Buffet, BC20 B Flat Clarinet
When the American investor Martin Tolchin bought Buffet Crampon company 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 evolved into the RC, were all attempts to make darker, more focused sounding clarinets. These days Buffet Crampon is attempting to re-create the original 1960s BC20 design in their current Tradition model.
This is a BC20 Bb clarinet, which is a commission sale for Clarinets Direct, with matching serial nos. F88637 dating to 1966, at this period Buffet Crampon were making only a limited number of extremely fine professional clarinets, and quality control at Buffet had not suffered the decline it was to undergo later. For this reason this period is commonly referred to as Buffet's "Golden Era". Buffet Crampon described this model as being designed for Recital and Orchestral playing. This particular model is an enhanced Boehm with an articulated C#/G# key, allowing for easy trilling from B to C# in the chalumeau and F#/G# in the clarion. The Silver plated key work is in good order throughout, with only slight wear to the ring finger touch pieces The wood shows many surface marks and scratches, the worst of which is in the area of the lower serial number stamp. The key regulation is tight and there is no joint wobble. Like a current top of the range Buffet this instrument was made with hand selected unstained Grenadilla wood. The instrument has had a complete overhaul & re-pad with Pisoni Premium Deluxe fish skin pads , and it is sold with a full years' Clarinets Direct warranty. The m'piece is a used stock Buffet. The case is a compact Yamaha student model.