 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kalierenee17
Date: 2015-06-15 23:50
I recently bought this Buffet R13 clarinet from a local shop and it's very old but in great condition with no cracks. From what I've read, the Buffet R13s we established some time in the 50s or something, but the person who sold me this clarinet says he believes it was made in 1944. The serial number is 27992. It only has the buffet logo and serial number stamped on it, to which my understanding indicates an R13 when they were first made.
I would love to know for sure what year this instrument really is, if anybody could help me, I would greatly appreciate it Thanks!!
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2015-06-16 00:22
The serial number does indicate it's from around 1945.
It's not an R13, it's a "pre-R13," Buffet's pro instrument before they introduced the R13. My current Bb instrument is one from around 1946 or 47, and while it maybe isn't quite at the level of a modern instrument, it's not bad at all.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2015-06-16 03:30
My understanding is that the "modern" polycylindrical R13 was released in about 1954 but have seen frequent references to much earlier Buffets also being called R13s
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Author: kthln.hnsn
Date: 2015-06-16 03:41
I agree, it's a pre-R13. Depending on its quality it could sound as good as a newer R13, even though it's technically not considered a "pro instrument"
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2015-06-16 07:05
Buffet made only professional quality clarinets until the introduction of intermediate models, explicitly labelled as such. Your 1945 Buffet is as good as anything that was made, and innumerable top professionals played them.
As long as it plays in tune and pleases you, it's as good as anything on the market. Play it with joy and pride.
Ken Shaw
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Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2015-06-16 07:15
AMEN TO THAT!
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2015-06-16 20:13
A few points of clarification.
Buffet made student and intermediate clarinets as far back as the 1930s. These were clearly labeled as "Evette" and "Evette and Schaeffer," though the Buffet name also appeared in the logo.
For many years, (the) Carl Fischer (company) was Buffet's U.S. importer. While Buffet made only one professional model, they made it in several different key/ring configurations. In their catalogs (again dating back at least to the 1930s, Carl Fischer adopted a code to distinguish the various configurations from one another and the code for the most common 17/6 combination was R13. Confusing matters somewhat then, when Buffet introduced Robert Carrée's new design for its professional model (1950 or 1954 or sometime between, depending on whom you read), they chose to call it the R13. (This was the first time Buffet formally adopted Carl Fischer's designation.) In a sense then, clarinets made before the introduction of the Carrée design and the post Carrée clarinets are both legitimately called R13s, though they are quite different clarinets. To make a distinction someone (quite possibly on this Bulletin Board or perhaps the Klarinet List) coined the term pre-R13 for the earlier instruments.
Your clarinet was, as others have noted, Buffet's top-of-the-line model when it was made. Since it has lasted this long, it probably has very good wood. It was made with Buffet's best craftsmanship at the time (and probably more handwork than today's models). On the other hand, it's an old design that, AFAIK, none of the current manufacturers use today for professional instruments.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2015-06-16 21:26
Just a warning - make sure you're very careful about breaking it in if it hasn't been played in a long time. The instrument needs to be slowly reintroduced to moisture. Even though mine had no cracks when it was first given to me, I wasn't careful about breaking it in and it developed 2 cracks almost right off the bat. Luckily they didn't go through to the bore, so it was simply a matter of filling them with superglue.
I would also take it to repair tech to look at the tone holes. Some of mine had changed dimensions slightly over the years, and the ones closest to the top of the instrument had become slightly oval-shaped, necessitating some re-drilling (this also improved the intonation greatly.)
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Author: Kalierenee17
Date: 2015-06-17 07:32
Thank you all very much for your responses!!! Sounds like I got a keeper of a clarinet I bought the clarinet from a local woodwind repair shop and the guy really knows what he's doing. The clarinet had an overhaul before I bought it and he did mention how to break it in. I have been babying the crap out of it so it will not crack!! It plays very beautifully and I can tell there was definitely a ton of careful and tedious handwork put into the instrument, which is probably what made it last 70+ years like it has!! It has never had a crack. But it really sounds beautiful and the tone is very dark, sweet, and centered. I will be playing on it in my high school band for my senior year (and hopefully many years after that) and will definitely get some memorable sounds out of it! Thanks again everyone!!
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