About the model The Legendary Choice of Professionals was created in 1955 by Robert Carre and is the most popular professional clarinet in the world. Its tone is focused and rich, and it is powerful in all registers.
Its flexibility lends itself to all repertoires: symphonies or chamber music, soloists, teachers, military bands, students or amateurs.
Lohff & Pfeiffer comments to the model The Buffet Crampon R13 is a professional clarinet and was introduced in 1956 as one of the first poly-cylindrical bored clarinets. It became the prototype of all modern clarinets and is now available in many different variations.
The R13 has been changed considerably over the years, from a very narrow 14.4mm bore to a 14.6mm bore. Today, it is primarily marketed in the US, England and the far east. The upgraded altered versions, like the Festivals, Tosca, Vintage, Traditions and Legendes are now played by musicians all over the world. It is used by musicians of all musical styles and should be considered as professional as their more expensive upgrades despite its lower price tag.
All of these models are considered small bore instruments and have in common, a dark, warm, focused sound with good projection. The sound color varies depending on the individual bore-shape-proportion. The narrow bore is also responsible for the higher resistance a player will feel, compared with wider bored instruments.
See also Clarinet bores and sounds.
The R13 is available with nickel or silver-plated keys. Players with nickel allergies should choose the silver-plated version. We also offer an additional nickel protection on top of the plating for players who prefer the smooth nickel feeling preventing them from getting in touch with the nickel.
See also: LP nickel protection.
The R13, as well as the RC-models are available in African Blackwood with black stained surface to give them an even look, independent from the original color of the different body parts. This has no influence on the sound.
Alternatively, are they also available in crack preventing Greenline material. For players, who prefer the original wood, but like a reduce risk of cracking, Lohff & Pfeiffer offer the tone hole crack prevention for all wooden instruments as an option.
See also: LP Tone hole crack prevention.
NEW ,Since 2016 are all Buffet Pro-clarinets equipped with an adjusting screw for the left-hand F/C key. This enables the player to adjust occurring disturbing key-play on that key. Lohff and Pfeiffer offered this feature since the 80th as an option. This is stall available for older instruments.
Attention! The R13 is the only modern Buffet model, which never had a particular R13 Logo. This can cause sometimes problems to determine which model it really is. Older E11 models can easily be mistaken as an R13 after the logo has vanished, since it was only printed onto their body. If in doubt, check out the form of the left-hand e-B and C-F lever as well as the serial number font. E11’s have a very tiny font compared to the much bigger R13 font.
The R13 is available with and without the left hand Eb/Ab lever . For additional options check out our option list at the bottom of this page.