BUFFET, EVETTE & SCHAEFFER, E13 B FLAT CLARINET
A fine, Evette & Schaeffer, E13 clarinet in nickel silver plate, which is a commission sale. The matching serial numbers are K58887which dates to 1981, making this one of the last manufactured. This E&S Bb is much superior, in every respect; quality of wood, intonation, and tone to contemporary mass produced E13 Buffet clarinets. When this model was produced it was second only to the RC and R13 professional models in quality, and it was manufactured alongside them at the Buffet factory.
There is no damage to the wood, which is crack and repair free. Unlike modern E13s it is not stained to hide the poor match between the wood for the joints, bell and barrel. The wood for this clarinet is unstained. The plating overall is in good condition, with only some slight wear mainly to the register key. The instrument has used fish skin pads which though worn are sealing well. The case is a plush lined model which protects the clarinet very well, though there is some staining to the interior. The m'piece is an "as new" stock Buffet. 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 this instruments was made, thankfully the Grenadilla wood was left to age naturally prior to manufacture.