Buffet, R13, Prestige, B Flat Clarinet
This Buffet R13 Prestige Bb clarinet is a commission sale for Clarinets Direct. The instrument's sole former owner is a Glasgow based professional. 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.
This Bb has matching serial nos. 662515, and the instrument was bought new in 2014. The instrument has been very well maintained, by Mike Huntriss formerly Bass Clarinet in the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Mike has repaired a crack to the upper joint, with 6 pins. The repair is of excellent quality. The crack does run into the second highest trill key tone hole, but does not go all the way through to the bore. The instrument was heavily used professionally for several years after this repair, and has been completely stable. The Silver plate throughout is in very good condition, with no wear. The key regulation is very good. The instrument has recently had a partial overhaul in fish skin pads, and the remainder are in white leather, with a cork pad on the register key. The case is the original Buffet, which is in excellent condition.