Matched Pair of Buffet R13 Prestige Clarinets
This good condition matched pair of Buffet R13 Prestige clarinets are a commission sale for Clarinets Direct. They were formerly owned by an amateur. After the 1981 take over by Boosey and Hawkes, the Prestige range represented an attempt by Buffet to recapture former high manufacturing and quality control standards. To that end the Prestige clarinet went back to the earlier specification: Unstained, hand selected Grenadilla wood was used, and more time was spent on hand finishing the instrument. In addition an additional Eb/Ab lever for the LH was fitted.
The Bb, has matching serial nos. 505786, which dates to the early 2000's. The silver plate throughout is in good condition, with only slight wear to the throat A key. The clarinet has no cracks or repairs, the wood throughout is in excellent condition, though both instruments show some wear to the LH finger 3 open hole, see photo 7, and hover with your mouse to view in "close up". The instrument is padded mostly in fish skin pads, with some super pads on the lower joint, all are in good condition. These clarinets have had a thorough "check down" in our workshop prior to sale, and any pads or corks which showed any sign of leaking or wear were replaced. The key regulation is very good. The original barrel is of 66.0mm. The A is in very good condition, having seen less use than the Bb, it has matching serial nos. 50792. The tan leather pads throughout are in excellent condition. The silver plate is very good with only some slight tarnish to the tenon rings. The wood is also without mark or blemish, the insrument has had hardly any use. The pristine barrel is of 65mm. All pieces are matching and original. The case is a BAM in fair condition; there are some exterior scuffs, and only one zip functions. The mouthpiece is an upgrade to a professional Vandoren B40.