 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: arthurpalves
Date: 2023-12-15 20:01
Attachment: RC_Engraved.jpeg (1342k)
Attachment: RC_Inserted_Plate.jpeg (81k)
Hi all,
TL;DR: Does anyone have any clue to when Buffet stopped engraving and instead put the metal plate with "RC" on the RC models?
I have a colleague trying to bring back to life a severely damaged Buffet Crampon RC, and one of the things he is looking for is an upper joint.
He got this offer from someone but we're puzzled about the authenticity because instead of the engraved "RC" it has the metal plate with the "RC" initials despite the serial number F355XXX.
I have a RC myself and mine is F380XXX with the engraved "RC" instead of the metal plate.
I know there is a chance the plate has been added afterwards but in that case it isn't something he is looking for, he is looking to bring it to its original state.
--
I just try to play jazz with friends
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Author: prigault
Date: 2023-12-15 20:06
I believe it is since about 2014, when the RC was "redesigned" (i.e received a few improvements, among which the metal badge which used to be featured only on the Prestige version).
Post Edited (2023-12-15 20:07)
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Author: John Peacock
Date: 2023-12-15 22:15
I also think 2014 must be about the year. I've certainly seen "this is the first redesign of the RC in nearly 40 years", and the RC came out in 1975.
But F380XXX doesn't match this. 2014 serial numbers are approximately 650,000 or more. So either joint isn't genuine, or it was altered to add the badge.
As to whether the badge is metal, I'm guessing it's more likely to be silver-plated plastic - it certainly looks much cheaper than the badges on Prestige instruments. But I've never handled one to know for sure - some BB reader must be able to enlighten us. Maybe it's just cheap metal trying to look like a plastic imitation of metal. Either way, Buffet could have done a better job - but it's consistent with their perfunctory gold logos, which don't remotely compare to the proper engraving you get from Selmer or Yamaha.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2023-12-16 03:05
The new RC badge is metal - I had a two year old one come in for replacement tenon corks as they'd been poorly glued to begin with, then they were glued back on under guarantee by the company that sold it, only they used a ton of superglue to stick it back on and also got superglue smeared all around the top of the top joint which I also had to clean off (acetone did the trick, then I oiled the wood afterwards).
When I was shaping the tenon cork on my lathe to give an even barrel shape with a nice uniform finish, I heard something ping off as it was spinning which was unusual as all the pillars are secured and the speaker and thumb tubes were still in place. Then I noticed the badge was gone, so I had to search for that which ended up behind my lathe. It would've been fine but the owner was present at the time and we both looked at each other puzzled as to what happened.
They're cast metal with a sprue on the back and replacements are around £40 to £45, so losing it wasn't an option. I made sure to nip the sprue with wire cutters to be sure once it's glued back in (with superglue) it's not suddenly going to drop out again. Older Prestige badges are sheet metal and have a smooth back, so they often drop out and are rarely ever seen again. Replacements used to be around £11 which I thought was extortionate, but £40-45 is ridiculous for one.
If you want a quick replacement, then you can always stick in a Ferrero Rocher sticker as they're pretty much the same size and now it's leading up to Christmas, there's no shortage of them around right now.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: arthurpalves
Date: 2023-12-18 16:34
> But F380XXX doesn't match this. 2014 serial numbers are approximately 650,000 or more. So either joint isn't genuine, or it was altered to add the badge.
The 380XXX is mine and doesn't have the metal plate, the 355XXX is the one in question.
Really appreciate the responses. It does show that upper joint, IF genuine, was modified to have the badge for aesthetical reasons.
--
I just try to play jazz with friends
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2023-12-19 03:48
They added the metal RC badge to them around the time or maybe just after the logo was changed. The ones I've seen with the new logos and silver plated badge have the plain six digit serial numbers without the F prefix.
What with the extortionate price of a replacement badge, they really ought to be handmade of solid gold instead of silver plated nickel silver castings. I see the same Buffet Legende badge is also being used on Powell Legende flutes - I dread to thin how much a replacement Legende badge is if the Prestige ones are anything to go by:
https://www.powellflutes.com/en/instruments/handmade-custom/legende/
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: arthurpalves
Date: 2023-12-20 19:41
It find that it would be so relevant not only for those like me that want to keep track of their instruments' provenance but for history's sake overall if Buffet and others would have clear information about these changes (aesthetical or not) out in the open, when they took place etc. I guess that is a big ask
That is a very beautiful flute by the way.
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I just try to play jazz with friends
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