 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Fred
Date: 2002-02-27 02:15
I have read on the bb by many trustworthy contributors that this is a great age for Buffet clarinets. I was wondering about which years are considered undesirable. Specifically, I've located (but have not yet played) a Festival from around 1992 (#36X,XXX) that I am of course curious about. Any thoughts?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-02-27 02:32
Fred...Opinions on this interesting question will be varied.
For me, from personal experience with diffrent vintages of Buffet clarinets, I favor the instruments with the serial numbers in the approximate range 85,000 - 145,000. I have 2 of my 11 buffets in that range, and find the workmanship, tone, quality of wood, etc.. superior to other dates/serial # ranges.
My second preference is from about 145,000 to 185,000 (the lower end of this range is preferable) for the same above reasons.
As for the newer instruments, I can only echo what many recent buyers are saying about the "2nd golden age of Buffet". Certainly the amount technological advances and quality control in the past few years are certainly a welcome sign.
Time is the great equalizer of all things. It will not be long before we can look back at this recent era with a more definitive view.
Just one Buffet owner's opinion...GBK
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Author: Don
Date: 2002-02-27 03:43
I don't know which years might be considered bad - and, of course, a bad year for Buffet is a good year for nearly any other maker - but I've had some experience with instruments from different eras. My preference? The two 97,XXX clarinets I've played extensively. The fingering seems more facile on these particular instruments than others. The tone consistently reflects that classic "compactness" for which Buffet's are renowened. I've never had a problem with water gurgling from a tone hole. Maybe these particular instruments are not "better" clarinets at all; maybe they're just better regulated. But here's one experienced-based vote for mid-1960's Buffets.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-02-27 03:51
Don...We are Buffet "cousins", as my favorite instrument (by far) is my 96,2xx (for the same reasons you've cited) ...GBK
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-02-27 04:22
GBK - you're now going to tell me that you own Buffet clarinets exclusively? :-)
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-02-27 04:29
diz, if he does, maybe I'll give him some real dog just to fix *that* situation.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-02-27 04:32
"real dog" - sorry, your american vernacular missed my brain
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-02-27 05:12
diz... I do have a few "off brands" besides all my Buffets.
I play those a few times a week, just for laughs...GBK (one Buffet short of a dozen)
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-02-27 14:07
The Americanism "a dog" just means something is really bad. Although, from my experience with canines, we should call the terrible stuff "cats." My dog is wonderful.
I had a couple of "dog" Buffets back in the early 80s. But, all the ones I've owned in the past 7 years (including the ones I've bought for others) have been very, very nice.
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Author: sylvain
Date: 2002-02-27 17:32
I just bought an RC a few months ago. I tried about 6-7 buffet horns: 2 vintage, 1 festival, 2 R13s and 3 RCs. They all sounded good and had decent intonation straight from the shop with no special adjustment.
I think the horn you're looking at has pretty good chances to be a good one. The festival is an extremely popular instrument. A lot of the big names in France play it now (Arrignon, Baldeyrou, Damiens, Guyot..)
-S
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2002-02-27 21:42
Don and GBK....
I too have a 1967 R-13...serial number 96xxx, and it is wonderful.
Got it from a music shop that went out of business in November of 2000...The best part....it had been completely overhauled...and I got it for only $250!!!
I would love to have a Selmer from that era.
John
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-02-27 21:50
John, Don, and GBK - all happy Buffet "cousins"
Anyone else in our "family"? ...GBK
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Author: Fred
Date: 2002-02-28 02:25
Count me in the family, GBK. Though I'm considering the Festival, the only clarinet I own that I wouldn't part with is my 1966 s/n 876XX R13 selected by Kal Opperman. I was told by Alvin Swiney that Marcellus did a good bit of his recording on an 875XX R13. Now, I know that his wasn't "stock", but it's nice to think that our horns may have been classmates.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-02-28 02:40
John, Don, Fred - I guess we should start to schedule our "40 year Family Reunion".
Shall we all meet in Paris in 2006? ...GBK
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Author: Stephane
Date: 2002-02-28 10:59
Although I'm not part of your glorious club (my Buffet is only an E11 from last year, and my other horn is a Selmer), do let me know if you make it to Paris in 2006, maybe I could turn pages for you?
Stéphane (France)
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-03-01 20:46
Guess I'm a "cousin," too. My eefer (1967) is 98xxx. Actually my A (1966) just misses the "90's" -- 89xxx and my backup Bb (1968) is 104xxx. (My front-line Bb (1963) is 76xxx.) I think they are all great horns. Don't expect to see any of them on eBay in the near future.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-03-01 20:56
Jack...Nice vintage years/serial numbers !!
I'm especially envious of your 98,xxx Eb. It must be a wonderful instrument. Nice find.
Those were especially good Buffet years for tone quality, wood, and workmanship. Time has already proven that fact.
I'm always looking for more instruments from this era (as I'm sure you are), as they hardly play or sound like 35 year old instruments...GBK
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-03-01 21:00
Jack...By the way, you ARE invited to the "family reunion"...GBK
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-03-01 22:44
I had a bad experience with a (reportedly) new Buffet R-13 recently that soured me. However, the used E-11 that I recently bought changed all that and now I'm a believer. And it isn't even a low serial number. Now my quandry is ....is any R-13 really a better instrument than my E-11 or did I just get lucky. There's a lot of difference money-wise between $1700 and $700 (round numbers).
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-03-02 00:08
Bob...I have a vintage Evette (from the early 60's) in beautiful condition that I sometimes use for outdoor summer orchestral work when the weather is threatening and I don't want to risk one of my R-13's.
With the same mouthpiece set up, the sound (and the feel of the instrument) is almost identical to any of my R-13's.
I still do not know what the difference between the older (60's and 70's) Evettes and R-13's truly are. It doesn't seem significant enough to stop me from using the Evette in any concert setting.
I hope you have the same good fortune as me
I can't comment on the newer E-11's and such, but their previous track record (and ancestry) has been superb...GBK
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Author: leo
Date: 2002-04-08 13:27
why don't we all meet in connecticut (mid way) and invite paris to join us? we can have the world's first "clarinet cousins fest". i'll have to buy an r13 to join in. ;-)
leo
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