[madmosse]

Hello all. I have a Buffet Clarinet from 1973. It's serial number is 142xxx. It's seems like a wood bore. I can't find the model number anywhere, but my guess is it is some sort of student model. Maybe not I don't know. Can some one help me.

I am going to sell this clarinet, and I want all the information before I sell it. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[BobbyC]

If the price is in my range, I'll drive up there to check it out.

 

[mnorswor]

With this serial #, that places it in the "golden era" of Buffet clarinets and should be an R13. Under the "instruments" section of the Buffet website, you can put in the serial # and it should tell you the model. If the model comes back as BC1131, it's an R13. Instruments form this vintage are highly sought after, depending on the condition of the instrument. Hope this helps!!

 

[madmosse]

Thanks for the info guys. When the Buffet site starts behaving I'll find out, and a clarinet will soon be on the market!

 

[Fred]

Not all R13's are listed as BC1131's on their website. From that era, with that serial number, Made in France, and no "F" in front of the serial number, it ought to be an R13.

 

[madmosse]

Ok, I got two responses to the serial number:

Brand : Buffet Crampon
Instrument : BC1102-2
Serial number : 142710
Year of manufacturing : 20/12/2002

Brand : Buffet Crampon
Instrument : N� 1 Sib Am�rique
Serial number : 142710
Year of manufacturing : 13/12/1973

What do I make of this? I've had this clarinet since '04, and wasn't in "newish" condition as I would expect a two year old instrument to be, so my assumption is that it is the 1973 model. So what is that symbology? Thanks again.

 

[Fred]

The No. 1 designation was one that BC used for R13's. Does the body of the clarinet indicate it was made in France?

 

[madmosse]

Yes, it says "Made in France" on all parts.

 

[BobbyC]

I think that clarinet just went out of my price range.

 

[Simon Weiner]

Ok, I got two responses to the serial number:

Brand : Buffet Crampon
Instrument : BC1102-2
Serial number : 142710
Year of manufacturing : 20/12/2002

Brand : Buffet Crampon
Instrument : N� 1 Sib Am�rique
Serial number : 142710
Year of manufacturing : 13/12/1973

What do I make of this? I've had this clarinet since '04, and wasn't in "newish" condition as I would expect a two year old instrument to be, so my assumption is that it is the 1973 model. So what is that symbology? Thanks again.

The BC1102 is a E-13 Bb. I would say that if you are semi confident that the horn is older or at least older then 5 years, it is in fact a R-13.

What mm barrell did it come with? The wood was the biggest difference between the E-13 nd the R-13.

 

[Fred]

Simon, did they produce E-13's without marking them as such on the upper joint? I pretty much depend on the French models within the right serial number range being R13's unless otherwise marked . . . but there may be some exceptions out there.

 

[Simon Weiner]

Simon, did they produce E-13's without marking them as such on the upper joint? I pretty much depend on the French models within the right serial number range being R13's unless otherwise marked . . . but there may be some exceptions out there.

Not that I am aware of. I was justsupplying info on what was given. If Buffet did misstamp or not stamp E-13, then to tell the difference is almost impossible. I would say that assuming the a horn is a R-13 is 85 percent accurate. They have out sold E-13 by large numbers.

 

[Chris J]

The No. 1 designation was one that BC used for R13's. Does the body of the clarinet indicate it was made in France?

Looking the serial number up of my E13 (Evette and Schaeffer) the Buffet serial search gives:

Brand : Buffet Crampon
Instrument : Clarinettes n�1 440 Evette
Serial number : 10522
Year of manufacturing : 04/04/1961

Though this clearly shows it is an Evette (K series, so E13 model), it does have the same n�1 (and the instrument is stamped Made in France).

 

[Fred]

Just another example of Buffet's inconsistency. But I am positive that many R13's on their website come back as No. 1. In their defense, the designation as Evette on the website, the logo on the instrument, and (I assume) the K in the serial number is enough to prevent major confusion.

 

[madmosse]

Well, I am going to sell this as an R-13. Thanks for the help everyone. I'm going to price this baby, and possibly have it looked at by a tech (if I have the time). I am going to offer it up here (if I can) first. If you are intertested keep your eye on the horns for sale page. Thanks again.

To Simon: The barrel measures 66mm. If this changes anything, let me know.

 

[Simon Weiner]

To Simon: The barrel measures 66mm. If this changes anything, let me know.

All I can tell you then is that in the New Buffet Description, the E-13 comes with a 65mm and the R-13 comes with a 66mm. So the odds go up slightly in the R-13 favor, but the barell could have been changed at anytime. At least you have that as a added point.

 

[Chris J]

Just another example of Buffet's inconsistency. But I am positive that many R13's on their website come back as No. 1. In their defense, the designation as Evette on the website, the logo on the instrument, and (I assume) the K in the serial number is enough to prevent major confusion.

Point taken

But I do not have any confusion with my instrument, it was madmosse.

My instrument is clearly an Evette and Schaeffer. The model became the E13. The Buffet web site is good enough to show that mine is "Evette", but the clarinet in question would have been sold as an E13 or R13. The word "Evette" would not appear against the serial number in the Buffet web site, but the designation No.1 might appear against both and may not differentiate definitively between E13 and R13.

As the main difference, apparently, is the quality of the wood chosen to make the instrument, and possibly the degree of hand finishing, cosmetically they might look identicle.

If the barrel is original, that is looking like a good pointer to R13 - but both are very good instruments. A good E13 can be far better than a poor R13!

Much has been written about this on the clarinet bulletin board

It would be nice if Buffet could give a key to the various codes they use - they must have a meaning to somebody!

 

[Fred]

Yes, here's one of the more recent clarinet board offerings that dealt with the No. 1 designation. Francois Kloc actually does crack the Buffet code for us a bit here:

http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=253273&t=252695

 

[Chris J]

Fantastic, thank you very much for linking that thread, It explains alot

For ease of future searchers, I'll reproduce what it says

Model designation n�1 indicates polycylindrical bore
Am�rique appears to be the designation for an R13 made for American market

It looks like that if there are no other codes, it is assumed to be a R13

Decoding the letter and number sequence

For a sequence such as BCxxyy(c)-d-e ...............

BC = Buffet Crampon

xx
This specifies the key, with
11 = Bb (old code, SiB=Bb)
12 = A (old code, La=A)
15 = Eb (old code, MiB=Eb)
17 = F

yy
This specifies the model, with
02 = E13
12 = RC
31 = R13
83 = Prestige RC Bass to Eb
93 = Prestige RC Bass to low C
23 = Basset

c
Optional code, meaning
G = greenline
L = Left hand Eb lever

d
Specifies key plating, where
02 = silver
05 = nickle

e
Specifies pitch
0 = 440
2 = 442
4 = 444

So

BC1131(L)-02-0 equals a Bb (11) R13 (31) with a LH Eb lever (L) with silver plated keys (02) tuned to 440 (0)

Information attributed to Jack Kissinger and Francois Kloc

Edit:
For completeness, the website to check the serial number of your instrument (for E13 and professional models) is

http://www.buffet-crampon.com/en/instruments.php

 

[Abraxas]

OK...So what would a BC1111 be ?? I was told it was an RC13 with bigger bore holes by the fellow who runs ClarinetPerfection. Also here's another hit:
Brand : Buffet Crampon
Instrument : Mib
Serial number : 154907
Year of manufacturing : 26/02/1975
So Mib means an Eb...but an Eb what ????