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1947 BUFFET PRE-R13 Bb CLARINET–COMPLETE ARTIST GRADE OVERHAUL, PLAYS FANTASTIC!
Estimated price for orientation: 850 $
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
For sale: a beautifully restored vintage French-made Buffet professional Bb wood clarinet. Both joints are stamped with the same serial number 322XX, which indicates the year of manufacture to be 1947. This model was the top of the line professional clarinet offered by Buffet Crampon before the introduction of the famous R13 in 1955.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. Our “Artist-grade” overhaul is a 10+ step restoration process, which would cost $400-500 and up in any reputable repair shop. 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 and are a considerable improvement over even the best double bladder pads. With these upgrades, you won’t have to worry about the pads deteriorating for at least 10 years, maybe more, since both these types of pads are extremely durable and forgiving.The overhaul included:Clarinet taken apart, body cleaned, sanitized and treated with multiple applications of all natural Grenadilla oil, then waxed and polished to bring out the beauty of the woodTone holes resurfaced as needed to ensure the perfect sealAll keys and rods cleaned and hand polished, key pivots and hinge tubes straightened, thoroughly cleaned and lubricatedAll new Valentino Masters Series synthetic pads and white kid leather pads installedTenon corks and key bumpers replaced with high-grade natural corkKey cups centered and leveledThe keys swedged and adjusted to ensure smooth, tight fit between posts and on rodsThe springs replaced as needed and adjusted for a light, balanced playing touchThe 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.The overall cosmetic condition is very good, but there are a couple of issues I have to mention. First, there is a repaired (pinned) crack on the upper joint (I tried to show it in the pictures, but it is very hard to see, since the repairs were well executed). The pinning was done years ago; the crack is stable and will not cause any problems in the future. There also was a deep scratch on the bell, we filled it in and it is hardly visible now. Finally, someone in the past tried to scratch the serial number off the lower joint, but it is still readable. It is a very beautiful instrument - the wood is very dark and rich, but has a lovely play of color to it. This is something you will never see in the stained grenadilla these days. There are only a few very small scuffs on the body; you have to look hard to find them. The raw nickel-silver keys are in excellent condition, showing only a few very minor nicks/scratches. Please refer to the pictures for the additional details about cosmetic condition. Because of the repaired crack, this instrument is priced well under its real worth, so this is a great opportunity to snatch a top-notch professional instrument for half the price of the mediocre new intermediate clarinet.Here is what is included with the clarinet:New pouchette style caseLightly used Vandoren 55 hard rubber mouthpiece, cleaned and sanitizedNew professional Vandoren M/O ligature and capNew cork greaseNew 100% silk pull through swabOne sealed Vandoren reedThe instrument will be packaged with great care – I pack all my instruments with extreme caution to ensure that you will receive it in ‘play out of the box’ condition. I offer economy or expedited shipping via USPS or UPS within continental US. If you require a different type of shipping, please reach out to me and I will to my best to accommodate your needs. You will only be charged for the actual cost of shipping, I don't try to make money on shipping charges. Please note that I always insure the instruments for the full value, which increases the overall cost of shipping. International buyers: please be aware that you are responsible for all customs duties and taxes that may be applicable. Also, please do not ask me to declare a smaller value or claim it as a “gift” on the custom’s forms – it is considered fraudulent by US laws. Please take note that the full payment is required within 24 hours of your purchase, otherwise the transaction will be cancelled and the item re-listed. I usually ship within one business day of receiving a cleared payment. I accept returns within 14 days if you are not fully satisfied with this beautiful instrument for whatever reason, so buy with confidence: I want you to be perfectly happy with your purchase. If you wish to return it, please contact me as soon as possible and let me know.Important! Please do not use the provided accessories until you are sure that you want to keep the instrument. If the instrument is returned and the accessories were used, I will subtract their market price from the refund, since I will have to replace them.The buyer pays for return shipment and the horn must be in the same condition, as you will receive it – meaning no damage/flaws to the instrument, other than that documented in the pictures and description above. Your satisfaction is extremely important to me, so please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about your purchase and I'm sure we will be able to resolve them to your complete satisfaction.About me: I'm a professional woodwinds player/music educator and have been playing clarinet, flute and saxophones for years. I work with a certified master repairman with 30+ years of experience and I only sell the instruments of the top brands adjusted to play their absolute best and that’s why I can say that my clarinets play better than new. I stand by my instruments - I only sell what I would have purchased for myself or would recommend to my students. I’m fairly new to selling on eBay, but I strive to provide a stellar customer service to every buyer, as my 100% customer satisfaction rate demonstrates. Buy from me and be assured that you are getting a great deal on the top quality instrument – or your money back!
Description
| Brand: | Buffet Crampon | Body Material: | Wood |
| Design: | Boehm System | Skill Level: | Professional |
| Key: | Bb | Country/Region of Manufacture: | France |
| Type: | Bb Soprano |
For sale: a beautifully restored vintage French-made Buffet professional Bb wood clarinet. Both joints are stamped with the same serial number 322XX, which indicates the year of manufacture to be 1947. This model was the top of the line professional clarinet offered by Buffet Crampon before the introduction of the famous R13 in 1955.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. Our “Artist-grade” overhaul is a 10+ step restoration process, which would cost $400-500 and up in any reputable repair shop. 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 and are a considerable improvement over even the best double bladder pads. With these upgrades, you won’t have to worry about the pads deteriorating for at least 10 years, maybe more, since both these types of pads are extremely durable and forgiving.The overhaul included:Clarinet taken apart, body cleaned, sanitized and treated with multiple applications of all natural Grenadilla oil, then waxed and polished to bring out the beauty of the woodTone holes resurfaced as needed to ensure the perfect sealAll keys and rods cleaned and hand polished, key pivots and hinge tubes straightened, thoroughly cleaned and lubricatedAll new Valentino Masters Series synthetic pads and white kid leather pads installedTenon corks and key bumpers replaced with high-grade natural corkKey cups centered and leveledThe keys swedged and adjusted to ensure smooth, tight fit between posts and on rodsThe springs replaced as needed and adjusted for a light, balanced playing touchThe 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.The overall cosmetic condition is very good, but there are a couple of issues I have to mention. First, there is a repaired (pinned) crack on the upper joint (I tried to show it in the pictures, but it is very hard to see, since the repairs were well executed). The pinning was done years ago; the crack is stable and will not cause any problems in the future. There also was a deep scratch on the bell, we filled it in and it is hardly visible now. Finally, someone in the past tried to scratch the serial number off the lower joint, but it is still readable. It is a very beautiful instrument - the wood is very dark and rich, but has a lovely play of color to it. This is something you will never see in the stained grenadilla these days. There are only a few very small scuffs on the body; you have to look hard to find them. The raw nickel-silver keys are in excellent condition, showing only a few very minor nicks/scratches. Please refer to the pictures for the additional details about cosmetic condition. Because of the repaired crack, this instrument is priced well under its real worth, so this is a great opportunity to snatch a top-notch professional instrument for half the price of the mediocre new intermediate clarinet.Here is what is included with the clarinet:New pouchette style caseLightly used Vandoren 55 hard rubber mouthpiece, cleaned and sanitizedNew professional Vandoren M/O ligature and capNew cork greaseNew 100% silk pull through swabOne sealed Vandoren reedThe instrument will be packaged with great care – I pack all my instruments with extreme caution to ensure that you will receive it in ‘play out of the box’ condition. I offer economy or expedited shipping via USPS or UPS within continental US. If you require a different type of shipping, please reach out to me and I will to my best to accommodate your needs. You will only be charged for the actual cost of shipping, I don't try to make money on shipping charges. Please note that I always insure the instruments for the full value, which increases the overall cost of shipping. International buyers: please be aware that you are responsible for all customs duties and taxes that may be applicable. Also, please do not ask me to declare a smaller value or claim it as a “gift” on the custom’s forms – it is considered fraudulent by US laws. Please take note that the full payment is required within 24 hours of your purchase, otherwise the transaction will be cancelled and the item re-listed. I usually ship within one business day of receiving a cleared payment. I accept returns within 14 days if you are not fully satisfied with this beautiful instrument for whatever reason, so buy with confidence: I want you to be perfectly happy with your purchase. If you wish to return it, please contact me as soon as possible and let me know.Important! Please do not use the provided accessories until you are sure that you want to keep the instrument. If the instrument is returned and the accessories were used, I will subtract their market price from the refund, since I will have to replace them.The buyer pays for return shipment and the horn must be in the same condition, as you will receive it – meaning no damage/flaws to the instrument, other than that documented in the pictures and description above. Your satisfaction is extremely important to me, so please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about your purchase and I'm sure we will be able to resolve them to your complete satisfaction.About me: I'm a professional woodwinds player/music educator and have been playing clarinet, flute and saxophones for years. I work with a certified master repairman with 30+ years of experience and I only sell the instruments of the top brands adjusted to play their absolute best and that’s why I can say that my clarinets play better than new. I stand by my instruments - I only sell what I would have purchased for myself or would recommend to my students. I’m fairly new to selling on eBay, but I strive to provide a stellar customer service to every buyer, as my 100% customer satisfaction rate demonstrates. Buy from me and be assured that you are getting a great deal on the top quality instrument – or your money back!