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Early 1950s Buffets

Author: David Eichler
Date: 2026-04-16 04:22

I have two Buffet clarinets from the early 1950s, one with a 45,XXX SN, and one with a 48,XXX SN, which puts them as being made in 1953 and 1954, respectively, immediately before the formal release of the R-13 model. It is my understanding that Buffet was already releasing small-bore clarinets in the early 1950s, before formal introduction of the R-13, but it is unclear to me whether all of these early 1950s instruments are some kind of small-bore instrument and how similar they might be to the R-13 model. I have seen references to some of these early 1950s instruments as having a "Master Bore" design, but it is unclear to me what this means and whether it applies to all Buffet professional model clarinets from approximately 1950 to 1955. The clarinets I have seem to play broadly similarly to more modern R-13s I have owned, in the sense that they feel small-bore, as best I can tell (though the only real larger bore experience I have had, that I can recall, was with a Leblanc LL, which had generally lower resistance than small-bore instruments I have experienced). Can anyone shed any light on this. And, is there a model name or number I can use to accurately describe these instruments? I have already done a bit of research on this, including on this site, but can't seem to find the answers.

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