 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: leonardA
Date: 2009-02-26 02:51
I inquired of Buffet about the exterior care of the E11, and this is the response I got. I thought any E11 owners might be interested.:
"The exterior of the E-11 clarinet has a coating on it that can be
worn and scratched. Depending on the acidity of the player’s
fingers it can wear off quickly, especially where the fingers touch
constantly. You can keep a soft cloth in the case and wipe down
the surface of the clarinet after each playing session.
We don’t recommend oiling the wood of the clarinet at all. It changes
the wood, which has already been treated sufficiently. You must oil
the key mechanism regularly, every couple months, and swab the
moisture from the bore frequently, especially for the first month or
two. Swab the bore and dry the tenons and sockets every ten minutes
during a playing session. This reduces the chances for cracking."
Leonard
Post Edited (2009-02-26 02:52)
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2009-02-26 12:57
Hi Leonard,
That advice isn't just limited to E11 clarinets. I believe that both bits of advice offered are "common" knowledge as good policy for any clarinet that you want to take care of.
Arguments occur over the specifics of swabbing during the clarinet's break-in period, but the heart of the matter is still the same. Nice to hear Buffet's take on the matter.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: iloveclary
Date: 2009-02-27 00:01
Maybe it's not just Buffet E11's, but I own one and have witnessed this first hand.. into my second or third year playing it, the silver on the alternate C# key just started to peel right off.. so has the finish on the wood, and the little gold 'Buffet Crampon' emblems that are on the barrel and bell.
high school clarinetist
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Author: pewd
Date: 2009-02-27 00:33
alternate c#?
which one is 'alternate'?
practice scales, fingering exercises, etc. both ways so that both are 'primary'
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2009-02-27 15:16
The first clarinet I bought, after a hiatus of many years was an E-11. Though I don't use it much any more I give it a regualr workout now and then, a R-13 Vintage and a Yamaha CSG being first in line.
After three years, it seems just like new in every detail. I paid $700 about 3 years ago and was shocked shortly after to see go up to $1100 apparantly due to Buffet not alllowing successful retailers to discount the MSLP.
Clarinet Redux
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Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2009-02-27 15:51
I, too was very surprised to see the huge price increase on the Buffet E11. I must have bought my son's about the same time that you did, because I also paid $700. Now that we are in the market for a new instrument, we looked at the E11, but the price was way too much for us (and we also wanted a non-wood clarinet for Marching Band).
Why did the price increase so much?
Oops - just reread what you wrote about the MSLP. Why would Buffet do that? Every other manufacturer (seemingly) does it. The price is what made me look at other clarinets. Seems silly of them.
Post Edited (2009-02-27 16:14)
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-02-27 19:56
Why would Buffet set a minimum price? Simply because they can get away with it. Ostensibly, they set minimum prices to [protect smaller dealers from predaory pricing.
Jeff
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Author: blazian
Date: 2009-02-27 20:44
They probably changed the price to match the model, so I'm waiting for the E-07 to come out ![[rotate]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley25.gif) .
I have a very badly treated E-11 from a friend. She sold it to me for a reasonable sum when she needed Christmas money. It looks like someone got bored and tried to scratch the protective layer off of the outside of the wood. Around the bottom tenon is a few rings like someone twisted on the bell with a key in their hand. It was missing quite a few pads and had a cracked bell too. I noticed that plating wears quickly in some spots as well like on the lower RH pinky keys and the LH C#. I haven't looked up the serial for it yet, but I'm pretty sure it's not very old.
In conclusion, I just want to say its easy not to take care of your instrument. Wearing plating isn't too preventable but taking care of the wood and finish isn't something hard.
Question - Unstained wood doesn't have this protective layer on the outside does it? My YCL-550 is unstained (I think?) and so far it looks better than all my friends' E-11s. It's twice as old as most since I got it in '05.
- Martin
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2009-02-27 23:06
The predatory pricing is on their (Buffet's) part. The current economic dowturn is going to worsen and maybe Buffet will get it comeuppance!
Clarinet Redux
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Author: jsc
Date: 2009-02-28 22:46
I loved my old E-11. I never play it now but my wife uses it at her school. I bought it circa 1991 for about $460. Fortunately for me, there were about 8 other E-11's, and 5 R-13's I tried at this small shop. After a long but fun trial with each horn, I picked an E-11. It played better than the other E-11's and 3 of the R-13's. The owner, an accomplished clarinetist himself, tried it out and said that this must have been a mismarked R-13 and encouraged me to buy it instead of spending on the other 2 R-13's. I bought it while in college and my teachers thought it was a good horn, as well. 7 years ago I bought a Festival but am glad that the E-11 is still being played for young musicians who may one day write on this BB.
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