Buffet, S1, B Flat Clarinet
A very good condition Buffet S1 clarinet in nickel silver plate. When the American investor Martin Tolchin bought Buffet Crampon in the mid 1970's he felt that though the R13 sold well in the USA different models would be more successful in Europe. The S1, Continentale and BC20, which became the RC, were all attempts to make darker, more focused sounding clarinets. In the case of the S1 this is partly achieved by much less undercutting.
This Bb has serial no. 140366, which dates to 1973, which puts it firmly in the so called "Golden Era" of Buffet manufacture. At this point in time, prior to the B&H take over of Buffet, they were not forced to over produce, and clarinets from this period demonstrate generally excellent intonation and tonal evenness. There is slight wear to the plating, mainly to the ring fingers and RH Ab/Eb and F/C. The key regulation is tight, there is no joint wobble. There is no damage to the wood, which is in good order throughout. The instrument has just been overhauled by Clarinets Direct in fish skin pads and is sold with our full 1 year warranty. The S1 clarinet plays with a robust, focused sound and excellent evenness and intonation. In the past players such as John McCaw and Mitchell Lurie played S1's. The m'piece is a used Vandoren 5RV, in good condition. NB The supplied case is a Buffet in brown leather, in good condition, as shown in the first and last photos.