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1948 BUFFET PRE-R13 Bb CLARINET–ALL NEW PADS/CORKS, BACKUN BELL & BARREL UPGRADE
Estimated price for orientation: 1 600 $
Category: Clarinets
Class:
Description Brand: Buffet Crampon Body Material: Wood Design: Boehm System Skill Level: Professional Key: Bb Country/Region of Manufacture: France Type: Bb Soprano Model: Pre-R13
For sale: a beautifully restored vintage French-made Buffet professional Bb wood clarinet. Both joints are stamped with the same serial number 330XX, which indicates the year of manufacture to be 1948. This model was the top of the line professional clarinet offered by Buffet Crampon before the introduction of the famous R13. The main reason why the vintage pro-level Buffet clarinets are coveted and sought after by the players is the quality of the grenadilla wood these instruments were made of: the wood was allowed to air dry for 20 years or more to ensure that the clarinet won’t crack and was of the finest grade, very hard, dense and naturally dark. These days, the wood is used for the current R-13 is less dense and stained black to hide imperfections. Only the top of the line models, such as Prestige, Tosca and Divine currently offer similar quality of wood. Other than the exquisite quality of wood and craftsmanship, these clarinets are highly coveted by players because of their fantastic intonation and the tone quality. These so-called ‘pre-R13’ clarinets offer unique advantage to the buyer: a chance of purchasing a fantastic professional instrument for the price of the new intermediate clarinet, they are truly a hidden gem. The clarinet was just completely overhauled using the highest quality materials available to achieve longest life, a perfect seal and the best sound reflection. The pads on the bottom joint were upgraded to high quality American-made white Prestini kid leather pads. The pads on the top joint were upgraded to the premium Valentino Masters Series synthetic pads that are specifically designed for the pro-level instruments.The overhaul included:Clarinet taken apart, body cleaned, sanitized and treated with all natural Grenadilla oil, then waxed and polished to bring out the beauty of the wood;Tone holes resurfaced as needed to ensure the perfect seal;All keys and rods cleaned and hand polished, key pivots and hinge tubes straightened, cleaned and lubricated;All new Valentino Masters Series synthetic pads installed;Tenon corks and key bumpers replaced with high-grade natural cork;Key cups centered and leveled;The keys swedged and adjusted to ensure smooth, tight fit between posts and on rods;The springs replaced as needed and adjusted for a light, balanced playing touch;The gilding on the logos restoredAfter the overhaul, the instrument was fine tuned and adjusted to perform its absolute best and thoroughly play tested in all keys. It plays fantastic, just as expected from a top notch pro clarinet with an accurate intonation, resonant response as well as with an unmistakable focused, dark, complex and full Buffet sound. It plays just as good as any Golden Era R13 I've encountered so far. When I play tested it, the biggest surprise for me was the remarkable consistency and uniformity of sound between low and high registers and the ease of playing: this horn is a doubler’s dream, it almost plays itself. The clarinet comes with a new beautiful set of matching 66 mm (traditional style) Cocobolo barrel and bell by Backun. This bell in my opinion as a player is definitely is a step up, it made the clarinet sound darker and more focused. The Backun barrel allows for more free flowing, resonant sound and is also an improvement oven a regular setup. I’ve also included a gently used Chadash barrel by Buffet, which features a poly-cylindrical bore that improves focus and eliminates sharpness in the throat tones. The Chadash barrel has a reverse tapered cone bore similar to the "Moennig" barrel but with a very slow progression of the taper. The cosmetic condition is as close to mint as possible in an instrument of this vintage. It is a very beautiful clarinet - the wood is very dark and rich, but has a lovely play of color to it when you turn it around under the light. This is something you will never see in the inferior grenadilla used by Buffet these days. There are only a few very minor scratches and scuffs on the body and keys; you have to look hard to find them. The plating on the keys is completely intact, and the only defect I was able to find is the slight discoloration on one or two spatula keys. Please refer to the pictures for the additional details about cosmetic condition. The instrument has no cracks or the history of cracks anywhere on the body, barrels or bell. This is your chance to get a top notch professional set-up for the price of an average new intermediate horn and it won't be available for long. Here is what is included with the clarinet:New carry-all case: very roomy, has space for ev
Description
| Brand: | Buffet Crampon | Body Material: | Wood |
| Design: | Boehm System | Skill Level: | Professional |
| Key: | Bb | Country/Region of Manufacture: | France |
| Type: | Bb Soprano | Model: | Pre-R13 |
For sale: a beautifully restored vintage French-made Buffet professional Bb wood clarinet. Both joints are stamped with the same serial number 330XX, which indicates the year of manufacture to be 1948. This model was the top of the line professional clarinet offered by Buffet Crampon before the introduction of the famous R13. The main reason why the vintage pro-level Buffet clarinets are coveted and sought after by the players is the quality of the grenadilla wood these instruments were made of: the wood was allowed to air dry for 20 years or more to ensure that the clarinet won’t crack and was of the finest grade, very hard, dense and naturally dark. These days, the wood is used for the current R-13 is less dense and stained black to hide imperfections. Only the top of the line models, such as Prestige, Tosca and Divine currently offer similar quality of wood. Other than the exquisite quality of wood and craftsmanship, these clarinets are highly coveted by players because of their fantastic intonation and the tone quality. These so-called ‘pre-R13’ clarinets offer unique advantage to the buyer: a chance of purchasing a fantastic professional instrument for the price of the new intermediate clarinet, they are truly a hidden gem. The clarinet was just completely overhauled using the highest quality materials available to achieve longest life, a perfect seal and the best sound reflection. The pads on the bottom joint were upgraded to high quality American-made white Prestini kid leather pads. The pads on the top joint were upgraded to the premium Valentino Masters Series synthetic pads that are specifically designed for the pro-level instruments.The overhaul included:Clarinet taken apart, body cleaned, sanitized and treated with all natural Grenadilla oil, then waxed and polished to bring out the beauty of the wood;Tone holes resurfaced as needed to ensure the perfect seal;All keys and rods cleaned and hand polished, key pivots and hinge tubes straightened, cleaned and lubricated;All new Valentino Masters Series synthetic pads installed;Tenon corks and key bumpers replaced with high-grade natural cork;Key cups centered and leveled;The keys swedged and adjusted to ensure smooth, tight fit between posts and on rods;The springs replaced as needed and adjusted for a light, balanced playing touch;The gilding on the logos restoredAfter the overhaul, the instrument was fine tuned and adjusted to perform its absolute best and thoroughly play tested in all keys. It plays fantastic, just as expected from a top notch pro clarinet with an accurate intonation, resonant response as well as with an unmistakable focused, dark, complex and full Buffet sound. It plays just as good as any Golden Era R13 I've encountered so far. When I play tested it, the biggest surprise for me was the remarkable consistency and uniformity of sound between low and high registers and the ease of playing: this horn is a doubler’s dream, it almost plays itself. The clarinet comes with a new beautiful set of matching 66 mm (traditional style) Cocobolo barrel and bell by Backun. This bell in my opinion as a player is definitely is a step up, it made the clarinet sound darker and more focused. The Backun barrel allows for more free flowing, resonant sound and is also an improvement oven a regular setup. I’ve also included a gently used Chadash barrel by Buffet, which features a poly-cylindrical bore that improves focus and eliminates sharpness in the throat tones. The Chadash barrel has a reverse tapered cone bore similar to the "Moennig" barrel but with a very slow progression of the taper. The cosmetic condition is as close to mint as possible in an instrument of this vintage. It is a very beautiful clarinet - the wood is very dark and rich, but has a lovely play of color to it when you turn it around under the light. This is something you will never see in the inferior grenadilla used by Buffet these days. There are only a few very minor scratches and scuffs on the body and keys; you have to look hard to find them. The plating on the keys is completely intact, and the only defect I was able to find is the slight discoloration on one or two spatula keys. Please refer to the pictures for the additional details about cosmetic condition. The instrument has no cracks or the history of cracks anywhere on the body, barrels or bell. This is your chance to get a top notch professional set-up for the price of an average new intermediate horn and it won't be available for long. Here is what is included with the clarinet:New carry-all case: very roomy, has space for ev