 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: nayzeeb
Date: 2020-05-31 17:36
I do not play, but am trying to buy a clarinet for my daughter. I am looking at a Evette Schaeffer Modele Buffet-Crampon clarinet master model that has the numbers B3921. I have not been able to find if the B3921 is a model number or the serial number. That is the only numbers on it. I was told it was bought before the 70's or possibly the 60's. It is wood. If anyone could send me in a direction to find out when it was made, or how to find the serial number I would greatly appreciate it. Having never played an instrument, I'm very confussed as to what to look for. I"ve taken picutres of all the stampings and I still can't find information. I would like to buy this for my daughter as she lost hers in a flood. So I am trying to ultimately find a worth of it so I know what to offer for it. Thank you
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Author: m1964
Date: 2020-05-31 19:03
nayzeeb wrote:
> I do not play, but am trying to buy a clarinet for my daughter.
> I am looking at a Evette Schaeffer Modele Buffet-Crampon
> clarinet master model that has the numbers B3921. I have not
> been able to find if the B3921 is a model number or the serial
> number. That is the only numbers on it. I was told it was
> bought before the 70's or possibly the 60's. It is wood. If
> anyone could send me in a direction to find out when it was
> made, or how to find the serial number I would greatly
> appreciate it. Having never played an instrument, I'm very
> confussed as to what to look for. I"ve taken picutres of all
> the stampings and I still can't find information. I would like
> to buy this for my daughter as she lost hers in a flood. So I
> am trying to ultimately find a worth of it so I know what to
> offer for it. Thank you
Hi,
The B3921 is the serial number, Evette & Schaeffer is the model/maker. Most likely a decent student model. However: with older instruments, the price would depend on the condition, and that is not possible to evaluate without pictures (at least).
Your best option could be to take the instrument to your daughter's teacher or a local technician, if you can get your hands on the instrument.
If buying online, it depends a lot on seller if the description is accurate. I've seen Evette clarinets sold as Buffets, I'd click on the link only to find out that on the picture is the Evette logo, not Buffet...
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Author: fbjacobo
Date: 2020-05-31 23:11
I was told by someone who was a Buffet tech here in the US WAY back when, that the ES Master Models had 2 different series of numbering. The B series came from Germany and were intermediate model instruments. The K series were, according to him, R-13s that for some reason (including cosmetic) were not up to snuff. I own a K series and it is as good as an R-13, so I tend to believe what I was told. Anyone else want to weigh in on this?
CASE CLOSED Musical Instrument Case Repair Service
Jacobowitz/Larkin Duo
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2020-05-31 23:17
There was actually just another thread on this, K series are not R13s but there are a very small number of E&S clarinets that have no letter prefix and a 5 digit serial number that are R13s. Most cosmetically damaged R13s were marked "Academy Model".
The Master Model has essentially the same bore as the Buffet pre-R13.
-Jdbassplayer
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2020-06-02 07:02
According to an old serial number list that goes back to 1952 and includes the Evette & Schaeffer model, K3988 dates to 1952. The B series predates the K series so B3921 is older than that. (By the way, is it possible that the prefix is a K rather than a B? I've not heard of a B-series master model before.) At the very latest, the clarinet you are looking at would have been made in 1951 and is therefore at least 68-69 years old. Possibly it could be even older. Unlike violins, clarinets do not improve with age. You don't know where the clarinet has been all this time or how it was treated. Also, in older threads, some knowledgeable posters have made a strong case that Buffet did not make the B series E&S clarinets at all. These posters believe that the clarinets were actually made by Malerne and provide some interesting photographic evidence to back up their claim.
So you have a very old clarinet of questionable pedigree (though an old Malerne might be as good as an old intermediate Buffet). Furthermore, you do not play the clarinet so you are not able to evaluate it independently for yourself. Unless you know someone (other than the seller) who is an experienced clarinetist and can try the instrument out for you, I would strongly recommend you stay away from this one. I think the risk is too great. If you buy your daughter a clarinet with mechanical problems that make it difficult for her to play, you will be dooming her to failure before she starts.
If funds are an issue, I would recommend you look for a relatively new (no more than 5-10 years old) plastic Yamaha clarinet from a reputable seller.
Best regards,
jnk
Post Edited (2020-06-02 18:28)
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