 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-01-13 05:26
There has been much talk on this board on the frequency of new wood clarinets cracking in their first 3 years. Whether this is due to the declining quality in grenadilla, poor aging/drying techniques, or other factors, it seems to be a bigger problem than ever before.
If you have bought a NEW BUFFET (and I'm only choosing Buffet because they sell the majority of clarinets) within the last 3 YEARS please respond with a:
YES - I experienced a crack in the wood of my Buffet
NO - All is fine, no cracks in my Buffet
I know this is hardly scientific, but if we get 20, 30, or 50 or more answers, perhaps this can give us some indication on the percentage of new clarinets cracking. Like the Nielsen (TV) ratings, maybe a small sampling will reveal some interesting data.
All of my Buffet clarinets (11) were purchased more than 3 years ago, and never experienced ANY type of cracking problem, so I am not able to post.
Thanks. If you care to share a brief story, please don't hesitate...GBK
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-01-13 06:53
Please, do it right so it might actually be useful:
If you <b>ever</b> bought a new clarinet, any year, whether it cracked or not, please add to the data. If you bought the clarinet used - please do not add to the data since it wouldn't be useful. Wood clarinets only, please.
Make, Year bought; if cracked - year cracked
Buffet Bought 1997, cracked 1997
Buffet Bought 1997
Selmer Bought 1992
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Author: Keil
Date: 2002-01-13 07:20
Buffet R13 A; bought 2001;cracked somewhere between 2001-2002
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Author: Karel
Date: 2002-01-13 11:03
Buffet R13 Bb, bought 1998
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Author: Irwin
Date: 2002-01-13 12:31
Buffet R13 Bb, bought 1998, sold 2001
Leblanc Opus, bought 2001
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Author: MsRoboto
Date: 2002-01-13 13:15
Buffet R13 bought 2001
Has not cracked but may be too early to tell. This is it's first winter in my house. I did have the barrel relieved in the early summer due to serious sticking / binding problem.
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Author: Jill
Date: 2002-01-13 13:29
Buffet R 13, bought June 1999--cracked October 1999
Selmer Series 10, bought 1971--never cracked
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Author: Jim S.
Date: 2002-01-13 15:04
Off-subject a bit, but:
1951 Buffet (R-13?) bought new and immediately flayed very intensely in warm, very dry California weather for a State solo contest---never cracked, though the stand-in that the store lent me while awaiting delivery of the Buffet cracked in a couple of places.
1981 Buffet R-13Bb and 1982 A bought new and immediately played a lot. Never cracked. Pacific NW weather however.
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Author: rmk
Date: 2002-01-13 15:05
My horns are OK but I have two students that have cracked instruments (both R-13's), one from 2000 and one from 2001.
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Author: Simone
Date: 2002-01-13 16:39
Buffet RC bought 1990 - no cracks
Buffet RC bought 1991 - no cracks
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Author: Shawn
Date: 2002-01-13 16:47
R13 bought 1986 - cracked 1992
R13 bought 1988 - cracked 1989
R13 bought 1990 - cracked 1996
Yamaha A clar. bought 1998 - never cracked
Festival A clar. bought 1997 - cracked last week :(
RC Prestige bought in 2001 - no cracks yet, but a little worried
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Author: Richard Fong
Date: 2002-01-13 16:57
Buffet Festival Bb (manufacturing year 1991), bought 1992, -no cracks.
Buffet RC Preslige A (manufacturing year 1998), bought 2001, -no cracks.
Yamaha YCL64II A, bought 1990, -no cracks.
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Author: Gary Shiozaki
Date: 2002-01-13 17:06
Buffet Festival Bb, bought in Jan 2000, cracked July 2001
Buffet Festival A, bought in June 2000, no cracks
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Author: Miles
Date: 2002-01-13 17:20
Hello All,
I'm a member of the Army Band here in Virginia. We have bought many new clarinets and to my knowledge none have ever cracked. We also do many outside concerts using our wood clarinet's but none have cracked to date.
Miles
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2002-01-13 17:25
Buffet Festival bought June, 2001 - no cracks yet
1982 Buffet R-13 bought June, 1995 - sold May 2001 - never cracked.
Leblanc LL A clarinet used - never cracked.
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Author: Dan Oberlin
Date: 2002-01-13 17:29
These clarinets are R13's:
The Bb I bought in 67and the A I bought in 68 never cracked.
The Bb I bought in 73 never cracked, but the one I bought
in 1990 cracked after five years. My most recent, bought
in 2000, hasn't cracked.
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Author: Laur
Date: 2002-01-13 18:11
You all are making me very afraid
R13 Buffet Bb 12/ 2000 - No cracks
R13 Buffet A 12/ 2001 - No cracks
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-01-13 19:24
Noblet Bb, bought 1948, no cracks
Noname Eb, bought 1959, no cracks
Buffet R13 Bb, unsold new old stock from 1971, bought 1992, no cracks
Buffet R13 A, bought 1998, no cracks
Other wood instruments:
Loree oboe, bought 1984, no cracks
Laubin oboe, bought 1995, no cracks
Hammig piccolo, bought 2001, no cracks
All of the above was done in Southern California where the instruments never get below 50 degrees F. I never blow warm air into a cold wood instrument.
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Author: jm
Date: 2002-01-13 19:24
Yamaha YCL64, bought September 2000, no cracks
Prestige R13, bought November 2001, no cracks
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Author: Laura
Date: 2002-01-13 19:36
R13 Bb - bought October 2001, hasn't cracked yet....
E11 Bb - bought 1998, cracked sometime 2000 - early 2001
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Author: William
Date: 2002-01-13 19:57
Selmers CT and 9* Bbs--1960s--no cracks due to climate (the 9* did not pass the "wall" test one summer practice session--weak lower tendon sleeve)
Buffet R-13s--1965 (A & Bb) & 1975 (Bb)--no cracks
Buffet E-11--1988 (Bb)--no cracks (used by my daughter at HS football games)
Buffet E-11--1996 (C)--no cracks
LeBlanc Concertos--1992 (A) & 94 (Bb)--no cracks
Yamaha Eb--1991--no cracks
All clarinets have been played extensively in varying Wisconsin weather conditions and none ever had their bore oiled. I still own all of the above. Good Clarineting!!!! ("wall" test recommended only for reeds)
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Author: Laurie H.
Date: 2002-01-13 20:43
Buffet R13 Bflat purchased 1977 Has never cracked
Buffet R13 A purchased 1980 Has never cracked
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Author: Judy
Date: 2002-01-13 20:49
Buffet R-13 B-flat, bought in 1995 or 1996 cracked in 1998
Buffet Festival A, bought in 1997, no cracks
Buffet Vintage B-flat, bought in 1999, cracked in 2000 (after warranty was up)
Patricola E-flat, bought in 1999, no cracks
(The cracked clarinets played fine after they were repaired.)
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2002-01-13 20:55
festival 1999, no cracks mild climate.
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Author: Ken
Date: 2002-01-13 21:17
2001 Selmer Signature, bought last November, "cracked" after playing 3 weeks. Consulted with Linda Brannen and she confirms a definite pattern developing with this particular model. Sorry Tom and Ed!!
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Author: FT
Date: 2002-01-13 22:47
OK, you guys are making me worried!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Buffet E11. Bought in December 2000-Hasn't cracked
Buffet Vintage R13- Bought LAST WEEK-hasn't cracked(yet!!!!)
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Author: joseph o'kelly
Date: 2002-01-13 23:06
Buffet r-13 bought 1996 cracked 1999
Buffet festival bought 1999 cracked 1999, exchanged for a different one in 1999 and cracked in 2000
Buffet r13 a clarinet bought in 2000 and has not cracked.
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Author: Pam
Date: 2002-01-13 23:33
Correction - over 40 brain.
My R-13 was bought in May 2000 not 2001 and has not cracked.
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Author: Tim2
Date: 2002-01-13 23:41
Mine R13 has never had a crack. Bought it in 1975.
Been in Wisconsin the whole time.
Humidity a factor? In the southern US? or any tropical climate?
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Author: Rob
Date: 2002-01-14 00:39
Selmer Series 10 - bought new in 1975 - no cracks
Selmer Recital - bought new in 1998 - no cracks
Yamaha YCL34 - bought new (for my niece) in 2001 - no cracks
I live in Minneapolis, where it is very cold and very dry all winter and very hot and very humid all summer. We do not have any noticeable other seasons here.
Maybe it just seems like the Buffets are cracking more because there are so many of them being made and sold. Then again, maybe it's like it was with Buffet in the mid 70s when the demand was increasing and the quality suffered. It sure seems like just about everyone on the BB seems to buy Buffet (without trying anything else), though I confess their appeal is completely lost on me. I think their reputation greatly exceeds reality though I confess, I still try them each time I purchase a clarinet. I am not a Buffet fan myself, but I can tell you that the only Buffet I have ever played that I thought was really a superior instrument was an R13 made in 1965 that has vary large (repaired) crack in it from about 25 years ago.
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Author: DennisP
Date: 2002-01-14 01:04
Bought Buffet R-13 June 2001. No cracks I can see. Florida, same room.
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Author: Kristen D.
Date: 2002-01-14 01:07
Buffet R13 Bb: bought 1996, cracked 2001
Buffet R13 A: bought 1998, no cracks yet
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Author: Marcia Nottle
Date: 2002-01-14 01:12
Buffet R13 Bb bought 1969, cracked 1969
Buffet R13 A bought 1987, no cracks
Buffet R13 Bb bought 2000, no cracks.
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Author: Won Kim
Date: 2002-01-14 01:47
Buffet Festival Bb bought 2001, no cracks and will not crack
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-01-14 02:33
Gordon (NZ) wrote:
>
> After this survey fuind out if Yamahas ever crack
> :-)
It appears as if our sample size will give us no real confidence factor.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-01-14 02:58
GBK - do you have a nice recipe for Boston Baked Beans?
My Selmer Clarinet was purchased in 1978 and never cracked (it was a lovely instrument and I miss it dreadfully, sob sob, sniffle sniffle)
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-01-14 03:40
GBK thanks for the URL:
Here is an excerpt that might prove helpful in the reasons why clarinets are cracking - even though it's written with a flute in mind, it would apply to any instrument made of wood. And, come to think of it, I used to be a bit "anal" about pulling my cloth through my Selmer after each session - it never cracked.
In his 1871 book Die Flöte und das Flötenspiel [The flute and flute-playing] Theobald Boehm writes "The most important thing about handling a new wooden flute is 'pulling through'/swabbing, because warping of the wood, whereby the bore conditions change and most cracks in the wood arise, is caused by moisture collecting in the flute tube during playing and giving rise to uneven expansion, often resulting in surface cracks and even more often in the wood splitting right through.
Thus after every use a cloth must be pulled through the flute tube until it is completely clean and dry, for which purpose an old silk or fine linen handkerchief and a thin rod of the same length as the flute body are best suited.
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Author: ClairGirl
Date: 2002-01-14 03:54
R-13 Bb in June of 2000- no cracks yet
R-13 Festival A in June of 2001- no cracks either
VSP Intermediate Wooden Clarinet by Vito/ Leblanc- MAJOR cracking problems in the upper joint, had it pinned and have had no problems since. Haven't been playing it since either. ( ;
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-01-14 04:09
Diz,
The swabbing bit applies to boxwood and other similar soft woods that warp easily. I can imagine it holding true for the boxwood clarinets of yore (which are amazingly light - I played one at a museum that only had a brass nail as a thumbrest and it was very comfortable!).
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-01-14 04:10
ClairGirl wrote:
>
> VSP Intermediate Wooden Clarinet by Vito/ Leblanc- MAJOR
> cracking problems in the upper joint,
Year bought, year cracked?
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2002-01-14 04:45
Buffet R13 Aug 2000 - no cracks
Selmer Signet Special 1969 - no cracks
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-01-14 04:51
Mark...ok.
I read too much "Consumer Reports". I am very wary in new purchases...GBK
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Author: ClairGirl
Date: 2002-01-14 04:54
Sorry- I bought the Leblanc VSP in Dec. of 1998 and it cracked through the upper joint and two tone holes in March of 2000. I actually borrowed the same instrument while mine was being repared from the music store I had bought it from and it happened to crack in the same place in only the two weeks I had it. Coincidence? I think not.
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Author: Sneakers
Date: 2002-01-14 05:19
Buffet R13 - 1976, cracked 1976
Selmer 10G Bb - 1994, no cracks
Selmer 10G A - 1995, no cracks
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Author: chuck
Date: 2002-01-14 05:45
I am a little bit concerned as to any possible validity in this "survey". First of all, the sample is much too small--60 responses as I write this. Secondly, there is no indication as to care taken of instruments or backgrounds of those purchasing any of the horns: the gamut of respondents runs from high school students with what I would consider rudimentary knowledge of instrument care to the trained professionals who over a longer period of years have learned how to protect their tools. Also, the question of environmental effects--though alluded to in some cases and not in all--may prove a greater determinant of cracking susceptibility than year of purchase. I cannot believe that any "findings" could be generated by this effort. Chuck
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Author: javier garcia
Date: 2002-01-14 12:15
Buffet Bass Student model, bought new 2000, no cracks
Rossi A rosewood, bought new 1996, no cracks
buffet BC20 made 1969, bought used on 1987, no cracks
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Author: Kim L.
Date: 2002-01-14 13:35
My new R-13 had a crack two years ago. I replaced that one and that one cracked last year, but got filled. But, I think it has another minor crack in it, which I'm leaving alone! (The crack hasn't spread).
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Author: Lynn
Date: 2002-01-14 13:41
Selmer 10G Bb, purchased 1973, never cracked
Couesnon Eb, found in the trash 1990 & rehabbed, was not cracked and still is not
Selmer 10G A, A series from late 70s (bought 2001), was not and is not cracked
Selmer 10 set matching Bb/A from @1960, had not cracked when I sold them last year.
Of my students from the last few years, I've only had one who had a horn crack, and that was a new Buffet E-11.
Looking at all the responses, I have to wonder why people are still buying Buffets. You should be getting better than what you are paying for.
Lynn
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Author: Dee
Date: 2002-01-14 13:47
Other brands crack too so why pick on Buffet? There will be more Buffets reported than anything else as there are more Buffets purchased than anything else.
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Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2002-01-14 13:48
To GBK...be careful evaluating Buffets from those responding here. I would have the tendency to report if my clarinet cracked moreso if it did not...
R13 Buffet Bb 1989 No cracks
S1 Buffet Bb 1974 No cracks
R13 Buffet A, used, 1985, No cracks
R13 Buffet A, 1990, No Cracks
Also purchased 2 Buffet Moennig Barrels 1990, No cracks.
I am very finicky about swabbing out the condensation. I also take great care not to play a cold clarinet. Many things can cause cracks. Wood is wood, and if the conditions are right cracks can occur.
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Author: Lynn
Date: 2002-01-14 14:03
Dee, I know that more Buffets are sold than anything else. I also know that I hear more complaints about them than any other horn. I don't hear these complaints from Selmer/Leblanc/Yamaha owners. I just don't. There still should be SOME percentage of complaints, you know?
I watched my husband in the Libertyville factory two years ago, trying to find a horn. Now, he is always looking for the Holy Grail. But he bought one we both liked at the time, then decided he wasn't happy with it and sold it a year later. Truth be told, he would kill to have a horn that played like mine. He would love to have MINE but would NEVER admit it!!!! He refuses to even consider any other make. There are a LOT of people out there like him.
So no, I'm not "picking on" Buffet. I just think that if you spend a few thou on a horn, it ought to be of better quality. And I don't hear these complaints from owners of other makes. That's not picking one over the other, that's just what I see.
Lynn
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Author: Blake
Date: 2002-01-14 14:36
1972 R-13 first "check" 1975, cracked 2001 and pinned
1999 RC Prestige Eb - no cracks
2001 B-12 no cracks (big smile)
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Author: larry
Date: 2002-01-14 15:07
I know this will jinx me:
Selmer Signature Bb, purchased January 2000 - no cracks
Selmer Recital A, purchased July 2000 - no cracks
It would be useful to query repairmen. They probably have the best overview of cracking trends (if any) from different makes, different eras.
Anecdotally (sp?): my New York City repairman, who sees a lot of clarinets, mostly buffets, immediately comments on the quality of the wood when an instrument is brought it. My older Selmer Series K received the "good wood" accolade (of course, any instrument that survives for seventy years without cracking is probably petrified); a friend's 1970-era R13 also received the "good wood" seal of approval. He has spoken of a decline in the quality of clarinet wood lately - mostly due to the lack of curing time. Less cured woods are still unstable and may cause numerous other problems aside from just cracking, such as key work going out of alignment. In fact, his biggest complaint is that new Buffets have to be brought in constantly for some kind of re-alignment. Clarinets that are allowed to cure for longer periods (such as German H. Wurlitzers) are less likely to crack, and the makers offer replacement guarantee for the life of the instrument.
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Author: gretchen
Date: 2002-01-14 15:10
after reading about 25 of these posts, the word "crack" sounds sooo odd right now. you know how if you say a word over and over again and it starts sounding weird? thats what happened.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-01-14 17:06
Buffet C, serial # 2525 (made 1929) - purchased 1970 - sat in a closet for over 40 years - no cracks.
Bb # 1B394 and A # 1B324 (1908) - purchased 2001 - sat in a closet for over 90 years - several existing cracks, repaired when I had them refurbished, none since then.
Bb # 3675 (1929) - purchased 2001 - my backup Bb - several old pinned cracks in the upper joint, none since I got it.
Bb # 134518 (1973) - my main instrument, purchased new in 1974 - no cracks.
A # 126161 (1971) - my main A clarinet, purchased new in 1972, no cracks.
Bb bass # 21448 (1967) - purchased in 1999 - no cracks.
I have never oiled the bore of any of these, but I do keep them humidified.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Larry Liberson
Date: 2002-01-14 17:35
Lynn writes: "I have to wonder why people are still buying Buffets."
Well, perhaps because those (including myself) prefer them to the other makers.
Really now, why get so worked up over cracks--especially if you love the instrument?
While a visible surface crack (and if I'm not mistaken, this thread is not referring to cracks that have gone through to the bore, essentially rendering it useless) is something to deal with and is an inconvenience, it is most often a warning to take care of things so that they do not progress further--sort of like that annual check at the dermatologist's office for anything that might look suspicious. (You know, the doc sprayed that spot on my scalp with the liquid nitrogen--or whatever it was--and I still have all my faculties about me and look and act the same!)
I've had cracks in three (out of the eleven) Buffet clarinets that I've owned, two of which I am currently playing (both purchased in 1986, BTW). The cracks didn't alter the playing characteristics of the instruments at all. They play great.
Ultimately, isn't that what's most important?
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2002-01-14 18:36
The only new Buffet that I have (the others are old and have survived the initial stress relief - cracking) purchased is a Buffet Vintage Bb.
Purchased January 2000 - No cracks
The Doctor
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Author: Joseph O'Kelly
Date: 2002-01-14 18:56
I agree that if a clarinet develops a crack it is not the worst thing in the world. I don't feel that the clarinet plays any worse after a proper pinning, (infact Mr. Oien told me that some people feels clarinets play better after they have cracked because it relieves stress) but when the odds that a recently purchased clarinet will develop a crack (as it seems they are) it is very irratating. If the clarinet's warrenty has just expired then it is the cost of repairs out of pocket. Even if the repair is covered under warrenty the process of sending it out to be fixed is a hassle. The experience I am having right now with my Festival is truly a pain in the neck. Two cracks have developed in the top joint. The warrenty is up but the owner of the store I bought it from, (a person who will go out of his way to make sure the costomer is happy) said he would have his repair tech. pin them for free. I sent it in to him and it came back to me unfixed. It seems the cracks had shrunk a bit and were unable to be found. I played on it afterwards and the cracks again opened up widely, (everyone noticed them). I needed to have these pinned but did not have another clarinet to play on at the time and had auditions for the detroit symphony civic orchestra coming up. Luckily the store loaned me an r-13 to play on while the festival was being fixed. Again the crackes went down and was returned to me unfixed. I took it to another place and the same thing happened. I now play on another clarinet and am still working on getting the cracks fixed.
It is also annoying how a crack drops the selling price of an instrument.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-01-14 19:15
Joseph O'Kelly said:
"...It is also annoying how a crack drops the selling price of an instrument..."
A good point.
It is sad, but unfortunately quite true...GBK
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Author: Mary
Date: 2002-01-14 19:53
I had 3 new Buffet Bb's (R13s) crack between December 1998 and June 1999, when I gave up and bought Rossis. All the R13s cracked after being broken in gently for a month or longer; all cracked after 3-4 months; all cracks were 1-1 1/2 inches long and through tone holes.
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Author: stale
Date: 2002-01-14 19:58
R13 A + R13 Bb, purchased new April 1999, no cracks.
I also have a mid-60s vintage R13 Bb that has never cracked.
I played through much of college as a performance major on an older R13 belonging to my teacher which had a repaired crack in the upper joint, and was still a very good instrument.
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Author: Corey
Date: 2002-01-14 23:45
Buffet E-11---purchased: 1999--- no cracks!!(thank god)
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Author: Aures
Date: 2002-01-15 01:59
I bought a Buffet R-14 Bb clarinet in 1995 and hasn't cracked yet.
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Author: Wendy
Date: 2002-01-15 02:48
Vito/Leblanc VSP February 2001, played just about every day since, (sometimes outside, but never in bad weather) - no cracks
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Author: gavin
Date: 2002-01-15 04:12
My contribution to science:
Yamaha YCL62-II purchased about 1984 or 83. Cracked in 1989. Repaired, and has worked brilliantly ever since - I don't even recall where the crack was.
Buffet Vintage R-13 purchases 2001 - no cracks.
Buffet S1 purchased 1990 - no cracks.
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Author: C@p
Date: 2002-01-15 04:20
June 2, 2001 R-13 Vintage - No cracks.
1955 (circa) Evette Schaeffer Master Model - No cracks
Circa 1925 to 32 Selmer - No cracks
Old Albert System clarinet circa ??? NO cracks
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Author: Stephane
Date: 2002-01-15 07:53
Bought Buffet E11 Jan 2001, no crack so far.
Bought Selmer Odyssee Dec 2001, cracked within one week! and was immediately replaced by Selmer under warranty
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Author: Francesca
Date: 2002-01-15 13:28
Selmer 37 (bass clarinet) bought 1999, cracked 2001 *cries*
Buffet R-13 bought 2001, so far so good :-)
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Author: Jo
Date: 2002-01-15 14:20
Buffet R13 Bought new 1996- no cracks.
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Author: Luanne
Date: 2002-01-15 17:42
Buffet R-13Bb bought 1984-cracked 1998 in 3 places in TN
Buffet E-11 Bb bought in 1985-cracked 1986 Buffet replaced, new one cracked after 3 months,Buffet replaced again but just top joint, sold because it cracked again.
Buffet RC Bb- bought used No cracks (Clarinet is over 20yrs old)
Selmer Eb- Bought used- (Manufactured 1977) - no cracks
Buffet R-13A- bought 1987- No cracks
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Author: Katherine Lynn
Date: 2002-01-17 02:14
YES- Near the thumbrest......and also near the serial number- E11 Buffet.
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Author: Bea Starr
Date: 2002-01-21 20:31
E11-bought late 2001-no cracks (yet)
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Author: Kelly Blecher
Date: 2002-03-12 00:19
Better late than never...
Noblet Bb -- 1980 -- no cracks to date (a sweet horn)
Buffet R-13 Bb -- 1984 -- 1" hairline on upper joint Mar. 2002
I can't complain because I've gotten 18+ years of faithful, beautiful service out of my R-13.
Humidifying my Buffet has always been a challenge, especially since 1998 when we moved into our house. The high efficiency furnace just sucks the moisture out of the air. In the winter I run 2 humidifiers (1 up/1 down), use moistened sponges and dampits in cases and sometimes store the darned things in the bathroom!
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Author: marcia
Date: 2021-06-30 05:00
Update:
R13 Bb Bought 1969 sold early 2000s
R 13 A Bought 1987 still not cracked
R 13 Bb Bought 2000 cracked 2020!
I was astonished, to say the least, to discover a crack after owning the instrument for 20 years. (Fortunately the repair job was excellent.) Has anyone else had this experience?
Marcia
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2021-06-30 21:22
I've had three Buffet Eefers R13 (1986), Prestige (2005), and Tosca (2020) and no cracks in any.
R13 Bb/ A, 2012, no cracks.
Prestige alto (2007), no cracks
Prestige bass (2006), no cracks.
The horns before 2010 were kept in MS in a very wet climate but under air conditioning. All were broken in SLOWLY. The ones post 2010 were bought in Oregon where we have wet winters and dry summers.
Breaking them in slowly definitely seems to help. I start out with just 15 minutes of playing and then swab it out and let it rest, gradually building to an hour over a couple months.
Eefer guy
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Author: Ed
Date: 2021-07-01 00:54
There are probably lots of factors. I have had a few friends who were super cautious and broke their instruments in slowly over a long time and had a number of cracks. One player had so many issues he finally bought a greenline and swore off wood instruments for good!
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Author: musica
Date: 2021-07-03 16:45
Bought Buffet Tosca around 2011 and cracked about 6 months later
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Author: musica
Date: 2023-02-18 19:53
Yes. 2012 Tosca cracked after 2 months
Yes 2023 Prestige R-13 cracked after 2 months
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Author: Pokenerd
Date: 2023-02-18 21:44
Buffet r13 bought in may of 2022; no cracks or signs of cracking yet
I do live in Hawaii where there is very consistent high humidity throughout the whole year
really good place to live after retiring if you can afford anything here
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Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2023-02-18 22:27
R13 Bb bought 2002 Never cracked
R13 A bought 2003 Never cracked
Forte (Dr.'s Product) C Clarinet Bought 2008 Never cracked
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2023-02-19 03:32
R13 purchased 2019, 2 cracks in upper joint. E13 purchased 2002, crack in lower joint.
Tony F.
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Author: Reese Oller
Date: 2023-02-19 07:57
My Selmer has gone through hell and back, suprisingly uncracked. I personally didn't mistreat it, but I know its story.
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Author: m1964
Date: 2023-02-19 08:27
Two used Buffets from eBay and 4 new ones- none cracked.
I do oil them before starting to play and also play no more than 15 min. x 2/day when I get a new instrument (or old that was not played recently), for at least two weeks before increasing playing time.
I also make sure that I play all my clarinets (have 3 now) at least twice a week, even if only for a few min. to keep moisture level the same.
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Author: MrDanny
Date: 2023-02-19 10:41
No cracks in my 1961 R13, bought used around 1976.
Post Edited (2023-02-19 10:43)
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Author: RKing
Date: 2023-02-19 17:57
Buffet R-13 bought new in 2015 - no cracks.
1993 Buffet R-13 bought used in 2021 - no cracks.
The 2015 R-13 was difficult to keep in adjustment until I put some Blue Loctite on the adjustment grub screws that Buffet is adding to the newer clarinets. Then I got tired of the new pads and had Steve Cramer give it a full overhaul. It now plays as well as the 1993 R-13.
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Author: m1964
Date: 2023-02-19 20:33
RKing wrote:
> Buffet R-13 bought new in 2015 - no cracks.
>
> 1993 Buffet R-13 bought used in 2021 - no cracks.
>
> The 2015 R-13 was difficult to keep in adjustment until I put
> some Blue Loctite on the adjustment grub screws that Buffet is
> adding to the newer clarinets. Then I got tired of the new
> pads and had Steve Cramer give it a full overhaul. It now
> plays as well as the 1993 R-13.
RKing,
Do you know what pads did your 2015 have before the overhaul and what kind of pads were installed?
Also, did Steve Kramer do any modification to the tone holes (not counting prepping the tone hole surface) ?
Thanks
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2023-02-20 17:41
Buffet Crampon E13 purchased around 2015, scrupulously broken, played regularily for 3 years and sold onward to a fellow ensemble member who still owns it - no cracks or adjustement problems for, either of us. I sold it because it just wasn't lively enough for me. I/I've own/owned a bunch of vintage wood clarinets mostly Buffet or Selmer but also a set of Marigaux, a B&H and none have cracked with the exception of an old Leblanc alto. A Selmer CT came with a cracked bell; I've looked at several other CTs and the bells are all split or defective, like they were milling the flare too thin for the grain.
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Author: RKing
Date: 2023-02-20 20:06
> Do you know what pads did your 2015 have before the overhaul and what kind > of pads were installed?
> Also, did Steve Kramer do any modification to the tone holes (not counting
> prepping the tone hole surface)?
> Thanks
Buffet moved production of the R-13 to Germany and my R-13 was shipped with synthetic GoreTex pads. According to Steve, these and most synthetics have a tendency to start sticking and leaving little white "flakes" around the tone holes.
Steve replaced those with high-quality double skin bladder pads, and I have had zero issues with these. He did not have to do anything extra to the holes after he cleaned up the synthetic residue.
I was playing alto sax most of the time and had moved from a nice Yamaha 650 to this "Pro" R-13. I was very unhappy with the Buffet and thought it was garbage compared to the Yamaha - until Steve fixed it. It now lives up to its reputation.
BTW - my old Yamaha 650 has never cracked either.
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Author: WoodsyBloom
Date: 2023-02-21 01:06
R13 B flat bought 2022, no cracks
Gala A bought a week ago, no cracks so far!
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Author: m1964
Date: 2023-02-21 02:49
RKing wrote:
"Buffet moved production of the R-13 to Germany and my R-13 was shipped with synthetic GoreTex pads. According to Steve, these and most synthetics have a tendency to start sticking and leaving little white "flakes" around the tone holes..."
RKing,
Thanks for replying to me.
I was not aware of Buffet moving R13 production to Germany. I thought that only their student level instruments are made in Germany.
Also, I thought that GoreTex pads were reserved for Prestige/Festival and above level clarinets. Maybe Buffet now uses them across the board.
They do have tendency to stick.
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Author: Hy-Dex
Date: 2023-03-18 00:24
Buffet R13 Bb purchased in 1986 and cracked three times in 1988
Buffet R13 Bb purchased in 2000 and never cracked
Buffet R13 A purchased in 2006 and never cracked
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