Buffet, Evette & Schaeffer, E13 B Flat Clarinet
An interesting UK stamp Buffet Crampon, Evette & Schaeffer, E13 clarinet in Nickel Silver plate. This clarinet was made in 1976, with matching serial numbers, K42089, and at this time Buffet UK were based at Pages Walk in South London. The "UK" stamp denoted an instrument specifically made for the UK market, at A=440 Hz, and the quality of these instruments makes them highly sought after. Then the Evette and Schaeffer clarinet was manufactured alongside the superb R13, which was Buffet's top selling professional model. At that time, the difference between the top student model E13 and the professional R13 was much narrower than it is now: Like the R13, E&S clarinets were hand undercut and made in the same factory as the professional models. This E&S is much superior, in every respect; quality of wood, intonation, and tone to contemporary mass produced E13 Buffet clarinets. This was reflected in the asking price, E & S clarinets were only 20% cheaper than R13s of the period.
There is no damage to the wood, which is crack and repair free. The Nickel Silver plating overall shows a "cloudiness" and some wear to the ring fingers, but, overall, the condition is good. The clarinet has used fish skin pads, all are sealing well. The mouthpiece is a used Vandoren 5RV Lyre. The original case is in good used condition. Current E13s are being treated by Buffet with a chemical compound, which is supposed to inhibit cracking. In fact this seems to be causing some joint problems for Buffet, with many new instrument owners reporting problems with sticking joints to dealers, due to this compound leaching out from the wood end grain. At the period these instruments were made, thankfully the Grenadilla wood was left to age naturally prior to manufacture.