Buffet Crampon professional clarinets can be approached not only through their position within the range, but also through their acoustic design concepts. This makes it possible to distinguish three major families: the R13 family, the RC family, and a third, more recent family.

We invite you on this page to explore the three families and the development context of each model. It is a useful starting point for better understanding the diversity of the brand's acoustic concepts before looking more closely at the individual instruments.

Family Overview Table

Each model is individually optimized; this family structure provides a framework for understanding the instruments rather than a hierarchy.

The R13 Family: Focused Sound, Harmonic Richness, and Projection

The R13 family is rooted in the legacy of a bore design concept initiated by Robert Carrée in the 1950s, combining different internal volumes with varying conical and cylindrical characteristics. Over the years, these successive developments were intended to adapt to evolving artistic trends and the needs of musicians. Each refinement aims to enhance tone quality, response, or intonation.

Main Models

• R13 — the reference professional model of this family.
• R13 Prestige — this model retains the characteristics of the iconic R13, enhanced by a selection of natural wood, metal-capped tenons, and a combination of pads made from different materials: GT, leather, and cork.
• Festival — a model redesigned in 2024 to provide improved intonation balance and enhanced projection.
• Tosca — the flagship of the R13 family, designed in 2004 to offer an innovative design, balanced intonation, and an exceptionally even tone.

The RC Family: Warm and Focused Tone, Tonal Consistency, and Responsive Feel

The RC family - named after the initials of Robert Carrée - was introduced in the 1970s and emphasizes a warm, homogeneous tone throughout the full range of the instrument. These characteristics make it an exceptionally versatile clarinet.

Main Models

• RC — the reference professional model of the RC family.
• RC Prestige — the RC Prestige brings the standards of the RC family to their highest level. Designed for professional musicians seeking a grenadilla wood clarinet with uncompromising craftsmanship, it offers refined response and complete control of sound production throughout every register.
• Divine — the Divine is the flagship of the RC family. It represents a major evolution in concert clarinet design: controlled intonation, natural fluidity between registers, and immediate response. A clarinet crafted for the demands of the stage and orchestra performance.

The Third Family: A More Cylindrical Approach

This family brings together more recent models, developed from an approach distinct from the R13 and RC families. It is based on a contemporary reinterpretation of a more cylindrical bore design, whose heritage traces back to the BC20 model developed around 1950 by Robert Carrée, enriched by more recent advances in tone hole design.

Main Models

• Gala — the first step in this family, the Gala is a model derived from the Légende & Tradition lineage, developed to achieve a more versatile balance.
• Tradition — the central model of this family, combining direct resonance response with a pure and warm tone.
• Légende — the flagship of this family, extending the spirit of the Tradition by pursuing an even higher level of acoustic and aesthetic excellence: a velvety tone and a unique resonance.

BCXXI: A New Acoustic Paradigm

BCXXI was developed outside the three previous families, based on its own distinct approach, particularly in the design of the lower register and the overall balance of the instrument. It reflects the expansion of research and development at Buffet Crampon and represents an important model for understanding the evolution of the brand's acoustic concepts.

Glossary

Family — a classification concept grouping certain models according to a shared development philosophy. Models within the same family do not necessarily share an identical bore design, as each instrument is individually optimized according to the desired acoustic balance.

Poly-cylindrical bore — a design concept in which the internal geometry of the instrument is based on the combination of multiple cylindrical and conical sections. At Buffet Crampon, this principle lies at the heart of research into intonation, tone quality, and response.

Response — the speed with which the instrument reacts to sound production and its ability to respond to the player's air support. It is closely related to the sensation of resistance and the ease of articulation.

Projection — the ability of the sound to carry effectively through space, related to the presence and carrying power of the sound in performance situations

Tone hole layout — the organization of the position, size, and spacing of the tone holes within the body of the instrument. A determining factor in intonation accuracy, register consistency, and quality of response.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you choose a model based on its family? The family classification provides a useful framework, but the choice of an instrument should above all be based on the desired playing and tonal characteristics, as well as personal testing. The R13 family tends to emphasize a focused sound, harmonic richness, and projection; the RC family places greater emphasis on warm tone, tonal consistency, and quality of response; while the third family is distinguished by a more direct resonance response and an overall balance between the registers.

Is the R13 family superior to the RC family, or vice versa? No. These are two distinct families corresponding to different tonal approaches. Their suitability varies depending on the player's style and the sound they are seeking - a comparative trial remains the best way to decide.

Do two models within the same family share the same bore design? Not necessarily. Even within the same family, each instrument is subject to specific adjustments according to the desired acoustic balance and response characteristics. The families presented here are intended as interpretive reference points rather than strict manufacturing categories.

To explore further, discover the pages dedicated to each model - or contact an authorized Buffet Crampon dealer to arrange a trial.