New Buffet “Tradition” Clarinet Released

Buffet Crampon, the pinnacle of world-class clarinet production for 190 years and creator of the revolutionary poly-cylindrical bore design, innovates again this year with a new bore concept.

Inspired by a pre-1950s design while taking into account the needs of modern musical repertoire and performance practice, this brand new cylindrical bore compliments the R13 and RC bore families, adding a new acoustic dimension to the brand’s catalog.

“Le son à l’état pur,” or «Sound at its purest level,» best describes this new instrument. The project was completed with the objective of offering a clarinet in its most natural form, with no unnecessary changes or overstated technology.

The new bore concept traces its inspiration to one of the earliest modern professional clarinets, the fabled Buffet Crampon BC20.

Featuring a cylindrical bore design, the new clarinet harkens back to the purity of sound produced by the BC20, with a tone hole placement inspired by the Tosca design. The result is an instrument that presents a clear, focused, rich sound suitable for any acoustic environment and an even scale for consistent intonation throughout all registers.

These innovations allow the amateur or professional clarinetist to focus on making music, rather than constantly adjusting their embouchure and voicing.

The new clarinet also places its roots firmly in research and development from Buffet Crampon’s American and French Artists. The American team, composed of Buffet Crampon Artists Jonathan Gunn, Burt Hara, Victoria Luperi, Mark Nuccio and Gregory Raden, along with French Artists Michel Arrignon, Nicolas Baldeyrou and Paul Meyer, were united around this project to share their performance experiences as orchestral players and soloists, and world view of the clarinet. And what a result!

Buffet’s panel of American and French Artists were unanimous in the name for this new Buffet Crampon Clarinet: TRADITION