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Re: I have a mysterious bass clarinet

Author: Chris P
Date: 2023-11-07 19:31

As this was Buffet's Prestige bass, then it will be a viable instrument to use provided you have a repairer who understands the instrument and can deal with any problems and improve others.

The pre '99 Prestige basses I've worked on do have solid and reliable keywork, even though it's far more complex with multiple pieces of mechanism doing the work for just one or two as you'd have with the post '99 redesign which has since been copied by Uebel, Royal Global and Backun, due to it being far more rationalised and well balanced.

Selmer low C basses from the '80s onwards also have the lower joint mechanism made far more complex than it needs to be and that hasn't been completely resolved or redesigned on their current Privilege basses.

With more linkages comes more friction and also weight. Compare the low D key on a current (post '99) Buffet Prestige bass with any Selmer low C bass after the Series 9 low C bass and you'll see the convoluted manner in which Selmer do things.

As for cases that will fit the previous Prestige bass with the extra long lower joint, your choices there are very limited to either an original Jakob Winter case or an expensive Wiseman case or a soft and therefore far from ideal gig bag-style case which offers no protection.

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

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