 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2009-07-18 00:28
I am overhauling an old Evette and Schaeffer alto, and it is coming up a treat and nearly finished.
It occurred to me that as my K series E&S soprano clarinet comes up on the professional model serial number search on the Buffet website, I should see if my alto serial number comes up. It is solidly built and has a left Eb lever.
There were 2 results, as below:
Brand : Buffet Crampon
Instrument : Alto 5 Mib 440 Radio
Serial number : 19954
Year of manufacturing : 17/12/1954
Brand : Buffet Crampon
Instrument : Clarinettes n�1 440 Evette
Serial number : 19954
Year of manufacturing : 08/01/1968
The first one mentions Alto, the second one mentions Evette.
Which do you think it is?
In the first one, what does the "5" and "Radio" stand for?
I know there are some E&S experts, and some experts in deciphering the Buffet codes out there, so would be interested to hear from them, and anybody else.
I can do photos if that helps
Chris
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Author: BobD
Date: 2009-07-18 11:57
I'm thnking that "Radio" was a Buffet model designation, but don't bank on it.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2009-07-18 15:06
Chris,
There is a serial number list for "E13"s on this website (which would include K-series E&S sopranos) that shows your serial number as falling between 1966 and 1969. (Select: Equipment/How Old is My.../Buffet from the home page.) That list is much older than the current list on the Buffet website. Given its confirmation and the fact that the second listing shows "n[O]1" which also appears in the listing for an E&S Bb I have from a couple years later than yours (and is used to identify professional sopranos immediately preceding the R13 as well as early early R13's), I would say the second listing is pretty likely a soprano E&S.
The first listing is interesting. Here you have an E&S alto with a serial number that agrees with an alto listed on the Buffet site. It also fits in the "Buffet Harmony Clarinet" list (for an instrument made in 1953) in the "How Old Is My Buffet" page I mentioned above. Moving forward and backward from your number, I was able to find listings for "Alto 5 Mib" without the "Radio" designation. I was also able to find bass clarinets with and without the "Radio" designation. That would suggest (a least to me, anyway) that Buffet used the "Radio" designation to refer to E&S harmony clarinets during the period when yours was made. I think the first listing is your instrument.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2009-07-18 22:18
Jack
I had rather hoped you would notice the thread and comment on it, but had not expected such a considered answer as the one you have given.
Thank you very much
Chris
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2009-07-19 14:59
Chris,
Congrats on such a find! Am really surprised that Buffet put a left Eb on their lest pro line horns. Actually makes you wonder if it was close to the pro horn and made at Buffet rather than farmed out.
The new Buffets are marvelous. Beautiful full sound so I'l be very curious as to how these older ones sound.
Let us know how it sounds when you get it up and running!
Eefer guy
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2009-07-19 18:47
I don't think it would have been in the current serial number list, which appears to have been created directly from factory records, if it had been farmed out.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2009-07-19 21:50
I had bought two alto clarinets, both in a decrepit state. I have a Noblet and this E&S.
I was going to overhaul the Noblet first, mainly because I was familiar with the register mechanism (same as my bass clari), and it had many more adjusting screws making regulation more easy.
But having taken a long hard look at both I thought I would do the E&S first. Part of that decision, rightly or wrongly, was the thought that if a left Eb key was there, it was likely to have been made as quite a "near professional" model. And I do like my K series E&S soprano.
Pictures below now it is nearly finished. White leather bassoon pads were used.
I say nearly finished - as I have just played it for the first time and although it has a rich bottom end, a reasonable top end and an amazing throat Bb, B and C were not good, so I need to hunt down a leak and play with venting. The problem is, I have just set the venting by what I think looks right, I don't have a reference for roughly where it should be.
Suction testing is perfect, so I may need to look at reeds and mouthpiece, but I would be surprised if that is the cause seeing as notes above and below are good. I have bought a Grabner CXBA. I tried vandoren 3# . Not having played an alto before there will be a huge element of me getting used to it, too.
 
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2009-07-19 22:46
This appears to be a single octave vent design and can be more problematical just over the break. Try increasing the speaker venting as far as possible. I don't have much experience playing alto clarinet but they do seem to require more "humouring" or voicing support just crossing the break.
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2009-07-20 12:35
Chris,
It looks great.
Norman is right that going over the break on the alto seems to be a but more ginger than on other horns. It is a horn that you have to coax rather than push, especially as you are getting accustomed to it. Even as part of my regular schedule of practicing, I have to sort of get accustomed again to its idiosyncracies. My additional problem on the new Buffet is the open hole on RH1 as I must have grown sloppy from playing my old alto plus basset horn and bass that have a solid key in this position. The B sometimes squeaks if I don't put RH1 down in the right spot. After 15 minutes of warm ups it's OK though.
Try a Hite mouthpiece too. Think you'll like it. It's very alto friendly.
Eefer guy
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2009-07-20 13:53
Norman,
Thanks for that - I will have a play with the venting there
Eefer guy,
I was looking at the Hite mouthpiece just last night on Howarth's website.
The blurb for the one there says the table accepts an alto sax reed. Do you use a sax reed?
I was either going to try the Hite, or one from Ed Pillinger.
Chris
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2009-07-20 14:48
Chris,
I bought a Pillinger but I didn't like the sound on it at all. It didn't sound SWEET, sort of harsh, almost metallic. The Hite sounds smooth and mellow.
I use the Vandoren Java #3 reeds with that mouthpiece or Gonzalez #3 alto sax reeds.
Eefer guy
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2009-07-20 15:56
and it sounds like the alto clarinet needs all the help it can get!
Tried everywhere I can think of in UK for a Hite mouthpiece and I get a consistent "will be about October".
Well, at least that is practice time.....
Chris
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