Buffet R13S Clarinet Silver Plate Keys

My daughter needed a new clarinet when starting college as a music major. The old plastic beginner clarinet was no longer getting it done. Took a shot with buying this from Amazon since heading to NYC and buying direct from the Buffet Crampon showroom didn't seem like the best option while COVID was raging. We may have gotten lucky, buying sight unseen, but the clarinet is gorgeous. My daughter loves it and she's never sounded better. She's crushing her performances, made the school's wind ensemble and is generally loving the clarinet.

I ordered this product from the "Brook Mays" company off of Amazon. I did receive the item in a timely manner. It was a Christmas present for my son. After opening it up it was discovered that a cork was missing from under one of the keys. I thought no problem there, I'll take it in and have another put in. Then when we connected the barrel it got stuck and wouldn't come back off (yes, we used cork grease and have had clarinets for years). So we took it to the college music professor to look at it. He found the problem, the barrel wasn't cut properly and just needed to be "rehoned a little more". I didn't want to exchange the instrument, just get Brooks Mays to help me get it repaired. I called them and explained my problem two times to a woman on the phone about a return and finally she gave me a man's office and I left a detailed message on his answering machine with my phone number. I have never heard back from them again. For the money I spent on this, nearly $3,000. I would of expected better service from them. At this point I would not recommend anyone buying from them, bad company!!!

I love buying from Amazon and spend more money at Amazon than any other store besides Verizon Wireless and Time Warner. I suggest all musicians or would-be musicians should buy clarinets from a real music store, where you can try two or three at one time to compare them. My daughter and I purchased a Buffet Bb and A in the last few months. Without her professional teacher to help us we wouldn't have had anything but luck to find a good instrument. The owners of the celebrated music store from which we purchased these two excellent instruments understood that Buffets -- and probably all wood-based instruments -- need to be tried out, as they vary due to the nature of their manufacturing and their wood grain. Two Buffet Bb we tried were incredibly different, and to buy online would have been foolishness, or at least inefficient; we would try one and then send it back to try another? Metal or plastic based horns might be a good purchase online. Amazon, I love you and use you all the time; but no way, no how for wood clarinets. And if you are going to spend 3K on a horn, get professional help to select the right one. Might as well buy a wife online as a horn.

I would like to respond to a comment made following the purchase of this instrument in 2012. The issue you are having with the joints failing to disconnect with ease is fairly common with Buffet R13s. It’s not necessarily the fault of the vendor, or really anybody. I purchased an R13 in 2017 and had the same issue which had a simple fix. The cork located on the upper joint of my instrument where it connects with the barrel needed to be shaved down slightly so that connection and disconnection between parts was easier. Any instrument repair shop can do this at a small expense. The R13, other than this issue, is practically flawless in performance standards and is a true professional instrument.

Purchased and was never informed that it does not come with the mouthpiece. When I contacted Seller, they informed me it does not but they’d send one out that was Professional grade. Received said mouthpiece and it was a Giglotta brand and I’d never heard of it so I googled it and behind, it was $12!!!!! Definitely not my idea of a mouthpiece for a $3600 instrument.Just make note that pictures can be deceiving because all pictures showed a Buffet mouthpiece attached.

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