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Evette "Sponsored by Buffet" logo Model Bb Clarinet - $499 (Dripping Springs)
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"The Buffet Evette "Sponsored by Buffet" Logo Model Bb Clarinet #F 17112 is a black, medium bore Bb Soprano Clarinet made of grenadilla wood. This high-quality instrument from France features an open hole key type and comes with a case. With its signature "Sponsored by Buffet" logo, this clarinet is perfect for musicians looking for a reliable and professional-grade instrument for their band or orchestra."
SOLD "AS IS" Used Condition. Good Playable Condition. Corks & Pads in good condition!!
A Fresh "re-padding" may be needed in the next year, or so, by a clarinet tech. specialist. I have two well known reliable & trustworthy Techs here in Austin. It is possible it may need only basic TLC for the next several years... all depending on how it is loved & treated.
Serious Inquires Only!
No Cashiers Checks!
Cash, Zelle, Venmo, PayPal "friends & family" acepted.
This is a vintage French wooden Bb clarinet (Boehm system), specifically an Evette intermediate model "Sponsored by Buffet" (Buffet Crampon), Paris, France, serial #F 17112.
Quality "Nickel-Silver" Keys.
Superior Vintage Grenadilla Wood (no cracking, or repairs). *See "Additional Note" at end.
Built 1960-1970(+/-)
Includes:
1- Quality "original" Hard Rubber Mouthpiece (Leo M. Bundy #3)= $80-150 value
1- Bonus... "Vandoren" Traditional B45 France Hard Rubber Mouthpiece= $132 value MSRP
1- Rovner "Bronze Mass-Loaded" Ligature= $100 value
1- Bay "Thin Clear" Mpc. Cushion
1- Fibracell Reed (custom matched & balanced to mpc.)
Note: Both mpc. Tables & Rails Custom leveled & Balanced for optimum reed performance.
Identification & History-
Evette "Sponsored by Buffet" branding indicates it was made under Buffet Crampon's sponsorship/oversight, often by a subcontractor (common for their entry-level wooden line before Buffet produced more in-house). These were positioned as quality student instruments— much better than basic plastics but not pro-level like R13s.
The "F" prefix on serial number On Buffet-related instruments typically denotes the European/high pitch tuning (A=442 Hz), common for French exports or domestic use. Tunes @ A-440 Hz, as well.
Compare to modern Buffet E12F (improved intermediate, grenadilla wood): Around $2,100–$2,800 (e.g., ~$2,129–$2,761). Often considered a noticeable upgrade in tone and playability over the E11.
My Personal / Professional Evaluation:
This "vintage" clarinet actually outperforms many pro models, including Buffet!!! The "intonation" is amazing! The evenness of the scale, note to note, register to register, is truly outstanding. I could easily repad this for my own use as a backup in any professional concert setting... I would be happy... NO ONE would know... I would be getting cheers & accolades in the very same way I do with my Pro Models!
My brother bought this used, as the 2nd. owner in 1974. Began playing in HS, but quit after only 2 years. It has been hidden away for over 50 years. It has the original corks (1 replaced) & pads, but still plays amazingly well.
Note: the great thing about NOT being rebuilt is that no one has done damage to the "tenons" (joints) by over-sanding.
I have played clarinet, sax, and flute professionally since 1974... touring internationally with the Army & AF Bands for 32 yrs.! My students have achieved outstanding results & top awards for Solos and Texas All State competitions.
I have played & owned the best of the best professional clarinets, including Buffet Pro Models. This one actually ranks with them.
Audio video recording coming soon.
FYI:The enhanced image clearly reveals the full engraving:
VANDOREN
TRADITIONAL
B45
FRANCE
This is a genuine Vandoren Traditional B45 clarinet mouthpiece (Bb clarinet, standard size).
The B45 is one of Vandoren’s most popular and versatile mouthpieces — known for its medium-open tip and medium-long facing, making it suitable for a wide range of playing styles from classical to jazz. The “Traditional” series is their standard hard rubber (ebonite) line.
Everything matches perfectly: the shape, the cork, the engraving style, and the layout. No doubt about the identification. Great piece!
MSRP new = $132
*Additional Note:
However, repair techs, vintage specialists, and forums consistently note that well-aged pre-1980s/1990s Grenadilla wood instruments often outperform many modern ones in stability and consistency when properly maintained.
**The concerns about Grenadilla wood (African Blackwood, *Dalbergia melanoxylon*) quality and consistency in clarinet manufacturing, including Buffet Crampon's, are well-documented in player forums, repair tech discussions, and conservation reports.** Manufacturers like Buffet publicly emphasize the wood's premium status and continue using it for flagship models (e.g., R13), but industry insiders and long-time players point to several systemic challenges that have intensified over the past 20–40+ years.
### Main Issues Manufacturers Tend to Downplay
1. **Declining Wood Quality and Supply Scarcity**:
- Grenadilla trees grow very slowly (80–100+ years to suitable size) in limited African regions (e.g., Tanzania, Mozambique). High demand for instruments (and far more for carvings/furniture) has led to overharvesting, including illegal logging. This results in fewer defect-free billets.
- Modern wood often has more hidden defects, irregularities in grain/density, and lower overall quality compared to vintage stock. Up to 20–25%+ waste occurs during machining due to cracks or imperfections appearing on the lathe.
- Best "Grade A" wood is often reserved for top-tier models (Prestige, Tosca, etc.), while mid-range like R13 gets "Grade B" or lower. This allocation wasn't as pronounced decades ago.
2. **Shorter Aging/Seasoning Times**:
- Historically, top makers aged billets for 10–20+ years for stability. This has been reduced (e.g., reports of dropping to ~7 years or less by the 1980s, and further since) due to economic pressures and supply constraints. Shorter seasoning increases cracking risk, warping, and bore instability over time.
3. **Cracking, Warping, and Maintenance Problems**:
- Even well-made grenadilla reacts to humidity/temperature swings and moisture from playing. This causes cracks (sometimes catastrophic), bore distortion ("blowing out"), and tuning issues. Modern wood exacerbates this due to variable density and defects.
- Manufacturers use fillers, dyes, and treatments to mask grain inconsistencies and minor flaws—practices more common now than in the past. These can affect long-term stability or aesthetics subtly.
4. **Sustainability and Economic Pressures**:
- Production is wasteful relative to yield. CITES regulations add export/import hurdles for grenadilla instruments. This drives innovation in composites (e.g., Buffet's Greenline: grenadilla powder + resin/carbon fibers for crack resistance) and alternatives like Mopane wood, but traditional solid grenadilla remains the marketing flagship.
- No major manufacturer publicly declares a "crisis," as it could hurt sales of premium wood models. Instead, they highlight innovations while quietly shifting resources.
### Manufacturer Perspective vs. Reality
Buffet and others still promote grenadilla's tonal qualities (warmth, projection, "French sound") and invest in it heavily. They don't "admit" broad decline because:
- It remains viable for high-end production with careful selection.
- Alternatives (Greenline, synthetics) are positioned as solutions rather than admissions of wood problems.
- Player perception ties wood to value/prestige.
### Practical Takeaways for Players
- **Vintage (like this Evette)**: Often superior wood if crack-free and well-seasoned, but requires careful humidity control (case humidifier in dry climates, avoid extremes).
- **New Purchases**: Consider Greenline or Mopane for reliability if cracking worries you; test thoroughly. Professional setups and regular maintenance (oiling, regulation) mitigate many issues.
- **Overall**: Material matters, but bore design, keywork, mouthpiece, and setup often impact playability more. Many "wood problems" trace to poor care or manufacturing shortcuts.
(Grok4)