Buffet Crampon · Professional · R13 · 1955–present
Robert Carrée joined Buffet Crampon as an apprentice in 1921 and became its acoustician, and Buffet credits him with the R13, which it dates to 1955. Some histories, including English Wikipedia, put it as early as 1950. Its poly-cylindrical bore, a mix of cylindrical and conical sections, gives the focused tone, rich in harmonics, and the projection that made it Buffet's flagship in the United States. Buffet says it's the oldest model in its catalog and still its best seller, and a Buffet USA specialist wrote in 2017 that most orchestral players and university professors play one. It's stained grenadilla with 17 keys and 6 rings, usually silver-plated, and Buffet makes its professional clarinets in Mantes-la-Ville. A family grew around it, including the Prestige with selected wood, the Festival, the Vintage and, from 2004, the Tosca. Green Line versions, made since 1994 from grenadilla powder bound in resin, are built to resist cracking. Carrée also designed the RC in the 1970s, named with his initials. Buffet's current R13 kit lists a ligature and cap but no mouthpiece, so don't count on one in a used case.
This is a professional clarinet, though Buffet notes that some teachers start serious students on one. For most families it's the clarinet for a committed high schooler or college player, bought after the wood and pads check out.
Build and caseR13
Cracks are the big risk on a wooden R13, usually from fast temperature changes or moisture left in the bore, and a crack through a tone hole needs inserts as well as pins. Fakes exist, and Buffet USA's chief executive says some carry an R13 stamp that real R13s don't have.
More on this in our clarinet buying guide.
Buying guide
We'd buy an R13 titled overhauled or repadded, like the 1974 with all new leather pads and a full case kit at $2,118 delivered, or pay $1,500 for the French-made one with its serial in the title and budget for a technician. There are at least 88 for sale, mostly asking $1,800–2,450 delivered, while new ones ask about $4,067. It's a professional clarinet for a committed high schooler or college player, and cracks are the big risk, so ask for close photos of the upper joint and joint ends and whether it's ever been pinned. Skip the zero-feedback sellers asking $1,850–3,064, and the Mopane-wood one at $4,199, about twice the median.
$1,118.85est. delivered
The lowest delivered R13 here at $1,119, titled 1960s, from a US seller with 99.6% feedback, with the case in the photo. It isn't titled serviced, so budget for a technician to check the pads and look for cracks.
Vintage 1960’s Buffet Crampon R13 Clarinet Master Model
$1,500.00delivered
Titled French-made with its serial number, at $1,500 delivered from a 100% seller, well under the band, and a mouthpiece is in the photo. Ask for close shots of the upper joint and tenons for cracks before you buy.
Buffet Crampon R13 Bb professional wood clarinet, French Made, Serial # 64191
$2,118.10est. delivered
Titled 1974 with all new white kid leather pads, and the photo shows the case with a mouthpiece and care kit, so it should play as it arrives, as the seller claims. At $2,118 delivered it's inside the band.
1974 Buffet Crampon R13 Clarinet--All New White Kid Leather Pads! Gorgeous!
$1,538.99est. delivered
Titled 1950s, from the R13's first decade, with its case and an O'Brien crystal mouthpiece, at $1,539 delivered, under the band. The date is the seller's claim, so ask for photos of the serial on each joint.
1950s Vintage Buffet R13 Bb clarinet W/Case Sn#46765 O’Brien Crystal Mouthpiece
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$1,118.85est. delivered
$1,100.00 + $18.85 shipping
Buy It Now$1,100.00
Good buy
Titled 1960s Master Model. Case in the photo, no service claim.
Seller: nationalpawnpa
99.6% positive
Used$1,500.00delivered
$1,500.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$1,500.00
Good buy
Titled French made, serial 64191. Mouthpiece in the photo.
Seller: texasrph14
100% positive
Serviced$2,118.10est. delivered
$2,099.00 + $19.10 shipping
Buy It Now$2,099.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled 1974, all new white kid leather pads. Case kit in the photo.
Seller: ashanteemusic
99.7% positive
Used$1,538.99est. delivered
$1,499.00 + $39.99 shipping
Buy It Now$1,499.00
Good buy
Titled 1950s, with case and an O'Brien crystal mouthpiece.
Seller: maestromerchandise
100% positive
Serviced$1,844.44delivered
$1,844.44 · free shipping
Buy It Now$1,844.44
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled new pads and plays amazing. From a clarinet repairer.
Seller: clarinetstation
100% positive
Serviced$1,940.00est. delivered
$1,895.00 + $45.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,895.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled pro overhaul. Mouthpiece in the photo, no case shown.
Seller: lrv1995
100% positive
Used$1,850.00est. delivered
$1,750.00 + $100.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,750.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Zero feedback, with $100 shipping. Pay only through eBay checkout.
Seller: dracoe
No feedback yet
Used$4,199.00delivered
$4,199.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$4,199.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Titled Mopane wood, not the usual grenadilla, at about twice the median. Staged photo.
Seller: dwight8941
100% positive
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