Buffet Crampon R13 Professional Bb Clarinet with Nickel Keys

I brought this clarinet for my daugher who is in high school. She attends a performing arts school so I needed to get her a better clarinet then the Yamaha starter clarinet I brought her when she was in the 6th grade. To make a long story short, this was the best investment that I've made for her in band. The seller was very great in answering questions that I had and sending pictures. We received the product fast and it looked like it was in mint condition. I had it checked out by her private lessons teacher and this clarinet was taken care of! I couldn't ask for more. Thanks, this clarinet is in good hands. My daughter takes very good care of it. I purchased her a carry bag to put the clarinet case in so the case wouldn't get worn.

I wanted to give it a 4 star at least but there are so many things that detract from the overall feeling I have for the instrumentImmediately after purchasing it, we attempted to assemble the clarinet. Could not put it together. We literally drenched the cork connectors with so much grease it was dripping all over. And still could not get them to fit. Decided to go to a local Buffet Crampon Retailer/Repair Facility and they had to shave a few millimeters off the connections for it to finally work.Secondly, the pitch was a little to high. I adjusted the barrel a few times thinking the temperature and the humidity may have affected it but after several adjustments gave up on it. We are currently having it tuned and set up by the same local BC retailer in the hope that it will get corrected.Update as of 11/6/18After an additional $300 tune-up and months of careful break-in as well as constant humidity monitoring, the instrument has finally come to its own. It now plays beautifully and produces very warm and rich tones.I still stand by my earlier assessment that this instrument is a handful and requires a whole lot of effort to set up and "tweak" so it plays just the way you want. If you're looking for an instrument that you can play immediately the moment you open it, this is NOT for you. You're better off buying a Yamaha YCL-650 or a lesser but just as good YCL-450.Those instruments, will never sound as rich as an R13 though. This is why this is the MOST popular instrument for professionals and college level music students. It is the industry standard.

Lower register is great and all but honestly I’ve had to return my R13 multiple times for repairs when I just bought it new. I had to get a new R13 because there were too many repairs that needed to be done for it being new. The mouth pieces muffle sound, and the instrument isn’t very responsive I’ve changed the way I play, mouth pieces, ligatures, barrels and nothing has helped. I’ve played on Yamaha for years and thought it would be a nice change because I’ve heard good reviews. Now I do not believe good reviews. It’s a beautiful instrument but i dont know I hope I just got a bad batch twice.

Played Yamaha's for years. Now play only the R13 and have much more volume. I play in a Blues/Jazz band and finally can get above the other instruments. There is alot of bad press about the Buffet F3A mouthpiece. I have tried numerous, Vandoren, Grabner, Morgan, Portnoy, Leblanc and customs, but after it was all said an done, I still think the F3A pairs nicely with the R13 even if it is made of plastic.

It is a very good product, my son like it very much.

Buffet is the finest clarinet made, in my opinion (and that of many of the top orchestral clarinetists in the world). My B-flat and A clarinets are both original R-13s, made in the mid 1950s. I've played them since the early 70s and have never needed a crack repair or key reposition. There have been several changes to the R13 over the years. When it was made matters, so get the serial number and look it up, but it's hard to go wrong with an R13. And, the mouthpiece is NOT the most important part of a clarinet...I have several mouthpieces for different sounds, but a fine instrument that feels right is incomparable.

Wonderful Clarinet! Great for solo work or Symphonic playing.

R 13's are the zenith choice for both intermediate players as well as professionals. Amazon selling these instruments kindof gives me an uneasy feeling, because they don't specialize in instrument selling, unlike websites such as wwbw.com, and do not do play tests for optimal performance. any musician should understand that the instrument of this high caliber should be the best of the bunch that they get, and amazon should seek ways to improve selling the best instruments