Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2010-09-09 18:08
I assume you are looking for a replacement for the clarinet you talked about in a recent thread, that the involvement of an insurance company pretty much limits your choice to an R13 and that, beyond a deductible, your insurance company will be paying for your instrument so the cost is a secondary issue.
I agree with Walter. In previous discussion of this question, other posters have pointed out that, because of their wood, some clarinets are going to crack regardless of how carefully one treats them and others won't crack regardless of how badly one treats them (absent really serious abuse). It's probably safe to say that, the longer a clarinet goes without cracking, the less likely it is to crack in the future. However, I think, that if a clarinet is destined to crack regardless of how well its cared for, then most of the time, it will crack within the first couple years of use. I would expect (and Walter, please correct me if I'm wrong), that an instrument that hasn't cracked after 6-10 years, is a relatively safe bet -- at least not prone to crack.
If WW&BW's "used" clarinets are all in the 1/2 year to year-old range, they are probably still in the "too early to tell" stage. I suspect that most, if not all of these, are essentially new instruments that WW&BW is sellling as "used" on a technicality (possibly floor demos) so that they can sell at a price below Buffet's enforced price for new clarinets. Keep in mind though, that while you may run across grisly stories from owners relating how their new clarinet has cracked and even if the probability of a new R13's cracking is higher now than it may have been in the "golden era," that probability is still pretty low.
I think Alexi is overly generous with his range for the golden age. While you can undoubtedly find some owners who will tell you their 1974 or 76 or 78 (e.g.) R13 is a great instrument, most "authorities" that I have read/talked to would say that the period from the late 50's (after introduction of the polycylindrical bore) through the late 60's, or maybe early 70's was the true "golden age." Some set the cutoff at the point in the late 60s or early 70s where Buffet (for the last time?) changed from using a flat spring on the R13's C#/G# key to a needle spring on a post. During that period, the R13 was Buffet's top-of-the-line professional clarinet. It was made of the best wood available and worked on by the best craftsmen. Now it is their entry-level professional clarinet.
The downside to an older clarinet is that there may have been design improvements in more recent versions and, the older a clarinet is, the more opportunity it has had for normal wear and tear, not to mention abuse.
If I were you, I would look for an instrument that plays in tune and that you can be confident is in top condition, either because it is relatively new and has received little use or because it has been put into like-new condition by a top-notch professional repairman (such as Walter Grabner, btw). While, in your case, I believe resale value is of little relevance, I probably would stay with instruments made within the last 5-15 years. Also, since the insurance company will apparently go for it, the WW&BW clarinets are worth a look. You might check Weiner Music for used R13s. They usually have some with perhaps more variety. Other possibilities would include Vytas Krass and, on eBay, the seller cpaok.
Best regards,
jnk
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