Buffet Serial Numbers

Denis Buffet-Auger established a clarinet workshop in 1825 in Paris. Buffet clarinets became widely recognized for their award-winning quality as early as the 1889 Universal Exhibition in Paris. Buffet clarinets first came to the United States in 1918 and have been sold there since. Because Buffet clarinets have such a long history, determining the model can be exciting, especially if you discover that yours is one of the original--and valuable--models.

Buffet Crampon began manufacturing musical instruments in 1825 exclusively in France, but has since expanded their business to include production facilities in Germany and China as well. Since the company's conception, Buffet Crampon has expanded to a worldwide market.

Examine the side of the upper body of the clarinet to find the long, thin key just above the only hole located on the back of the instrument. This is the register key. Beside the top of the register key should be a marking that Buffet uses to identify the model of the clarinet. All Buffet clarinets come stamped with the basic, round logo, so any other distinguishing marks can be used for identification. If there is a letter followed by a number, such as B12' or 'E11,' stamped below the emblem, this is the model of your clarinet.

Check below the emblem for a small, metal plaque or a marking that appears to have held such a plaque at one time. Buffet uses these plaques to identify modern, professional-grade clarinets. Determining the model without the original stamp or plaque involves such technical differences that you will need to enlist the help of an expert.

If the word 'EVETTE' is stamped in the center of your the Buffet emblem, it is one of the company's student- or intermediate-level clarinets from before 1983. A wooden-bodied clarinet with this emblem is a B12 model, and a plastic-bodied is the E11. Some Evettes also may have 'Master Model' stamped below the emblem. These upgraded models were mostly produced before the 1960s.

If the emblem stamped on your clarinet has no extra markings, stamps or plaques, it could be one of the highly regarded R13 models. Check your clarinet's serial number, located on the case or on a small stamp on the back of the barrel. If the number is above 50,000, it is likely an R13. You can also look at the 'A' and 'A' flat keys near the top of the clarinet. If the two keys are fused onto a single joint, your clarinet is not an R13.

Buffet Crampon is a French manufacturer of woodwind musical instruments, including oboes, flutes, saxophones, english horns and bassoons; however, the company is perhaps most famous for their clarinets, as Buffet is the brand of choice for many professionals.^[1]

Buffet Crampon began manufacturing musical instruments in 1825 exclusively in France, but has since expanded their business to include production facilities in Germany and China as well. Since the company's conception, Buffet Crampon has expanded to a worldwide market. Jérôme Perrod, Buffet Group's Chief Executive Officer, runs the Buffet Crampon, Besson, B&S, Antoine Courtois, Hans Hoyer, J. Keilwerth, Meinl Weston, Powell Flutes, Scherzer, and W. Schreiber brands.^[2]

• 1History
• 2Clarinet models
  • 2.1B♭ soprano clarinets
• 4Flute models
• 5Saxophone models

History[edit]

Denis Buffet-Auger, of the Buffet family of Frenchmusical instrument makers, began making quality clarinets in Paris, France in 1825. The company expanded under Jean-Louis Buffet and his wife Zoé Crampon and became known as Buffet Crampon. (Another family member, Auguste Buffet jeune, who worked with famous clarinetist Hyacinthe Klosé to develop the Boehm system for clarinet, had his own business separate from Buffet Crampon.)

In 1850, Buffet Crampon established its headquarters at Mantes-la-Ville. The company continued to expand its range and quality in instrument production, beginning saxophone production in 1866, and winning numerous awards.

In 1877 Buffet acquired the Evette & Schaeffer Company and began to use that name as their instrument brand. In 1908 Buffet began exporting instruments to the US. In 1910 Buffet introduced the Apogee premium model saxophone, which had innovative keywork features that were later adapted by other manufacturers. In 1918 Buffet began marketing their premium line instruments under their own name, while marketing lower grade instruments variously under the Evette & Schaeffer and Evette brands. During the 1930s Buffet began outsourcing Evette & Schaeffer instruments to other manufacturers.^[3]

In 1950, Buffet developed its famous R13 clarinet, an extremely popular professional-level clarinet. The company also began production of the Dynaction model saxophones that year, which would evolve into the Super Dynaction (1957) and the highly regarded S series (1973) models.^[3] Buffet also became the leading distributor of student-grade instruments in Europe, marketing French and Italian made saxophones under their Evette & Schaeffer brand. During the 1970s, the company's position in the student saxophone market collapsed in the face of competition from Yamaha, who offered higher quality and more up-to-date instruments, and lower cost East German, Czech, and Asian manufacturers. Their collapse in the student market accompanied a deteriorating position in the market for professional saxophones that led to their being discontinued in the mid-1980s. In 2008 Buffet re-entered the saxophone market with their 400 model, sourced from China.^[4]

In 1981, Buffet joined Boosey & Hawkes, which sold the French company to The Music Group in 2003. Two years later Buffet was bought by a French group. In 2006 Buffet Crampon acquired two brass instrument manufacturers, Antoine Courtois Paris and Besson. In 2008 Buffet Crampon acquired the Leblanc clarinet factory in La Couture-Boussey, Département of Eure, Haute-Normandie in France. In 2010, Buffet acquired the Julius Keilwerth company of Germany, taking charge of distribution of their distinctive saxophones. In 2014, Buffet introduced the professional level Senzo alto saxophone. The Senzo, built in a co-operative arrangement between Buffet and Keilwerth facilities, marked the return of Buffet saxophone production to France for the first time since the mid-1980s.^[5]

Recently, Buffet has made some efforts to protect the African Blackwood trees, which provide grenadilla wood for clarinets, from being eliminated by introducing some wood composite products to its line up. However, Buffet has decided not to adopt the Forest Stewardship Council's standard of sustainable forestry management. Buffet composite wood models do not have the grain structure of a true wood product and as such they do not have the issue of cracking due to environmental changes that are typically seen in clarinets and other wood instruments.

Evette and Evette & Schaeffer clarinets[edit]

Until the 1980s, only professional level clarinets carried the Buffet name. Lower priced clarinets for the beginner and intermediate market were branded 'Evette' and 'Evette & Schaeffer', respectively. For a time, the Evette clarinets actually were built by other manufacturers under Buffet's sponsorship, and these instruments are marked 'Evette sponsored by Buffet'. By the early 1970s, Buffet was making the Evettes in their own factory in Paris, and around 1979, manufacture was moved to a Buffet-owned factory in Germany. Evette & Schaeffer clarinets were made in Paris. Use of the Evette and Evette & Schaeffer brands ended around 1985, when the company began using the Buffet name on all its clarinets.

Clarinet models[edit]

Buffet Crampon has released several clarinet models from the mid-20th century onwards, with models ranging from student to professional in marketing. The development of new models has sometimes led to the discontinuation of older models. The student models tend to be made from ABS resin, whereas intermediate and professional models are usually made from grenadilla wood. The professional models are usually made from more select grenadilla wood, and are usually unstained. Various options have been made available for select professional models, including the Greenline option, additional keywork, and gold-plated keys.

B♭ soprano clarinets[edit]

Student[edit]

Intermediate[edit]

Professional[edit]

Harmony clarinets[edit]

All of Buffet Crampon's harmony clarinets are professional models released under the 'Prestige' label.

Bass clarinets[edit]

Double Reeds[edit]

Flute models[edit]

Originally Buffet Crampon flutes were made in Paris, France. But in 1981 the company was bought out by Boosey & Hawkes and their flutes were manufactured in Boosey & Hawkes factories in England (and later in Germany) over the period 1981 to 2004. In 2005 the Buffet Crampon company returned to French hands. In 2016 Buffet Crampon purchased Powell Flutes, Maynard, Massachusetts, which continues as a separate brand.

Modern Buffet Crampon flutes utilize the Cooper scale (see Albert Cooper) and have a reputation for accurate tuning. The 200 series flutes were of average construction quality and needed regular maintenance to play well. In the 1980s Boosey & Hawkes redesigned the Buffet Crampon flute as the 6000 series with improved key cups and stiffer keys. The 6000 series is generally regarded as mechanically superior to the 200 instruments.

200 Series[edit]

• 225 - Silver-plated, inline G, closed keys
• 227 - Silver-plated body, offset G closed keys, solid silver headjoint
• 228 - Silver-plated, offset G closed keys and in line open hole (French style)

Redesigned 6000 series[edit]

• 6010 - Silver-plated, inline G, closed keys
• 6020 - Silver-plated, offset G, split E, closed keys
• 6040 - Silver-plated, offset G, open hole (French style)
• 6050 - Silver-plated, inline G, split E, open hole

7000 series[edit]

Intermediate models with silver heads and plated bodies. Model sub-numbers are similar to the 6000 series as above.

Saxophone models[edit]

As early as 1866, Buffet Crampon was producing its first saxophones, 20 years after the invention of this instrument by the Belgian Adolphe Sax. They were the first to manufacture saxophones, besides those made by Adolphe Sax himself. Today, Buffet Crampon produces three series of saxophones: 100 Series, 400 Series and since 2013, the Senzo alto saxophone.

Buffet Clarinet Serial Number Finder

Soprano[edit]

• Dynaction (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• Super Dynaction (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• S1 (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• S1 PRESTIGE (Copper, discontinued)

Alto[edit]

• 18-20
• Dynaction (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• Super Dynaction (Lacquer/Silver, discontimued)
• Super Dynaction/S1 (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• S1 (Lacquer/Silvver, Silver/Copper, discontinued)
• S2 (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• S3 PRESTIGE (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• S3
• 400 Series (Antique matte, discontinued)
• 400 Series (Lacquer, discontinued)
• 100 Series
• Senzo copper (Lacquer/Silver)

Evette[edit]

• Masterpiece (Lacquer, discontinued)

Tenor[edit]

• 18-20
• Dynaction (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• Super Dynaction (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• S1 (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• S1 PRESTIGE (Lacquer/Silver/Copper, discontinued)
• S2 (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• 400 Series (Antique matte, discontinued)
• 400 Series (Lacquer, discontinued)
• 100 Series

Baritone[edit]

• 18-20
• Dynaction (Lacquer/Silver,discontinued )
• Super Dynaction (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• S1 (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)

100 Series[edit]

These are beginner instruments made in China

• Series 100 alto saxophone, lacquer
• Series 100 tenor saxophone, lacquer

400 Series[edit]

These are intermediate models made in China

• Series 400 alto saxophone, lacquer and matte
• Series 400 tenor saxophone, lacquer and matte
• Series 400 baritone saxophone, lacquer and matte

Senzo[edit]

This is their top model

• Senzo alto saxophone

References[edit]

1. ^https://thevault.musicarts.com/comparing-buffet-crampon-r13-e11-clarinets-differences/
2. ^'Archived copy'(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2014-07-28.Cite uses deprecated parameter |deadurl= (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. ^ ^abHales, Pete. 'Buffet Instrument Models'. Saxpics.com. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
4. ^Howard, Stephen. 'Review, Buffet 400 Alto Saxophone'. shwoodwinds.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
5. ^Overton, Mark. 'The New Buffet Senzo...'saxophone.org/reviews/. saxophone.org. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
6. ^'Our Story - Buffet Crampon'. www.buffet-crampon.com. Retrieved 12 April 2018.

External links[edit]

• Jerome Perrod NAMM Oral History Program Interview (2015)

Buffet Serial Numbers R13