
Buffet R13 Professional Clarinet – Silver Keys
also available in Nickel Keys – click here
The Buffet R13 is the “legendary choice of professionals”. It is the most popular professional clarinet that has ever existed. Noted for its wonderful tone, intonation and responsiveness, just about every major clarinetist has played on or is currently playing on a Buffet R13 clarinet.
The Buffet R13 is also a very versatile and customizable platform. Using different barrels and/or bells, a player can transform the Buffet R13 platform in to their perfect, custom clarinet!
Additional Information
Barrel for a Buck!
Get better value from your Buffet R13 clarinet with the KesslerMusic “Barrel for a Buck” program. Any professional clarinet barrel that we sell can be added on to your Buffet R13 for only $1 more!
Click on the barrel names to read more about each barrel’s performance on the Buffet R13:
This is one of our best sellers as it stays very much in line with the modern Buffet R13 style of sound. It is a bit more open than the stock barrel which helps produce a bigger & richer tone throughout the whole range of the clarinet. It requires very little difference in terms of additional breath support which makes it ideal for the heavy majority of players. The wood on the Chadash is unstained so it will be slightly different in appearance than the stained wood of the Buffet R13.
Similar to the Chadash in terms of tonal improvement, but simply bigger in sound. The Moennig barrel is for the player who wants as BIG of a Buffet sound as possible. However this means that the player needs more air and extremely good breath support as the upper register’s performance is more difficult due to the increased air requirement. Unstained wood.
Released in 2013, it has quickly become our best selling Buffet barrel for the Buffet R13 as it offers a new style of performance not commonly found on Buffet clarinets. The ICON barrel brings in an additional focus & center to the sound (also sometimes referred to as “core”) that is somewhat reminiscent of the vintage Selmer Paris clarinets but maintains the Buffet style of sound. Many players find the ICON barrel gives impressive intonation and response throughout the range. For more information, read the blog post that professional player David Blumberg wrote for Dave Kessler’s Music Blog.
This is Dave Kessler’s personal favorite in tone on the modern Buffet R13. The MoBa barrels were designed in collaboration with Morrie Backun and Ricardo Morales. We find the MoBa barrel design to give the feel and response like the Chadash but with a sound that is bigger, more in line with the Moennig; an impressive blend of tone, projection and response. The MoBa barrel is available in either Grenadilla or Cocobolo wood.
The Grenadilla version gives great core and warmth to the tone. More reminiscent of the early Buffet R13 models from the late 50’s & 60’s.
The Cocobolo wood is lighter in weight than the Grenadilla which yields excellent response. The downside to this is that it does give a lighter overall timbre to the sound of the clarinet.
The Backun Fatboy model offers excellent tonal center and incredible control throughout the range of the Buffet R13! Tones come out clean and quick but with a richer tone than other similar performing barrels. It is more focused than the MoBa barrel but still more open with greater tonal presence than the stock Buffet R13 barrel. Available in either Grenadilla or Cocobolo wood.
The Grenadilla version gives a richer core to the tone. More in line with the “Buffet Sound” concept.
The Cocobolo wood is lighter in weight than the Grenadilla which yields excellent response. The downside to this is that it does give a lighter overall timbre to the sound of the clarinet.
Bell Upgrades
Like the barrel, the bell offers another opportunity to upgrade your new Buffet R13 clarinet’s performance! The bell can impact the clarinet in all of the range, not just the lower end of the clarinet. The bell is responsible for regulating and maintaining compression to your clarinet’s air column and especially when paired with an upgraded barrel, yields huge performance benefits!
Click on the bell names to read more about each bell’s performance on the Buffet R13:
The ICON bell is significantly lighter in overall weight than the stock bell (about 30% lighter). It has a tighter mid section to the bore of the bell which will improve the compression to the air column in the body, forcing more air out of the toneholes of the clarinet. This leads to improved response. However, we really only recommend this bell when paired with the ICON Barrel. The combination of the ICON Bell with the ICON Barrel is truly greater than the sum of their parts. It greatly amplifies the overall performance characteristics from the ICON Barrel.
This is Dave Kessler’s personal favorite in tone on the modern Buffet R13. It brings in more resonance throughout the whole range of the clarinet and helps improve intonation and response throughout! A shorter bell with a more open throat, the MoBa is rich and full in the lower register while helping with low F intonation. The voicing groove design helps improve compression in the instrument yielding better response and power over the break and in the upper register.
The Grenadilla version gives great core and warmth to the tone. More reminiscent of the early Buffet R13 models from the late 50’s & 60’s.
The Cocobolo wood is lighter in weight than the Grenadilla which yields excellent response. The downside to this is that it does give a lighter overall timbre to the sound of the clarinet.
The Backun Traditional model bell offers excellent tonal center and incredible control throughout the range of the Buffet R13! It is more focused than the MoBa bell (more in line with the stock Buffet style of tonal presence) but still gives improved response and attack throughout the Buffet R13 range. Available in either Grenadilla or Cocobolo wood.
The Grenadilla version gives great core to the tone.
The Cocobolo wood is lighter in weight than the Grenadilla which yields excellent response. The downside to this is that it does give a lighter overall timbre to the sound of the clarinet.
Professional Setup
Every Buffet R13 clarinet we send out to a customer is not released from us unless it has been completely setup in our shop first. This is because the setup on the Buffet R13 clarinet is of the utmost importance! Sometimes, a clarinet (regardless of who the manufacturer or the price point is) comes in needing 20 minutes of adjustments and then the very next one can require 2 hours!
This is why we perform our setup (in our www.ClarinetRepairs.com ProShop) on your clarinet before delivering it to you. You trust us with your purchase and we want to make sure that you are rewarded by giving you your new Buffet R13 clarinet setup flawlessly!
Bore | Buffet-Crampon Polycylindrical Bore w/Under-Cut Toneholes |
Pitch | Bb |
Material | Stained and Treated Grenadilla Wood |
Pads | Double Skin Traditional Pads |
Key Style | Silver Plated |
Mouthpiece | Buffet Stock Mouthpiece |
Barrel | Buffet Stock R13 Barrel – 66mm |
Case | R13 Series Pro Case |
Warranty | Buffet Warranty & Kessler 1 Year Shop Warranty |
Financing Available
12 Month, 0% Interest Financing!
Purchase your new Buffet R13 from Kessler & Sons using United Midwest Savings Bank and receive special 12 Month, 0% Interest Financing!
Click Here for more information on financing program details and to apply!
12 Month, 0% Financing Option Available on New Instrument at Advertised New Price Only. Cannot be combined with “Barrel for a Buck”. Full details on financing page. Does not apply towards Store Used Demos or Used Instruments. Demos and Used models can still be financed under standard terms.