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Re: help identifying older buffet model

Author: John Peacock
Date: 2023-01-01 03:27

Irrespective of whether it has "R13" etc. stamped on the back of it, that barrel is definitely not the original. You can tell by the logo: instruments of this vintage had "MADE IN FRANCE" stamped with a gap of about 1cm below the main oval logo (as you can see on the upper joint). But about the time of the R13 redesign in 1955-ish, they started putting that lettering immediately below the oval - which is what we see here. By the same line of evidence, you can see that the bell is the original (or, at least, of the right era).

As has been commented, these pre-R13s (which were called "Master Bore" instruments by Buffet) can have an excellent tone quality. But the tuning is not up to modern standards. The R13 polycylindrical revolution gave the upper joint a more pronounced taper and improved the 12ths. With the older more nearly cylindrical design, you will find a number of notes in the lower register painfully sharp (RH A and LH D tend to be particular culprits).

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