 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BNoon
Date: 2016-04-27 22:38
Hi,
I stumbled onto this clarinet at a garage sale. It was in a tooled leather case that appeared to be made for the instrument. Has anyone seen this case on a Buffet before. Any information including value would be appreciated.
I took this into the music store in Tucson where they are oiling and repading at this time and they were pretty confident that this was well made and in nearly perfect condition. The keys are apparently nickel with a inlay dot on each key. I can't wait to get it back from the shop to play it.
It has been updated and I have added pictures below. Also it appears that the serial number could be Y606 instead. I was taking the word of the tech when we first looked at it.
thanks,
Bruce Noon
Post Edited (2016-05-11 01:21)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2016-04-28 02:28
The "pistol holster" case was standard for Buffet in 1906. The leather is now so dried out that it would be a huge job to restore, and it will constantly shed powdered dried-out leather on the clarinet. Keep it as a souvenir if you like, but get a new case.
In 1908, Buffet keys were hand-filed from German silver, a compound of copper, nickel and zinc, with no silver content. They were never plated. German silver takes a good shine but fades quickly to grey. For me, it's the perfect material for keys, which I prefer unshined. It has just the right amount of friction.
The dots on the key tops are not inlays. They're the ends of brass screws inserted from the bottom that attach flat springs. You'll find them on the throat A key, the left little finger C#/G# key and the right little finger F#/C# key.
I hope the bell has "L.P." (low pitch, i.e., 440) marked on it.
It would be unusual if the repair shop did *not* find some cracks, particularly in the bell. Bell cracks don't harm the clarinet.
You'll probably need a special barrel, around 69 mm., to play in tune.
I have a Buffet Bb/A pair from 1908, which were I got for next to nothing because they were so dirty. They restored into excellent players.
Happy playing.
Ken Shaw
Post Edited (2016-05-11 05:21)
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Author: BNoon
Date: 2016-05-11 00:10
Here are pictures of the Clarinet now that it is back from getting new pads and conditioning on the wood. Now that I look at the serial number, it almost look like Y606. I got the number before from what the guys at the music store got when they looked at it.
Post Edited (2016-05-11 01:08)
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Author: Wes
Date: 2016-05-11 04:49
I also have an old Buffet simple system clarinet from 1889 which has a very wonderful sound. It is also HP so I probably will try to sell it soon. The 1912 full Boehm Buffet one piece Bb clarinet I own and played a lot is silver plated in a normal one piece case, also a fine playing clarinet but LP. It had some tuning work done by the late Glen Johnston.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2016-05-11 05:26
It's an Albert system instrument. It's marked "H.P." on the bell, so you won't be able to play it with instruments at 440. Also, I think the serial number is Y606, not that it matters much. Nice restoration.
Ken Shaw
Post Edited (2016-05-11 05:27)
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