 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kurth83
Date: 2025-06-12 03:09
Let's say I want a new R13, sight unseen, over the internet, and I don't have the personal ability to know if I got a good one or not (my teacher probably does however). If I had the ability to A/B test five of them side by side I probably could tell which ones were better, but I've never played an R13 before so I don't know what to expect. I do have a marvelous E12F which is going to be upgraded by this venture.
I've heard stories and had a few of my own with new clarinets needing some work before they would play right (minor adjustment only in my case).
Can I just buy the cheapest one, or should I buy from one of the houses that promises to fix "everything" before they send it out, for a price of course. A 30 day return policy seems a given too.
Taking the buy cheap option I can always send it out it out afterwards for some black magic.
What do you guys recommend, and more so, who do you recommend for such work or sales?
Thanks. :-)
Aging classical trumpet player learning clarinet as a second.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-06-12 03:38
I'd recommend NOT buying a brand new R13 and instead, buy a used and fully reconditioned one from a reputable restorer/seller as there ought to be loads of them out there. Or buying a used one and having it fully rebuilt from the ground up.
That way, all the problems and shortcomings that Buffet glossed over will have been dealt with as brand new clarinets are only passing quality control before leaving the factory and don't get the bench time during finishing that a rebuilt one will have, plus the quality of the pads and silencing materials used on rebuilt ones will be infinitely better than what Buffet use on their clarinets (provided the repairer doesn't use natural cork everywhere as we're in the 21st Century and not still stuck in the 19th Century).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2025-06-12 03:59
i live in jax fla where the distributor for buffet is. i never knew this but they let you visit the facility and try out r13,s
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Author: RBlack
Date: 2025-06-12 05:40
I agree with Chris.
If you were to buy new online though, I’d suggest buying from someone like Rice Clarinet Works, or Brian Corbin, where they do a setup on them first. In that sense they’re not exactly “new” as they come from Buffet, but will be better. And you’ll be able to evaluate the instrument itself rather than questioning if it is a setup issue.
All R13s are definitely not equal, and buying a random one and then having it set up by your tech of choice can do a lot, but also only so much.
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Author: Doug Leach
Date: 2025-06-12 06:25
A further advantage to buying from Rice Clarinet Works, and maybe others as well, is that Wes Rice goes down to Jacksonville and play tests a bunch of new Buffets and picks out the best ones, which he then takes back to his shop and does a setup on.
Doug.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-06-12 16:21
Just another thing with new Buffets - if you buy one you've chosen by whittling them down from a whole selection and that's the one that plays and sounds the best for you and it cracks, DON'T have the top joint replaced as that's effectively getting a completely different clarinet as it's no longer the one you chose for its specific characteristics and may not play the same once the top joint has been transplanted. So get it repaired instead of replaced and that way, you'll at least preserve the very thing you originally went for.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: kurth83
Date: 2025-06-12 22:28
Sounds like Rice clarinet works is the winner. Exactly what I was hoping for, and I'll consider one of their reconditioned ones too.
Thanks guys!
Aging classical trumpet player learning clarinet as a second.
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Author: MikeSF
Date: 2025-06-20 09:37
Hey Kurt,
I had tremendous luck with eBay Japan, dozens of highly rated shops with voluminous stock of clean pre-owned R13's. I ended up selecting a virtually unplayed, silver plated, no cracks, no visible wear, and even bid less than asking, which was promptly accepted. I even had the clarinet in my hands (to California) in about 7 days. It is fantastic.
Having shopped extensively all my local music stores, several online dealers, I conclude I saved $600 versus buying in the USA.
If you're not opposed to trying it, you may be surprised at how many great clarinets are in Japan.
Good luck.
Post Edited (2025-06-20 09:38)
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Author: m1964
Date: 2025-06-20 19:24
MikeSF wrote:
> Hey Kurt,
> I had tremendous luck with eBay Japan, dozens of highly rated
> shops with voluminous stock of clean pre-owned R13's. I ended
> up selecting a virtually unplayed, silver plated, no cracks, no
> visible wear, and even bid less than asking, which was promptly
> accepted. I even had the clarinet in my hands (to California)
> in about 7 days. It is fantastic.
> Having shopped extensively all my local music stores, several
> online dealers, I conclude I saved $600 versus buying in the
> USA...
Mike,
You may be just lucky. I bought two clarinets from Japanese (US) eBay sellers, one was OK, another I had to sent back. Clarinets from Japan on eBay (US site) are either overpriced or severely damaged (pitted plating, badly worn tenons and chimneys). Their pictures are usually so bad that it is difficult to see the damage.
In fact, I often choose region "North America" in order not to see those listing that flood eBay. I wonder if it's possible to block only Japanese sellers and not other regions...
if you can shop on eBay Japan directly, that maybe another story.
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2025-06-21 01:17
i wont even consider anyting from japan. everyting overpriced and long expencive shhipping. i bought a bay bass clarinet mpc from japan once and it never arrived
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Author: David Eichler
Date: 2025-06-21 08:43
If you must buy that way, I would recommend buying from Peter Spriggs/The Clarinet Center. He is not only a Buffet dealer. He is an expert clarinet technician, who sets up the clarinets himself and he does a really excellent job.
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Author: MikeSF
Date: 2025-06-21 09:30
Obviously, Japan is a large country so there are many dealers selling instruments on eBay. I simply read the feedback from buyers and was able to identify half a dozen stellar reputable sellers with thousands of transactions.
Shipping was included in the price and I had the clarinet in my hands in California by day 6. I doubt every USA dealer includes the same fast shipping in the price.
I am still amazed at how much better I did buying from Japan versus a similarly priced USA instrument.
[I posted the below in another thread, pasting here so you can see how it stacks up against what you may be shopping for from reputable USA dealers]
In summary, I bought a '95 Buffet R13, silver plated keys, nearly new condition, no cracks, fresh corks and pads throughout, No scratches nor visible wear of any kind, not even on the teardrop A key or register key, a completely unmarked hard case with a zippered outer cover, unused buffet mouthpiece/lig. This instrument was even hand selected(for his student) by professional clarinetist Masatoshi Tanaka, who has a few YouTube videos.
All for $1550 out the door. That includes tax, shipping(less than a week), and $54 for customs. This is a tremendous value versus current comps online and local to me.
Post Edited (2025-06-23 02:27)
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Author: kurth83
Date: 2025-06-26 21:49
So it came into today.
Most responsive clarinet I have ever played, and most in tune. Lots of tone everywhere, great throat tones too.
Rice clarinet works did good. Excellent clarinet, and the springs have been regulated to a very light touch, don't know if that was them or Buffet.
However...
UPS delivered my mondo-expensive clarinet to the wrong house. I am watching this in real-time on their tracker.
I get a pic in email of a house I don't recognize, tiny shot of a small white picket gate. Panic ensues.
I get in the car looking for that house in my neighborhood.
A UPS truck drives by me and I follow and chase him down, hoping it was that driver.
It wasn't, but he knew the other driver, contacted him and it turns out it was delivered to my next door neighbor, who I know well.
When I get back the package is on my front porch. Went over to thank my neighbor and the original driver shows up to apologize. All this in less than 30 minutes.
As far as I am concerned both drivers should get an award for customer service. Mistakes happen, but that was above and beyond the call of duty for both of them.
So I had an adventure today, will never forget that clarinet delivery. :-)
Aging classical trumpet player learning clarinet as a second.
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