 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: loremipsum
Date: 2022-06-07 02:20
Hello I am new to this forum and I am an amateur clarinetist.
I recently got a Buffet Continentale B Flat clarinet online. The seller labeled it as an R13 and I thought so too until I got it. It has the serial number 991XX, which dates to 1967 I believe.
Does anyone have any information on this model?
All I know is that it is designed to play darker than the R13. I haven't played it yet, as it is being overhauled.
Many thanks,
Ryan
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2022-06-08 18:06
The 1967 catalog lists three models available in France: BC20 for orchestral work, Continentale for chamber music, and Super Dynaction for jazz. All three are priced the same, F 700 for standard keywork, more for additional keys.
I wrote to Buffet that I would be coming to Paris from Israel in 1968, and ended up buying what I believe was a Continentale A clarinet, which they only sold me because they thought I was an Israeli and they had no distributor in Israel at the time. They sold me what they had on hand, at the end of the standard August holiday. I used this instrument for everything that required an A clarinet until replacing it with a used R13A in 1985, which I still use.
I didn't have any particular problems with the Continentale, but couldn't ever play very loud on it. People I loaned it to complained about the low notes being flat, but this was never a problem for me. Sold it in a group of instruments in about 2000, trading them for a tenor saxophone. In all fairness, the Continentale had never been gone over by anyone competent, and the R13A has always been setup very well.
I went to Buffet's funky old storefront on Passage du Grand Cerf. A little old lady was the only person there, and only let me in after I presented the letter they had sent me. "Oh, Monsieur Katz. Entrez-vous." There was a large wall of cubbies, each one with a clarinet rolled up in butcher paper. She found the instrument they had tagged for me, let me play test it, and took payment in American Express travelers cheques. But I didn't have enough money to buy a case and also get home, so I took it wrapped in paper.
I can e-mail you scans I made a few years ago of the Buffet's 1967 France catalog and price list.
Regards
Post Edited (2022-06-08 18:14)
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Author: loremipsum
Date: 2022-06-12 05:02
That's a fascinating story! Thanks Ralph!
I would love to see the 1967 catalogue, my email is ryan.w@tutanota.com .
Thanks
Ryan
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Author: jthole
Date: 2023-03-20 18:41
loremipsum wrote:
> I recently got a Buffet Continentale B Flat clarinet online.
> The seller labeled it as an R13 and I thought so too until I
> got it. It has the serial number 991XX, which dates to 1967 I
> believe.
>
> Does anyone have any information on this model?
>
I believe it's a bit uncommon model, even in Europe (I personally know of only one other player having one in the Netherlands). Mine is a bit newer than yours, 1972. I actually got it in a trade ten years ago or so.
What I can tell you is that mine is a wonderful instrument. In fact, my teacher at the time offered me twice to buy it from me, if I ever wanted another clarinet. I haven't played R13 clarinets very much (I tried a "R13 Vintage" model a few years back), but my Continentale is very different from the RC (and its predecessor, the BC20). Hard to describe it in terms of "dark" and "light", but I always say the Continentale feels more "fluid" (which also is a subjective description, of course).
Post Edited (2023-03-20 18:43)
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