 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jaysne
Date: 2009-10-15 00:08
I was teaching one of my students tonight when I took the clarinet to play-test it to make sure it wasn't leaking. I played it and noted how good it felt in my hands. Instinctively I looked for the brand name on the barrel--and couldn't find it!
I searched the entire horn and was able to find the serial number, but the maker's name on both the barrel and the bell were completely missing. This was especially odd, since I had helped him choose the clarinet a few years ago. He remembered that it was a Buffet, but he said that the name had not been engraved--it was just a stamp of some sort that somehow had rubbed off.
I've never, ever seen a clarinet that didn't have its manufacturer's name engraved on it. I'm surprised that venerable old Buffet would cut costs by applying a decal to a wood instrument that just rubs off! Does this sound familiar to anyone?
Post Edited (2009-10-15 00:08)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-10-15 00:17
The B12s and E11s are made by Schreiber, and the logo is printed on them rather than being stamped on as it is on French Buffets.
Other Schreiber clarinets have the logo laser engraved on them as you'll see in the video on their site: http://www.schreiberwinds.com/default.asp
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: lrooff
Date: 2009-10-15 01:11
Chris P wrote:
> The B12s and E11s are made by Schreiber, and the logo is
> printed on them rather than being stamped on as it is on French
> Buffets.
>
It's a poor idea from Buffet (and anyone else who does it). I have a B12, and most of the logo has rubbed off from the upper joint. It's really not that hard to emboss it into the parts during manufacturing, and that would eliminate future questions about "who made this instrument?".
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Author: maskedridersean
Date: 2009-10-15 03:21
the name on my newer R-13 is very light. Its hard to see unless you know what your looking for
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-10-15 04:06
>> The B12s and E11s are made by Schreiber <<
They used to be, and there are probably some of those left in stores, etc. but neither is made by Schreiber anymore.
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Author: Coomkeen
Date: 2009-10-15 07:31
clarnibass wrote:
> >> The B12s and E11s are made by Schreiber <<
>
> They used to be, and there are probably some of those left in
> stores, etc. but neither is made by Schreiber anymore.
So who makes them now?
Not back to Buffet themselves...?
Ron
www.coomkeen.com
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-10-15 09:40
The E11 France is now made in the former Leblanc factory, but I assume Schreiber will still be making the B12 until Buffet go it alone with ths as well.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2009-10-15 09:52
One repair technician has a CNC setup which he uses to engrave (or is that laser) a copy of the Buffet logo properly. 
Perhaps illegal, but Buffet should be happy that he is completing the job for them.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-10-15 10:21
>> So who makes them now?
>> Not back to Buffet themselves...?
AFAIK:
Instead of the German E11 Buffet now makes the E11 France which is made in France. The plastic models are now made in China. Their 400 series saxophones are also made in China.
Maybe someone can double check but that is what I remember from Buffet.
Post Edited (2009-10-15 10:26)
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Author: Eddydavik
Date: 2009-10-15 10:42
>>Other Schreiber clarinets have the logo laser engraved on them as you'll see in >>the video on their site: http://www.schreiberwinds.com/default.asp
This is a very fascinating video on their site. Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if other manufacturers have a similar setup as Schreiber? I'm seeing keys being bumped against each other and bells stacked on one another in the building process... don't know if that makes a difference or not in the quality of the clarinet... but not a real turn on to say the least.
I saw parts of the Yamaha factory in Hamatsu, Japan a number of years ago and was amazed by how much focus they put on each individual instrument they produce (from that factory at least)... didn't seem anything like what I just watched...
Edward Escobar
Suita City Wind Ensemble
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Author: Jen Y.
Date: 2009-10-15 23:51
I have never tried this myself, but I've heard you can simply color the spot where it was stamped with a gold crayola crayon and the crayon will fill in the logo.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-10-16 00:06
It depends how well or how deep the logo was stamped - if the logo is fairly lightly stamped the gold won't take too well to it and can be rubbed off easily, though if it's been engraved or stamped nice and deep, the gold will fill the logo well and also last well.
Buffet logos tend to be much deeper at the sides than they are in the middle of the logo.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Drake
Date: 2009-10-17 04:52
That video reminds me greatly of Henry Ford's moving assembly line. Just in this case, clarinets are being assembled instead of cars.
I'm sure if the workers are gentle in stacking the bells and letting the keys only clink together, the instruments' playability shouldn't be injured.
"Buffet logos tend to be deeper at the sides than they are in the middle..."
Probably because of a clarinet's cylindrical shape and the beam of the engraving laser. They don't want the laser piercing the body because if it does, they have a useless instrument on their hands. The center of the body piece is closer to the laser, which increases the danger of perforation, so to counter it, the logo is made shallower in the middle.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2009-10-17 11:04
I would expect the laser to move around the body, or for the body to rotate in front of the laser, to maintain equal distance from the laser gun.
Post Edited (2009-10-17 11:04)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-10-17 11:36
The lazer can adjust its focal length, so doesn't need to arc around the joint as an engraving tool would have to.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2009-10-19 04:59
Then the walls of the engraved numbers would not be perpendicular to the surface, which I think would be conspicuous and peculiar for a not-so-shallow engraving.
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