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 Is My Newer R13 Really An R13? (Photos Inside)
Author: Johnny Galaga 
Date:   2008-11-09 01:15
Attachment:  R13 New Top Serial Number.jpg (91k)
Attachment:  R13 New Bottom Serial Number.jpg (39k)
Attachment:  R13 New Top Piece.jpg (70k)
Attachment:  R13 New Bottom Piece.jpg (53k)
Attachment:  R13 New Barrel.jpg (76k)

Hello,

This is an instrument that I bought new about 12 years ago. It cost $1,700 from a local music store (Thoroughbred Music which is now called Sam Ash).

The barrel has "B 660" inscribed in it, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me what that means. The serial number looks like 426515 but I don't know how to look it up anywhere. Is this really a brand new R13 from the mid 1990's and was it worth $1,700 12 years ago or did I get hosed?

Thanks.

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 Re: Is My Newer R13 Really An R13? (Photos Inside)
Author: JJAlbrecht 
Date:   2008-11-09 01:31

The notation on the barrel just says that the barrel was designed for a Bb clarinet (as opposed to ine in the key of A) and that the length is 66 mm. Nothing sinister there.

According to the serial number, it is an R13 with nickel plated keys, and was manufactured in 1997. You can look up serial numbers for Buffet pro-level horns (only) at this site: http://www.buffet-crampon.com/en/instruments.php

“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010

"A drummer is a musician's best friend."


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 Re: Is My Newer R13 Really An R13? (Photos Inside)
Author: pewd 
Date:   2008-11-09 01:34

B 660 = Bflat, 66.0 mm barrel, the standard Bb R13 length

google 'buffet clarinet serial numbers' for serial number lists, or simply go to buffetcrampon.fr and look it up on buffet's site that will display the model number - 1131NI - look that up on buffet's site as well , and that will answer your questions

no its not a brand new r13 - it was new in february of 1997 when it was built, but now its 'used'.

- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas

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 Re: Is My Newer R13 Really An R13? (Photos Inside)
Author: Johnny Galaga 
Date:   2008-11-09 01:40

I have seen R13 prices of like $3,000+ lately, so did I just get a good deal back then (I paid $1,700 for it brand new) or have the prices simply gone up a lot over the last few years?

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 Re: Is My Newer R13 Really An R13? (Photos Inside)
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2008-11-09 01:57

$1,700 was pretty much the retail price 12 years ago. You might have found it for a bit less, but you didn't get cheated. Prices are a LOT higher today, particularly because the dollar has dropped against the Euro.

Ken Shaw

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 Re: Is My Newer R13 Really An R13? (Photos Inside)
Author: pewd 
Date:   2008-11-10 00:00

i have several high school juniors who paid 1700 when they were in 7th grade, so until 4 years ago that was the going price. it jumped up about 3 years ago. locally they're running about 2700-2800 at the moment (nickel, silver is about 250 higher)

used ones with fresh repad jobs are going for 1400-1500 presently.

- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas

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 Re: Is My Newer R13 Really An R13? (Photos Inside)
Author: mrn 
Date:   2008-11-10 04:26

pewd wrote:

> i have several high school juniors who paid 1700 when they
> were in 7th grade, so until 4 years ago that was the going
> price. it jumped up about 3 years ago.

That's sickening! I really didn't want to know that, Paul! ;)

(mrn is now wishing he had had his "clarinet renaissance" 4 years earlier--his R-13 A is so new it isn't even in the Buffet database)

Incidentally, $1,500 was the local store price (Houston, TX) for an R-13 Bb in the early '90s.



Post Edited (2008-11-10 04:29)

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 Re: Is My Newer R13 Really An R13? (Photos Inside)
Author: bmcgar 2017
Date:   2008-11-10 21:26

mrn,

Would you feel worse if I said that my parents paid $475 for the 7xxxx-series 1963 R13 that I still play 45 years later, and that I've been offered as much as $5000 for?

By the way, I just got it back last after sending it out for replating and refurbishing in March. I'd forgotten what a nice horn it is.

B. (who doesn't believe in oiling or "blow out.)

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 Re: Is My Newer R13 Really An R13? (Photos Inside)
Author: mrn 
Date:   2008-11-10 21:40

bmcgar wrote:

> mrn,
>
> Would you feel worse if I said that my parents paid $475 for
> the 7xxxx-series 1963 R13 that I still play 45 years later, and
> that I've been offered as much as $5000 for?

That actually makes me feel better, not worse, because that suggests that over the long haul a well-maintained R-13 can actually appreciate in value.

I don't believe in clarinet "blow-out," either. I think that's some excuse somebody came up with to tell their spouse why they needed to buy a new instrument. :)

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 Re: Is My Newer R13 Really An R13? (Photos Inside)
Author: Pappy 
Date:   2008-11-11 00:42

>mrn,
>
>Would you feel worse if I said that my parents paid $475 for the 7xxxx->series 1963 R13 that I still play 45 years later, and that I've been offered >as much as $5000 for?"

About the same story here - a 72xxx series. Plays wonderfully. I like the Toscas and such of today, but the standard modern R-13 doesn't "feel" the same. Put one of David B's vent extention thingies on mine recently and it's better than ever!



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 Re: Is My Newer R13 Really An R13? (Photos Inside)
Author: stevesklar 
Date:   2008-11-11 12:50

mrn - did you see this 1982 price list from WW (WWBW)

in 1982, R13s were $1395 retail, $820 mail order
http://www.clarinetperfection.com/clPriceList.htm

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 Re: Is My Newer R13 Really An R13? (Photos Inside)
Author: mrn 
Date:   2008-11-11 15:13

stevesklar wrote:

> mrn - did you see this 1982 price list from WW (WWBW)
>
> in 1982, R13s were $1395 retail, $820 mail order
> http://www.clarinetperfection.com/clPriceList.htm

Hmm...Not much change in 8 years, really. My parents bought me my R-13 Bb in 1990. I didn't discover the big price difference between retail and mail order (in fact, I had never even heard of buying instruments via mail order) until I went to the TMEA convention later that year after I made all-state and brought home a list of Crazy Jonathan's specials (among other things).  :)

I wouldn't even think of paying retail these days. (Of course, the music stores out here know they have to stay competitive with the mail order folks, thanks to the Internet, so you don't pay twice as much for a box of Vandorens like you would have 20 years ago, but it's still higher, of course)

Not that it would make up the difference between mail order and retail, mind you, but at least in those days, H&H (the major music store in Houston) would also throw in your choice of mouthpiece at no additional cost. If I remember right they actually had to order me one because I wanted another Gigliotti. (which was a good thing, because it wasn't long before I broke the one I had--I think I had gone through three of them by the time I got out of school)

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