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Re: 1982 Buffet R12 full boehm

Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-09-04 18:41

'Playable condition' can mean anything depending on your viewpoint - I take that and phrases like 'recently serviced' or 'recently overhauled' with a massive pinch of salt as that means absolutely nothing as in many cases that may have been done some time within the last 20 years.

I may be sceptical, but more often than not instruments being sold with that blurb are best being stripped down and rebuilt with all new everything. It depends on how picky you are and I'm particularly picky when it comes to assessing other peoples' workmanship - if it's not to my standard, then it's straight onto my bench and completely stripped down and rebuilt without a second thought.

But if it is as playable as they say and it plays well for you, then I think you should go for it as these are rare beasts - a brand new full Boehm will probably cost at least three times the $1200 they're asking for this. But still factor in the cost of a full service or even a full overhaul should you feel the need for that.

Full Boehms will suffer if the ventings are less than adequate, so can be stuffy in the lower register if the main action ring keys are too close to their toneholes. If they have been repadded, more often than not the incorrect thickness pads have been used which only further compromises the venting and ring keys may be set too high so they don't sit parallel and at a comfortable height from the tonehole chimneys when held down. This is true on any clarinet, but Buffets use thin pads and some repairers overlook the finer details and bung any old pad in and don't adjust the ring keys to suit them.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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Author

Date

1982 Buffet R12 full boehm new

Jason

2017-09-04 14:14

Re: 1982 Buffet R12 full boehm

Chris P

2017-09-04 18:41