Few clarinets have earned the reputation of the Buffet Crampon E13. For more than four decades, it has been the instrument of choice for advancing students, aspiring professionals and serious amateur musicians seeking the unmistakable sound and craftsmanship of Buffet Crampon.
Handcrafted in France from carefully selected African grenadilla wood, the E13 sits at the gateway to Buffet's professional range. Incorporating many of the same design principles and premium materials found in the company's professional instruments, it offers a level of tone, response and refinement that has helped countless players progress through examinations, conservatories, youth orchestras and wind ensembles around the world.
Now featuring a redesigned bell inspired by Buffet's acclaimed RC clarinet, the modern E13 provides enhanced projection, improved focus, and greater tonal consistency throughout its range.
If there is one intermediate clarinet that has become a benchmark against which many others are judged, it's the E13.
For decades, teachers have recommended the E13 to students ready to move beyond an entry-level instrument and experience the benefits of a professional wooden clarinet. The reason is simple: it delivers the unmistakable Buffet sound and playing experience at a point where advancing musicians can genuinely appreciate the difference.
The grenadilla body produces a warmth, richness and complexity that student clarinets simply can't replicate. Notes feel more centred, articulation becomes more refined and the instrument rewards the player with greater dynamic range and tonal colour as their technique develops.
What continues to impress clarinetists is how naturally the E13 supports progression. It's forgiving enough for ambitious secondary students, yet sophisticated enough to remain satisfying well into tertiary studies, community ensembles and advanced amateur performance.
The addition of the RC-style bell has only strengthened its reputation, providing more projection and clarity while maintaining the character that has made the E13 so widely respected.
For many players, the E13 is not just an upgrade; it is the clarinet that opens the next chapter of their musical journey.
