Vintage Buffet R13 - barrel help

[Flowerchild76]

Hi all,

New poster here. I recently purchased a vintage Buffet R-13 (Serial #110xxx) as a step-up for my DC. Everything looks and sounds great but for the barrel, which is wood and looks like it matches the rest of the instrument but there are NO markings/stamps on it. Am I to assume, then, it isn't the original? I suppose it doesn't matter but I am curious. Thank you all in advance!

[brigaltman]

Your assumption is correct. Wood barrels can warp over time. Having a replacement barrel is not uncommon. If you're happy with the performance of the instrument, you're all set. If not, try some other barrels. Have you checked to see if it plays in tune? You may want to get a shorter or longer barrel.

[Flowerchild76]

That is great information, thank you! So far, we are very happy with it. I will consider other barrels at some point, surely. For the time being, it seems to play in tune so it's off to new musical adventures!

[DaveLeBlanc]

On any given wooden clarinet, the barrel is the most likely to crack completely through. Can't tell you how many woods I've gone through where the body is relatively decent, but the barrel looks like George Washington got to it with his cleaver.