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Re: Buffet B12; Are They Really That Bad?

Author: Tony F
Date: 2016-09-24 21:23

I work mostly on student-level instruments, and I seem to spend a lot of my repair time working on B12's. A lot of this has been sorting out problems on new out-of-the-box instruments. Buffet quality control is woeful, although the E12F seems to have addressed this.

Personally I that find the ergonomics of the B12 keywork don't suit my hands, but that's just me. I also find that they don't tune particularly well. The Yamaha's tune better, with better designed keywork, the Vito's keywork is pretty well bulletproof and the Jupiter's offer a good product at a better price.

The B12 has been around for a long time and squillions of students have learned on them, but I think this is more a tribute to Buffet's marketing than to the instrument. There are better instruments in that sector of the market. If you include the more recent offerings from Ridenour, Bliss, Bacun et al. why would you buy a B12?

Tony F.

Post Edited (2016-09-24 21:27)

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