EXCELLENCE

CLARINETS

THE CLARIN

NET GUIDE

RHAPSODY FOR TALENTS

UNIQUE KNOW-HOW
Buffet Crampon is firmly-fixed, through its history and
its name, in the tradition of the manufacture of top of the
range wind instruments. Since 1825 the brand has developed
around a know-how of exceptional instrument manufacture.
This heritage remains the guarantee of recognition of our
products Made in France and Made in Germany.
This know-how is complex and valuable because it takes a
long time to acquire and requires dedication and patience
to pass on. At Buffet Crampon, we frequently measure the
training period in years. It involves the recruiting of young
apprentices who are passionate about the instrument-making
profession, ensuring we have the means to pass on to them
the taste for the exceptional work and putting them to work
with experienced people so that they can gradually acquire
and develop the apprenticeship received. This know-how
allows the identity and memory of all the instruments to
be forged.
Thus for nearly 200 years, musicians have continued to find
artistic excellence and the passion of music with Buffet
Crampon instruments. In a collusive and intuitive dialogue
with the most renowned artists, the brands ambition is to
combine tradition with modernity, know-how with creation,
history with innovation, in order to offer wind instruments
of reference.
Buffet Crampon 3

05 BUFFET CRAMPON

06 - Traditions & Values

08 - The music tree
10 - Art and excellence

14 CLARINETS

16 - Divine
18 - Tosca
20 - Prestige - RC / R13
22 - Festival/Vintage
24 - RC / R13
26 - In the Eb, D, C range
28 - C12 / E13
30 - E12F / E11
32 - B12 / B10
34 - Technical Features

36 BASS AND HARMONY CLARINETS

36 - A & basset horn clarinets
38 - bass clarinets 1193 & 1183
40 - Alto 1503 & contra-alto 1553 clarinets
42 - student bass clarinet 1180
43 - Technical Features

44 LINE OF ACCESSORIES
46 IMPORTANT MOMENTS IN OUR HISTORY
Buffet Crampon 5

Working closely with musicians at the highest

level of tradition and quality.

TRADITIONS
TRADITIONS AND VALUES
ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE
FOUNDED IN 1825, AT LE PASSAGE DU GRAND CERF IN PARIS AND INSTALLED AT MANTES-LA-VILLE
SINCE 1850, BUFFET CRAMPON IS THE MOST REPUTED WIND INSTRUMENT MANUFACTURER IN
THE WHOLE WORLD.

Instrument manufacture is a skilful combination of manual

operations requiring numerous hours working on wood and
metal, and hundreds of automatic or semi-mechanised
procedures on ultra-high performance machines in order to
ensure an irreproachable and constant quality level.
Wood turner, sander, driller, key maker, welder, tester each
instrument passes through the expert hands of several dozen
tradesmen.
In the secrecy of the workshops, from generation to generation
the master instrument makers have learned the precision of
each process necessary to manufacture instruments of
reference. This manual work gives a soul to each one of the
Buffet Crampon clarinets, bass clarinets, saxophones, oboes
and bassoons.

6 Buffet Crampon

Before being despatched to the four corners of the earth, all

our instruments, whether they be student or professional, are
evaluated and tested in order to check their unique sound
quality and the exceptional roundness of their tone. If our
testers (all excellent professional musicians) arent satisfied
with the sound purity or the homogeneity of an instrument,
then that instrument will be reworked until total satisfaction
is obtained, or it will be destroyed.
The brand is fortunate enough to have the trust of the greatest
soloists and rostrums in the whole world. This artistic
excellence is a great strength and a source of immense pride.
This link, so essential between musicians and the work of
instrument makers, allows permanent questioning, constant
innovation, in order to create wind instruments of reference.

Buffet Crampon employees in Mantes-la-ville in 1930.

A SHORT HISTORY OF BORES*

It is clear from simply uttering the word flute in French
and in English that the national sonorities are distinct.
If by pronouncing the same word we can produce such
different effects, why would it be any different when we
play a musical instrument?
In order to respond to the needs of musicians from one
continent to another, Buffet Crampon has developed two
major families of bores and several models of clarinets.
This heritage has endured over the decades. It was initiated
by Robert Carre, first an instrument maker and then
Technical Director of Buffet Crampon.
In 1950 Robert Carre created the R13 family of clarinet.
The R13 has a poly-cylindrical bore giving it a warmth and
focus that are extraordinary. It has become the most widelyplayed clarinet in history and continues to be the clarinet
that provides the standard of reference today in the United
States. In 1975, to celebrate Buffet Crampons 150th
anniversary, working with the clarinettist Jacques Lancelot,
Robert Carre developed a slightly different bore while
keeping a round, precise timbre. This new family of
clarinets bears the initials RC in honour of its inventor.

R13 Family
R13 (1955)
R13 Prestige (1985)
Festival (1987)
Vintage (1996)
Tosca (2003)

Robert Carre

RC Family
RC (1975)
RC Prestige (1976)

For the bass clarinet, the parentage is more recent;

nevertheless both bores are a standard of reference, and
have earned their stripes for clarinettists: the traditional
bore of 1964 and the bore created in 1997, attributed to the
talented instrument maker Ren Lesieux who, with the
assistance of the clarinettist of Frances National Orchestra,
Jean Marc Volta, have repositioned the bass clarinet as a
solo instrument that stands on its own.
* The bore is the interior diameter of the clarinet

Buffet Crampon 7

BUFFET CRAMPONS CL ARINETS BENEFIT FROM OUR EXEMPL ARY SAVOIR-FAIRE IN

THE TREATMENT OF THE WOOD USED TO MAKE THEM, WHICH INTEGRATES BOTH TRADITIONAL
AND MODERN TECHNIQUES.
BUFFET CRAMPON OFFERS A WIDE SELECTION OF CLARINETS AND BASS CLARINETS
IN TRADITIONAL GRENADILLA WOOD OR IN THE Green LinE COMPOSITE MATERIALS.

THE MUSIC TRE

THE MUSIC TREE

THE WOOD
African black wood, generally known as Grenadilla, or
MPingo in Swahili, is the wood of choice today for the
manufacture of most wind instruments. This very hard wood,
which is so dense that it does not float, lends itself well to
turning, does not crack or split and is resistant to humidity.
Once it is finished and polished, its aspect is superb. The tree
is a member of the Papilionoideae family - the Latin name is
Dalbergia Melanoxylon which gives the grenadilla its varied
hues, from dark violet to a purplish brown.
Due to its irregular growth, finding a straight vein in the wood
that is appropriate for the manufacture of the instruments is
extremely hard. The music tree grows mainly in the African
savannah, primarily in Mozambique and Tanzania. This tree
takes a full eighty years to reach its average size of nine
meters, and the wood requires several more years for the
drying and treatment processes before it can be used.

It is therefore not surprising that African grenadilla wood

is considered a precious resource. Well aware of the threat
to its survival by the manufacture of musical instruments,
Buffet Crampon has developed a composite material made
of reconstituted ebony from Mozambique (Dalbergia
Melanoxylon), also called grenadilla, which is a by-product
of wood recycled from the production.
Green Lin E is an international trade mark filed in 1994 by
Buffet Crampon and still protected. It permits the
conservation of 100% of the acoustic properties of
traditional instruments while ensuring an incontestable
reliability and longevity, as it does not crack or split when
it suffers a climactic change, which is a great source of
concern to clarinettists and oboists.
Green LinE provides the instrument bore with a dimensional
consistency that is not vulnerable to the test of time.

Buffet Crampon 9

SINCE 1850, BUFFET CRAMPON HAS PRODUCED ITS PROFESSIONAL AND INTERMEDIARY CLARINETS
IN A SMALL CITY WEST OF PARIS. THE SKILLED TRADESMEN AND THE INDUSTRIAL ELEMENTS OF
THE MANUFACTURING PLANT HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE LABEL ENTREPRISE DU PATRIMOINE
VIVANT [A LIVING HERITAGE COMPANY] BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT. THIS LABEL REPRESENTS
EXCELLENCE IN FRENCH SAVOIR-FAIRE. THIS DISTINCTION IS CONFERRED UPON THE EMPLOYEES
AND THE STAFF OF OUR MANUFACTURING UNIT.
*

OUR EXP

ART & EXCELLENCE

Wood turner

Sander

Post driller

He fashions and blanks the forms, and then the

bodies of the instruments. He receives the
grenadilla wood in a near-raw state, in which it is
barely seasoned and dry.
He cuts away the grenadilla-coloured chips and
brings out the first veins of a piece of wood that
has been chosen and will be as carefully matched.
Attentive, meticulous, he has the artists touch
and the fitters eye.

This workmans skill lies in his touch. An

essential link in a chain of quality workmanship,
the sander is selected for his dexterity, and adapts
each gesture to each part of the instrument he is
working on; he matches the colours, harmonizes
the aspect of the wood, knows how to work
around any unevenness in the wood, and prepares
the pieces for finishing. From sand paper to
polishing compounds, his is a master stroke.

Drilling, forming, cutting the bore each is an

essential step in the preparation of the assembly
of the instruments.
Each of these phases is carried out on a
microscopic level, with a watchmakers agility
and precision.

* French label: Living Heritage Company

10 Buffet Crampon

PERTISE
Bore driller

Key makers

Welder

This artist acts as a midwife to the acoustics of the

instruments, as he is the one who drills into the
heart of the grenadilla wood. His work requires
rigour and close attention to detail. His experience
and expertise is unique, as he is trained for three
years by his more experienced colleagues to
recreate the richness of Buffet Crampons
individual sound. His secret lies in his tools and
his careful gestures.

Skilled dexterity and patience are vital to the

forging and the manipulation of small parts. The
key maker is meticulous he files, trims, drills,
brushes and checks the quality of each part. He
handles pure metals and alloys in their raw state,
and the treatment and finishing work of the keys
will depend on the quality of his work.

Various welding techniques are used (welding

torch or blow pipe, oven, induction), each of
which is a true specialization. The life span of the
instruments keys will depend on the precision of
the welders work and his work ethic. The welder
is concentrated and particularly attentive, as he
works with high temperatures.

Buffet Crampon 11

Our craft, the making of high quality instruments,

is a vocation guided by our savoir-faire, the work of artists.
Our greatest asset is our ability to pass this craftsmans
heritage down to future generations.

Finisher

Tester

The other crafts

The instrument takes on its definitive form at this

phase of the work. The finisher assembles the
keys, rings, welding, correspondences, cadences,
levers, springsthe keys at last begin to be
referred to as notes. The men and women who
finish the instruments carry out this extraordinary
work with elegance and calm.

All of the wind instruments are tested by Buffet

Crampons own expert. His ear is professional
and his dexterity precise. He carefully checks
each element of the instrument the wood,
metal, bore, etc.
He verifies the accuracy and proper functioning
of the mechanical elements of each instrument.
He makes any adjustments necessary and
chooses the bell that is best adapted to the
instrument. His workshop resonates with
arpeggios, glissandos and solos. An ambiance
reigns here that one finds more often backstage at
concerts.

Other skills, gestures and attentions are involved

in the manufacture of our instruments. Each of
these workers has as much expertise as those
described above designers, tool smiths, tuners,
adjusters, metal smiths, buffers, assemblers,
silversmiths, key mounters, pad setters, markers,
quality control specialists, acoustics specialists,
researchers. Behind all of these trades and skills
lies the historic brand of nearly two hundred
years, but it is the men and women, themselves,
deeply invested in the quality and transmission
of their craft, who preserve and pass on our
exceptional savoir-faire.

12 Buffet Crampon

CLARINETS
THE ART OF THE GESTURE

The tradition of free-blowing

instruments homogenous
in every register.

DIVINE
DIVINE

TRADITION AND TECHNOLOGY

Research and development is both a rigorous and creative process. In collaboration with our
workshops and internationally renowned clarinetists, Paul Meyer worked on the research project
for developing new acoustics, resulting in the DIVINE clarinet.
This model benefits from having the same hole placement as the Tosca model which allows
for better intonation for every register. The improved bore favors flexible register-crossing
and freer blowing during the most demanding pieces.
The Divine clarinet comes with two barrels - 65mm (442hz) and 66mm (440hz) which fit with
both the BbEand the A model. The Divine is made of grenadilla wood with specific upper joint
Green LinE tone-hole slots eliminating air leaks on tone-holes most prone to crack.
The carbon wire (a Buffet Crampon patent), which replaces the metal rings, makes the clarinet
60 grams lighter and thus contributes to its exceptional balance with greater vibration and freer
blowing.
As with the Tosca model, The Divine clarinets are equipped with a low F correction key.
New keywork and spatulas enhance the clarinets ergonomics without destabilizing
the musicians capabilities.
Whereas the Tosca clarinet was the R13 bores top range model, the Divine features
the Buffet Crampon RC bores latest evolution.
This new range of clarinet represents a major step forward in Buffet Crampons history, by fusing
technical expertise with unparalleled craftsmanship in French wind instrument manufacturing.

16 Buffet Crampon

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Key: Bb, A, / Pitch: 440/442 Hz
Features:
Body:
N
 atural African blackwood
P
 oly-cylindrical bore according to
the BuffetCrampon method
G
 reen LinE tones holes slots on the upper joint
M
 etal-capped tenons
Carbon wire on barrel, lower joint and bell
Synthetic cork on tenon, no lubrification necessary
R
 aised C# - G# tone hole (A only)
D
 elivered with 2 barrels (66 and 65 mm long)
Keywork:
1 9 keys and 6 rings
N
 ew Adjustable thumb rest
E
 b lever
Low F correction key, low E (option)
S
 ilver-plated or golden plated finishes
H
 ighly reliable keywork
M
 etal O-ring pins
B
 lue steel springs
Pads:
C
 ombination of GT pads (100 % waterproof and breathable)
and natural cork pads.
Case:
C
 ompact style, hi-tech, shell, leather lidb

D
ivine
Divine

REFERENCES
DIVINE
Bb: BC1160L
A: BC1260L

Buffet Crampon 17

TOSCA
TOSCA

THE DEMAND FOR PERFECTION

Fortified by its elegance and incomparable style, the Tosca
clarinet, designed by Michel Arrignon, is the fruit of
extensive experience and innovation. One of Buffet
Crampons greatest strengths is its capacity for developing
new instruments in close cooperation with the best-known
musicians of the French school of wind instruments.
Musicians we have worked with include Romain Guyot,
Pascal Moragus, Guy Deplus.
Endowed with rich harmony and a unique sonority, the
Tosca clarinets timbre and fullness are exceptional. Its ease
of response and flexibility and its high level of comfort are
qualities that distinguish it from other clarinets, and that
constitute the very essence of this clarinet, one of the R13
line.
It is available in Bb, A and Eb, in grenadilla wood or in the
Green LinE composite material.

18 Buffet Crampon

The projection and fullness

of a perfect sound for a clarinet
that is at the peak of its art

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Key: Bb, A, Eb / Pitch: 440/442 Hz
Features:
Body:
N
 atural African blackwood or in Green LinE
P
 oly-cylindrical bore according to
the BuffetCrampon method
M
 etal-capped tenons
R
 aised C# - G# tone hole (A only)
D
 elivered with 2 barrels (66 and 65 mm long)
Keywork:
1 9 keys and 6 rings
A
 djustable thumb rest
E
 b lever
L
 ow F correction key, low E (option)
S
 ilver-plated finish
H
 ighly reliable keywork
B
 lue steel springs
Pads:
C
 ombination of GT pads (100 % waterproof and breathable)
and natural cork pads.

REFERENCES
TOSCA
Bb: BC1150L / Green LinE BC1150GL
A: BC1250L / Green LinE BC1250GL
Eb: BC1550 / Green LinE BC1550GL

Buffet Crampon 19

BUFFET CRAMPONS PRESTIGE LINE DATES BACK TO 1976. ITS STANDARD OF QUALITY IS SOUGHT
AFTER AND VALUED WORLDWIDE. THE QUALITY OF THE WOOD, THE PRECISION OF THE MECHANICS
AND THE EXTENSIVE SAVOIR-FAIRE, ALL OF WHICH ARE ESSENTIALLY EFFECTED MANUALLY BY
BUFFET CRAMPONS INSTRUMENT MAKERS, CONTRIBUTE TO THIS LINE OF CLARINETS, WHICH
IS A STANDARD OF REFERENCE FOR PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS.

PRESTIGE
RC & R13 PRESTIGE

THE DEMAND OF AN ENTIRE LINE OF INSTRUMENTS

RC PRESTIGE

The grenadilla wood is chosen with great care for its

acoustic and aesthetic qualities.
The wood is polished with care and retains its natural
colour. The mechanical elements are prepared and finished
with extreme precision: internal polishing of the tone holes
is done in line with Buffet Crampons high standards,
developed with their expertise over the decades.
The individual parts are set and protected by metal rings in
order to limit any risk of splitting or cracking. The keys in
maillechort (an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel) are coldforged, and are copper and silver plated. The mechanical
elements are carefully assembled and adjusted by expert
technicians.

The RC clarinet was born of the bole perfected by Robert

Carre in 1975 and developed by Jacques Lancelot and Guy
Deplus. It is characterized by a pure and sweet sound. The
interior profile specific to its bell is unique to this clarinet. It
plays a key role in the focus and warmth of its sound.

20 Buffet Crampon

R13 PRESTIGE
Developed in 1985 by Robert Carre, this clarinet is one of
the members of the R13 bore family. Highly flexible in all
registers and powerful, it is well-adapted to all situations
and all styles.

The clarinet provides a conduit

for the expression of the most poetic
ideas and emotions

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Key: Bb, A, Eb, D, C / Pitch: 440/442 Hz
Features:
Body:
N
 atural African blackwood or in Green LinE
M
 etal-capped tenons
P
 oly-cylindrical bore according to
the Buffet Crampon method
B
 ell with special Prestige bore
Keywork:
1 8 keys, 6 rings (Bb, A)
1 7 keys , 6 rings (Eb, D, C)
E
 b lever left hand
A
 djustable thumb rest
F
 orged keys, copper plated then silver plated
according to the Buffet Crampon method
B
 lue steel springs for ease and accuracy of key movement
Pads:
1 00 % waterproof materials (GT)
Case:
L
 eather

REFERENCES
RC PRESTIGE
Bb 440:
BC1106L / Green LinE BC1106GL
A 440: BC1206L
Bb 442:
BC1107L / Green LinE BC1107GL
A 442:
BC1207L
D 440/442: BC1407
Eb 440/442: BC1507 / Green LinE BC1507G
C 440/442: BC1607
R13 PRESTIGE
Bb 440:
BC1133L
A 440: BC1233L

Buffet Crampon 21

THE FESTIVAL AND VINTAGE CLARINETS ARE AFFILIATED WITH THE RICH AND POWERFUL SOUND
QUALITY OF THE R13 BORE FAMILY. EACH DEVELOPS ITS OWN INDIVIDUAL SOUND AND AMPLITUDE.
THEY HAVE ALL OF THE FEATURES OF THE PRESTIGE LINE.

FESTIVAL &

FESTIVAL & VINTAGE

FESTIVAL: THE MUSICIANS REQUIREMENTS

VINTAGE: THE AMERICAN SOUND OF THE 1950S

Designed in 1987 with the advice of three artists that are

well-known all over the world- Jacques Lancelot, Guy
Deplus and Michel Arrignon - the Festival clarinet meets
the requirements of todays musicians, soloists and teachers
interpreting the widest possible repertoire of works, from
Mozart to Boulez.

The Vintage clarinet was developed and perfected by Ren

Lesieux in 1996. Ren Lesieux was a Master instrument
maker with Buffet Crampon for more than 40 years. The
Vintage, as its name implies, brings to mind the influences
and colours of the 1950s.
Today it is widely appreciated for its fluid and focused tone,
and its homogeneity and ease of response.
The Vintage in A has a specific bore that provides unrivalled
suppleness and remarkable accuracy in all registers, coupled
with a particularly warm sound.

22 Buffet Crampon

The clarinet provides different tones,

each with a distinct character.

& VINTAGE
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Key: Bb, A / Pitch: 440/442 Hz
Features:
Body:
T
 he body is in African blackwood, selected, dried and tested with care
P
 oly-cylindrical bore according to the Buffet Crampon method
D
 elivered with 2 barrels:
66 and 65 mm for Festival
66 mm for Vintage (conical and cylindrical)
Keywork:
1 8 keys, 6 rings (Bb, A)
E
 b lever left hand
F
 orged keys, copper plated then silver plated according
to the Buffet Crampon method
A
 djustable thumb rest
B
 lue steel springs for ease and accuracy of key movement
Pads:
1 00% waterproof material (GT)
Case:
L
 eather

REFERENCES
FESTIVAL & VINTAGE
FESTIVAL
Bb 440/442: BC1139L / Green LinE BC1139GL
A 440/442: BC1239L / Green LinE BC1239GL
VINTAGE
Bb 440/442: BC1131LV
A 440/442: BC1231LV

Buffet Crampon 23

RC & R13
RC & R13

RC: PURITY OF SOUND, SWEETNESS OF COLOUR

R13: HARMONY AND FLEXIBILITY

Developed in 1975 by Robert Carre, whose initials this

family of instruments bears, the RC clarinet is characterized
by a focused purity of sound. The ease of response and
stability in all registers is a result of the specific design of
this bore. The RCs considerably flexibility has conquered
the hearts and minds of many musicians all over Europe.

This clarinet is one of Buffet Crampons historic models.

Created in 1955 by Robert Carre, the R13 clarinet was a
big hit in the United States and still meets with unprecedented
success. 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.

24 Buffet Crampon

Rich, expressive sounds with all the warmth

and softness it takes to convey
the emotion of music.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Key: Bb, A / Pitch: 440/442 Hz
Features:
Body:
C
 arefully selected, treated, stained African Blackwood or
in Green LinE
P
 oly-cylindrical bore according to
the Buffet Crampon method
Keywork:
1 7 or 18 keys, 6 rings (Bb, A)
E
 b Lever left hand option
A
 djustable thumb rest enabling the use of a neck strap.
S
 ilver plated according to the Buffet Crampon method
N
 ickel silver keywork available for R13
B
 lue steel springs for ease and accuracy of key movement
Pads:
S
 uperior quality double fish skin
Case:
L
 eather

REFERENCES
RC
Bb 440: BC1111
Bb 440 with Eb: BC1111L
A 440: BC1211
A 440 with Eb: BC1211L
Bb 442:
BC1113 /
Green LinE
BC1113G
Bb 442 with Eb: BC1113L /
Green LinE
BC1113GL
R13
Bb 440 nickel:
Green LinE
A 440 nickel:
Bb 440 silver:
Green LinE
A 440 silver:
Green LinE

BC1131-5 /
BC1131G-5
BC1231-5
BC1131-2 /
BC1131G-2
BC1231-2 /
BC1231G-2

A 442: BC1213
A 442 with Eb: BC1212L
Bb 444: BC1112
Bb 444 with Eb: BC1112L
A 444: BC1212
Eb 440/442: BC1512

Bb 440 Eb lever: BC1131L-2 /

Green LinE
BC1131G-5
Ab 440 Eb lever: BC1231L-2

Buffet Crampon 25

The little clarinets vibrate

in a unique way, from the low
notes right up to the high notes.

THE FAMILY OF LI
THE EB, D, C RANGE

THE FAMILY OF LITTLE CLARINETS

Many 20th Century composers have used clarinets in a
higher range than that of the Bb and A for their ability to
stand out in an orchestra and to generate emotion.
Richard Strauss, for example, used a clarinet in D to
represent the merry prankster in Till Eulenspiegel.
Maurice Ravel composed for the clarinet in Eb, in Bolero
and in Daphne and Chloe. The clarinet in C is often used
in a complementary partnership with a clarinet in Bb or A.
Buffet Crampon has developed a complete range of
clarinets. The work on the ergonomic aspects, the position
of the toneholes and the rings, in particular on the Tosca Eb,
come as close to the Bb sound as possible.

Eb

26 Buffet Crampon

Eb Tosca

ITTLE CLARINETS
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Key: Eb, D, C / Pitch: 440/442 Hz
Features:
Body:
S
 elected natural African blackwood or in Green LinE
M
 etal-capped tenons
P
 oly-cylindrical bore according to the Buffet Crampon
method
Keywork:
1 7 keys, 6 rings (Eb, D, C)
A
 djustable thumb rest
Pads:
1 00% waterproof material(GT) and in double fish skin
Case:
L
 eather

REFERENCES
TOSCA
Eb:

BC1550L / Green LinE BC1550GL

RC PRESTIGE
D 440/442: BC1407
Eb 440/442: BC1507 / Green LinE BC1507G
C 440/442: BC1607
RC
Eb 440/442: BC1512
R13
Eb 440:

BC1531

Buffet Crampon 27

CONSER

C12 & E13

IN CONCERT WITH THE MAJOR PLAYERS

Each school of music has its own instrumental character.
The German school favours a full and focused woody
sound, while the French school of wind instruments
cultivates vigour and fluidity, and beauty in the model.
Buffet Crampon has contributed in a material way to the
creation of the modern clarinet and the founding of
high-quality interpretation.
It has also played a preponderant role in developing teaching
methods, accompanying an illustrious line of teachers that
have graduated from the best music conservatories in the
world.
The C12 and E13 clarinets were developed for most students
who are preparing for a career as a professional musician
and whose technical level has exceeded the quality of their
first instrument.
Made entirely in grenadilla wood, these clarinets give these
musicians their first sensations as a soloist.

28 Buffet Crampon

The tone of a clarinet?

the same as a rainbow.

VATOIRE
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Key: Bb, A / Pitch: 440/442 Hz
Features:
Body:
S
 tained African blackwood
Keywork:
1 7 keys, 6 rings
1 8 keys option for E13 model
S
 ilver plated
E
 asy and accurate keywork action
A
 djustable thumb rest enabling the use of a neck strap
B
 lue steel springs for ease and accuracy
of key movement
Screwed pillars
Pads:
S
 uperior quality double fish skin
Case:
L
 eather or backpack

REFERENCES
C12
Bb 440:
BC1136C
Bb 442:
BC1134C
Bb 442: BC1102
E13
Bb 442 :
A :442 :

Bb 442 Eb lever: BC1102L

A 442: BC1202

BC1102 (availbale with Eb option)

BC1202

Buffet Crampon 29

THEY SAY A BUFFET CRAMPON CLARINETS SOUND IS RECOGNIZABLE. FULL AND WARM
ARE THE ADJECTIVES MOST OFTEN USED TO DESCRIBE IT. THIS SOUND HAS BECOME
A SORT OF TRADEMARK THAT IS ALSO PRESENT IN THE STUDENT INSTRUMENTS.

E12F
E12F

E12F: THE NEW STANDARD FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Developed through the industrial synergy between our Research &

Development arm and our production facilities based in France and
Germany, the new E12F student clarinet arrived on the
European market in September 2012, just in time for the musicians
school year.
Its body is derived from professional models and made in
Buffet Crampons French workshops; the key assembly and quality
control are carried out by our German teams in Markneukirchen.
Ease of play, reliability and accurate tuning are the main characteristics of
this new Buffet Crampon clarinet.
The E12F: setting the new standard for young musicians.

Key: Bb / Pitch: 442 Hz

Features:
Body:
Unstained African Blackwood, treated and lacquered
for optimal protection
A new concept developed with Buffet Crampon expertise
Keywork:
17 keys , 6 rings
18 keys option
Adjustable thumb rest enabling the use of a neck strap
Forged keys, copper plated then silver plated according to
the Buffet Crampon method
Blue steel springs for ease and accuracy of key movement
Screwed pillars
Pads:
leather
Case:
Backpack

REFERENCES
E12F
Bb: BC2512F
(availbale with Eb option)

30 Buffet Crampon

The French school is characterized by a certain fluidity,

a clarity of tone and its phrasing in the musical line.

E11
E11

Eb

E11: THE FIRST PERFORMANCE

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

E11 Eb: In order to make the most of the tone of the entire
range of clarinets in concert orchestras, composers are
increasingly turning to the clarinet in Eb. Buffet Crampon
has developed a student model of a clarinet in Eb in
grenadilla wood. Its bore facilitates its ease of response, and
this instrument, known as a specialized instrument, is
becoming accessible to all musicians.
The E11 in C model is extremely comfortable for small
hands, and therefore is an ideal instrument for younger
players. Teachers recommend this clarinet as it facilitates
learning embouchure. The mouthpiece is identical to the
mouthpiece of a Bb clarinet. Its ergonomic design has been
specially conceived for younger musicians.

Key: Eb, C / Pitch: 442 Hz

Features:
Body:
Stained African Blackwood,
treated and lacquered for optimal protection
Keywork:
17 keys, 6 rings
Metal rings
Adjustable thumb rest
Silver plated keywork
Blue steel springs for ease and accuracy
of key movement
Pads:
Double fish skin

REFERENCES
E11
Eb: BC2301 barrel 42,2 mm
C: BC2201 barrel 46,5 mm

Buffet Crampon 31

The expressive power of the clarinet

makes it receptive to all styles and all time periods.

ETUDE
B12 & B10

STUDENT B12 & B10

B12: BUFFET CRAMPON QUALITY WITHIN REACH

The first notes, the first feelings, are essential to a players

development. They play a vital role in the acoustic sensitivity
and progress of a young musician. The Buffet Crampon line
of student clarinets is designed and developed with the input
of teachers who are highly conscious of the expectations
beginners have and the steps necessary to ensure their
progress.
The ergonomic design and weight of these instruments are
conceived for young clarinettists. The instrument is made
entirely of ABS resin, as this material has true tone qualities
and ease of response. The sound is fully focused in all
registers.
Easy to play, the B12 and B10 clarinets are lightweight,
resistant to handling and easy to clean.

The first touch and first notes are crucial

moments in the life of a young musician.
The B12 has been a reference in this area for
several
years
now.
It
was
conceived
and
developed
alongside
teachers
who
specialise
in early learning and the evolution of young clarinettists.
Lightweight and easy to care for, its ABS
resin body allows the instrument to withstand
outdoor use, for example in marching bands or wind
orchestras.
The B12 clarinet is remarkably free blowing and has
excellent intonation.

32 Buffet Crampon

Plastic body rings

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

B10

B12 & B10 CLARINET

The B10 clarinet has a buffed finish. The bell without

ring and the black plastic body rings keep it lightweight.
The sealing is of high quality due to the use of synthetic
skin pads.

Key: Bb / Pitch: 442 Hz

Features:
Body:
A BS resin, resistant and stable
Bell ring for B12 model
Without bell ring for B10 model
Keywork:
Boehm system
17 keys, 6 rings
Silver plated for B12 model
Nickel plated for B10 model
Adjustable thumb rest enabling the use of a neck strap.
Pads:
Double fish skin pads for B12 model
Synthetic pads for B10 model
Case:
Backpack for B12 model

REFERENCES
B12: BC2540
B10: BC2537

Buffet Crampon 33

PROFESSIONAL CLARINETS
DIVINE

TOSCA

RC
PRESTIGE

R13
PRESTIGE

FESTIVAL

VINTAGE

RC

R13

Bb / A

Bb / A

Bb / A / Eb / D / C

Bb / A

Bb / A

Bb / A

Bb / A / Eb

Bb / A / Eb

65 and 66

65 and 66

65/66

65/66

65 and 66

65 and 66

Bb / Eb

440 / 442

440 and 442

440

440 / 442

Model
Key
Natural Grenadilla wood
Stained Grenadilla wood
Barrel (in mm)
Available in Green LinE
Pitch

440 / 442

64,5/65/66
Bb

Bb / A

440

440 and 442 an d

444

440

Bb / A

Bb / A

ABS resin
Bell with ring
Adjustable thumb rest
Nickel plated keywork
Silver plated keywork
Gold plated keywork on request
Eb lever (standard)

Bb / A

Eb lever (option)
Metal rings

Low F correction key

Raised C# - G# tone hole

Caps on tenons

GT / Cork

GT / Cork

GT / leather

GT / leather

GT / leather

GT / leather

double fish skin

double fish skin

Carbon wire

Pads
Blue steel springs
Delivered in case with mouthpiece,
ligature, reeds and accessories

34 Buffet Crampon

STUDENT CLARINETS
C12

E13

E12F

E11

B12

B10

BC1134C

BC1136C

BC1102

BC1202

BC2512F

BC2301

BC2201

BC2540

BC2537

Bb

Bb

Bb

Bb

Eb

Bb

Bb

65

66

65

65

65

42,2

46,5

65

65

442

440

442

442

442

442

442

442

442

double fish skin double fish skin double fish skin double fish skin

leather

double fish skin double fish skin double fish skin double fish skin

Buffet Crampon 35

THE MODERN BASSET CLARINET, DESIGNED WITH ALL OF THE PERFECTED ELEMENTS OF THE
BOEHM SYSTEM DEVELOPED BY BUFFET CRAMPON, ENABLES CLARINETTISTS TO PLAY CONCERTOS
AND QUINTETS AS THEY WERE COMPOSED AND DESIGNED TO BE PLAYED BY MOZART.

BASS

BASSET A AND BASSET HORN

THE A BASSET CLARINET AND THE BASSET HORN

36 Buffet Crampon

Although the clarinet was invented at the end of the 17th

century, it had to wait many years before being adopted
into the orchestra. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has
composed some of the most beautiful compositions ever
written for this instrument.
Anton Stadler is probably the first clarinettist to have
played the instrument that is the precursor of the A basset
and basset horn. Its range was greater by a major third
toward the lower notes and its sound was unique and sweet.
This clarinet is in A but descends to a low C.
The basset horn, in the same spirit, is an instrument touched
by magic and in many shades. It was magnificently adopted
by Mozart, and the great contemporary composers,
including Boulez and Stockhausen, have written music for
this instrument, whose sound is balanced and luminous.
These remarkably designed instruments are made of
grenadilla wood and finished with the Buffet Crampon
Prestige finish.
The modern basset clarinet, designed with all of the
perfected elements of the Boehm system developed by
Buffet Crampon, enables clarinettists to play concertos and
quintets as they were conceived and imagined by Mozart.

The basset A provides a means of

expression for the entire range of feelings.

SET A
Basset A

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Key: A (basset A) / F (basset horn)
Pitch: 442 Hz
Features:
Body:
Natural African Blackwood
Down to C
Simplified Bb
Basset horn with low G resonance, Eb-Ab lever,
double D spatula, adjustable neck
Keywork:
Forged keys, copper plated then silver plated
Gold plated keywork on request
Metal-capped tenons
Blue steel springs for ease and accuracy
of key movement
Pads:
Basset A: 100% waterproof material (GT)
Basset horn: leather and cork

REFERENCES
BASSET A:

BC1223

BASSET HORN: BC1723

Basset horn

Buffet Crampon 37

The clarinet of experience,

the colour of maturity.

PRESTIGE
1193

PRESTIGE BASS CLARINETS

The bass clarinet is the instrument of the 21st Century. It is
often played by orchestra musicians in operas, due to its
capacity to play pianissimo in expressive melodies. It can
also play swing and is not limited to a single kind of music.
Sumptuous pages of music have been written for it.
The Prestige bass clarinet is also a solo instrument. All
major orchestra clarinettists have played the bass clarinet.
The BC1183 Prestige model is perfectly adapted to the
experienced amateur and the ensemble musician. Its tone is
rich, homogenous and focused.
The Prestige BC1193 bass clarinet is a perfect representative
of Buffet Crampons savoir-faire at its highest level. It has an
Eb/Ab lever and a low G resonance key, and is equipped
with a double D spatula and a triple D spatula.
Both of these clarinets, which have evolved and been
perfected over many years of research and testing, possess
the signature tone of Buffet Crampon instruments and have
a warm, full timbre. They both have a neck in two parts for
greater comfort without stress or stiffness.

38 Buffet Crampon

Buffet Crampon is the standard brand of reference for the

bass clarinet and offers these two professional models in a
choice of grenadilla wood or the Green LinE composite
material.

1183
1183

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Key: Bb / Pitch: 440 / 442 Hz
Features:
Body:
Low G resonance
Eb/Ab lever
BC1193 down to C, double D Spatula, triple D Spatula
BC1183 down to Eb
Adjustable thumb rest
Double register mechanism
Two-piece adjustable neck
Body in selected natural African Blackwood
Silver-plated German silver bell
Keywork:
Forged keys, copper plated then silver
Gold plated keywork on request
Metal-capped tenons
Blue steel springs for ease and accuracy of key movement
Pads:
Leather and cork

REFERENCES
PRESTIGE: BC1193 / Green LinE BC1193G
PRESTIGE: BC1183 / Green LinE BC1183G

Buffet Crampon 39

ALTO
1503 ALTO

ALTO AND CONTRA-ALTO CLARINETS

1503 ALTO

Created in the frenzy of the 19th Century and already

present at that time in the Buffet Crampon catalogue, these
clarinets have a fundamental place in concert orchestras.
They shine in all sorts of repertoires, including contemporary
music.
They can be found in small clarinet groups, concert
ensembles or symphonies.

Perfectly balanced in colour and timbre, the alto clarinet is

known for its ease of response. It produces a warm and
powerful tone due to its wide bore.

Adjustable neck

40 Buffet Crampon

CONTRA-ALTO
1553 CONTRA-ALTO

1553 CONTRA-ALTO

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

This clarinet has a beautiful rich sound. Affiliated with the

Buffet sound, its timbre is rich and deep. It creates
multiple sumptuous blends when combines with bassoons
and bass clarinets.

Key: Eb / Pitch: 442 Hz

Features:
Body:
Eb/Ab lever
Adjustable thumb rest
Alto with simplified Bb,
Contra-alto with double register
mechanism, two-piece adjustable neck
Body in selected natural African Blackwood
Silver-plated German silver bell
Keywork:
Forged keys, copper plated then silver
plated as for Prestige
Metal-capped tenons
Blue steel springs for ease
and accuracy of key movement
Pads:
Leather and cork

REFERENCES
Alto: BC1503
Contra-alto: BC1553

Buffet Crampon 41

STUDENT
BC1180

STUDENT BASS CLARINET

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Entirely relooked to offer young students and

amateur players an instrument providing thrilling
sensations in the lowest notes which are the pillars of
harmony, the BC 1180 is sure to suit every musical style.

Key: Bb / Pitch: 440 / 442 Hz

Features:
Body:
Down to Eb
Adjustable thumb rest
Selected and treated grenadilla wood
Silver-plated bell and neck
Keywork:
18 keys
Silver-plated keywork
Blue steel springs for ease and accuracy of key movement
New and re-conceptualized simplified
register key system
Pivot screw
Rubber bumper
REFERENCE
Pads:
Leather with resonators
BC1180
Case:
Light and compact

This clarinet facilitates the jump between intervals without

risk thanks to its new and reconceptualized simplified
register key system. Its wide, homogeneous sound palette
and extremely fluid Legato allow the musician to experiment
with every acoustic or technical idea imaginable.
As the only student bass clarinet made from selected
and treated grenadilla wood from Mozambique,
delivered in a compact, lightweight case, the new
Buffet Crampon 1180 stands out from all others
thanks to the quality of its manufacture, its remarkable
intonation, timbre and overall comfort. It sets itself as
the global standard for student bass clarinets.

42 Buffet Crampon

HARMONY CLARINETS

Key

BASSET A

BASSET HORN

BC1223

BC1723

BC1183

BC1193

BC1503

BC1553

BC1180

Bb

Bb

Eb

Eb

Bb

To Eb

PRESTIGE BASS

CONTRA-ALTO STUDENT BASS

To C

Pitch

442

442

442

442

442

442

442

Upper and lower joint in natural Grenadilla wood

Screw

Cork

Cork

Screw

Wood

Metal

Metal

Metal

Metal

Metal

Mtal

Available in Green LinE

African blackwood
Simplified Bb
Double register mechanism

Low G resonance
Eb/Ab lever
Double D spatula
Triple D spatula
Adjustable thumb rest
Silver plated keywork
Gold plated keywork (on specific demand)

Metal tenon rings

Pads with resonators
Leather and cork pads

GT pads
Two-piece neck
Adjustable neck
Blue steel springs
Bell
Delivered in case with mouthpiece,
ligature, reeds and accessories

ALTO

Buffet Crampon 43

CHOOSING AN INSTRUMENT TAKES PARTICULAR CARE, AND WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU COMPARE
TONES, ORIGINS OF MANUFACTURE, QUALITIES, AND FINISHING TOUCHES. FINDING THE CLARINET
THAT CORRESPONDS TO YOUR NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS ALSO INVOLVES CHOOSING THE
ACCESSORIES THAT ARE INDISPENSABLE TO THE CARE AND PRACTICE OF THE INSTRUMENT.

ACCESSORIES
ACCESSORIES

A RANGE OF CAREFULLY SELECTED PRODUCTS

All of the Buffet Crampon clarinets are delivered in a case
with a mouthpiece and its mouthpiece cap, a ligature, a reed,
a pull-through swab and a tube of grease.
Buffet Crampon has selected its line of accessories with
great care. Some of them, such as the mouthpiece, the
ligature, the reed, the barrel and the tuning rings, directly
condition the timbre and precision of the instrument. Others,
like the thumb rest, non-slip cushions and straps, provide
comfort while playing.
We recommend that you develop a regular routine of care
for your clarinet.
Buffet Crampon swabs are specifically adapted to the bore
of your clarinet. They have been perfected during
manufacturing and tested by professionals.
Simple or double cases and a choice of light, practical
protective cases are also offered. Made in the traditional
fashion in wood or thermo-form materials, they will protect
your instrument efficiently. Whether a professional or a
beginner, your instrument is valuable, because of all that
you share with it.
Take good care of it.
To receive a complete list of available accessories, please
send your request to: accessories@buffet-group.com
44 Buffet Crampon

MOUTHPIECES

MOUTHPIECE CAPS AND LIGATURES

BARRELS

TOSCA CASE

SIMPLE AND DOUBLE CASES

BACKPACK

STANDS

STRAPS

TUBES OF CORK GREASE

SWABS

THUMB RESTS

Buffet Crampon 45

THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD OF REFERENCE FOR CLARINETS SINCE 1825, BUFFET CRAMPONS
AMBITION IS TO BRING ALL INSTRUMENTS IN THE WOODWIND FAMILY TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
ITS EXCEPTIONAL SAVOIR-FAIRE IS REPRESENTATIVE OF A LIVING HERITAGE THAT HAS BEEN
RECOGNIZED AND PROTECTED. THE PERSONALITY OF ITS SOUND IS A SIGNATURE THAT IS
REMARKABLE AND SOUGHT AFTER. LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, COUNTLESS MUSICIANS
DEVELOP A STRONG ATTACHMENT TO OUR INSTRUMENTS, DEMONSTRATED BY UNFAILING LOYALTY
TO OUR BRAND AND AN AFFECTIONATE RESPECT FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO CONTINUE
TO PRODUCE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH A PRIORITY ON TRADITIONAL VALUES. WELCOME
TO THE BUFFET CRAMPON FAMILY.

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT MOMENTS IN OUR HISTORY

1825

1836

1844

The French instrument maker Denis

BuffetAuger sets up his workshop in the
heart of Paris, at 20 Passage du Grand Cerf.
He rapidly becomes well-known in the
musical community by producing excellent
13-key clarinets.

Jean-Louis Buffet, Denis

son, marries Zoe Crampon in
1836 and creates the famous
Buffet Crampon brand name.

The logo used today is

first created. It appears
on all of the instruments
created by the company.

1850

1866

1889

This year saw 1the establishment of the

Buffet Crampon workshops and factory in
Mantes-la-Ville (Yvelines, France) and
creation of the Buffet Crampon Boehm
system clarinet.

Buffet Crampon creates its

first saxophones, 20 years
after the invention of this
instrument by the Belgian
Adolphe Sax.

Buffet Crampon wins

a number of awards at the
Universal Exposition
in Paris.

1918

1955

Buffet Crampon makes the most

of the expansion of the American
market and confirms its position
as world leader of manufacturers
of professional-quality clarinets.

Robert Carre joins Buffet

Crampon as an apprentice in 1921.
He is a talented acoustics technician
and the creator of the R13 model.

1975

The year was marked by the arrival of the RC

clarinet, which bore the initials of its designer,
Robert Carre.
Two clarinets whose origins
3
lie with this model later came into being, the
Festival and Prestige models. The Prestige
line is deployed in all ranges.

1981

1994

Buffet Crampon becomes a member of the famous Boosey

& Hawkes group of London. This group was created in
1760. The workshops modernized over time, adapting their
technology to current developments, but always
maintaining the original high standard for finishing work.

Buffet Crampon creates the Green LinE and registers the brand
name. It designed a range of instruments made from a composite of
reconstituted ebony from Mozambique that keep 100% of the
acoustic properties and provide incontestable reliability and
longevity for the instruments.

46 Buffet Crampon

1 Buffet Workshop, Goumas, Evette & Schaeffer in 1907, Passage du Grand cerf - Paris. - 2 Buffet Crampon clarinet, Boehm System 1850. - 3 1880, workshop in Mantes-la-Ville.

Buffet Crampons history is marked by a number of moments

and events that reflect its desire to innovate.

T MOMENTS
2004

2005

The year saw the creation of the line of professional clarinets

referred to as TOSCA, another child of the R13 family,
conceived and designed by Michel Arrignon and perfected
in cooperation with the best-known musicians.

The year was marked by the creation of the eponymous

group Buffet Crampon. The brand name benefited from an
upswing in investments. Ever seeking to meet the needs
and expectations of professional musicians,
Buffet Crampon extended its know-how and its range of
saxophones, double reeds (and notably the English horn),
and to its student models.

2006

2010

The Buffet Crampon Group acquires two famous brass

instrument brands: Antoine Courtois Paris (created in
1803) and Besson (created in 1837).

The company continues to pursue its strategy of industrial

independence, and through a new acquisition of a factory in
Germany (Markneukirchen), it is able to produce student
models of oboes and clarinets. The group, under the leadership
of its Chairman, Antoine Beaussant, continues to grow in the
wind instruments sector, with the entry into the group of two
new brands: Wenzel Schreiber (clarinets and bassoons) and
Julius Keilwerth (saxophones).

2012

2013

The Buffet Crampon Group becomes Buffet Group. This

new identity brings together all group brands with one
single vision, to be the Global Reference in Wind
Instruments. After five years of a collaboration between
the Buffet Crampon Research and Development team and
a group comprising testers, masters and soloists from
renowned international orchestras, to attain the level of
excellence, the new professional clarinet "Divine" comes.

Buffet Group acquires B&S GmbH, a German

family-controlled company founded 250 years ago wich is
the leading German music instrument manufacturer. B&S,
Hans Hoyer, Melton Meinl Weston and J. Scherzer joined the
other brands of Buffet Group.

4 Factory of Markneukirchen in Germany.

Buffet Crampon 47

www.buffet-crampon.com

Photo credi t s: Denis Gl ik sman Design : A l l Content s - L ayou t : Bu f fe t Crampon S . A .S

Catalog Re ference Bu f fe t Crampon cl arine t s: l 0 16

CLARINETS

5 , R U E M A U R I C E B E R T E A U X 7 87 1 1 M A N T E S - L A-V I L L E - F R A N C E
T: +33 (0)1 30 98 51 30 F: +33 (0)1 34 78 79 02
W W W. B U F F E T- G R O U P. C O M