Buffet, RC, A Clarinet
An extremely fine Buffet RC clarinet in A. This instrument is a commission sale for Clarinets Direct. When the American investor Martin Tolchin bought Buffet Crampon 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. This instrument was the finest and most expensive Buffet clarinet of the period, before the introduction of the Prestige range, and was priced at approximately 15% more than the contemporary R13. The RC model did sell very well: It had a more relaxed warm tone than the R13, which attracted many UK players. .
This A has S/N F186362, which dates to 1978, there is no damage to the wood, which is in fine condition. The Silver plate is also in excellent shape. The clarinet also has a LH Ab/Eb key, as would a modern Prestige model. The instrument has just had an overhaul in fish skin pads, and is sold with our full 1 year warranty. There is no joint wobble, all touch and tenon corks are good. This clarinet plays with a dark, focused sound and excellent evenness and intonation. It was manufactured as Buffet's top professional instrument with unstained Grenadilla wood. The supplied double case is in very good condition, and comes with the key.Today one would have to spend over £3000 on an RC Prestige instrument, and choose from a large number of examples, to get anything of like quality.