________
Ryder Naymik
San Antonio, Texas
"We pracice the way we want to perform, that way when we perform it's just like we practiced"
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Author: Emily's Dad
Date: 2008-06-29 03:54
I agree that $300 is not much of a price break. What I do find interesting is how cheap the used C12's sell for (about a third of the price of an R13). Emily plays a C12, and it has a beautiful sound. I know it doesn't have a high resale value, but for those looking to save ALOT of money in a used clarinet-it's as close to an R13 as you can get.
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Author: thomas.b
Date: 2008-06-29 06:49
when I tried it some years ago... I did not feel a significant difference between E13 and C12... but the C12 had a price tag somewhere between E13 and RC/R13 ( at least in Germany), so I bought the E13 ( I looked for a good, cheap instrument for first Boehm experiences, normally I am playing German clarinet)
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Author: Swede
Date: 2008-06-29 10:47
I was rather surprised that Buffet still sells this model, production should been stopped 1992 ?. They really overproduced this modell if it's still in stock ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffet_Crampon
"C12 "Conservatoire" model - A semi-professional model C12 was produced only from 1984 to 1992. Essentially it was an R13 with lesser keywork, lacking the R13's wood cutout above the lower tenon "pinky keys". "
anyway it's a great horn, i own one myself a (c12 from 1984), the sound is quite comparable to R13.
Thanks
Dan
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