I recently was handed down to me this old Buffet Clarinet. I dont know the exact year, but I believe is was made around the 1970s. One stricking detail (besides needing a good cleaing) is that it features somewhat of a "red wood" In other words, the wood is not the original shiny black. It is wooden. Is there anyway I can get more information on this?

Thankfully, its a buffet, so the serial number can be traced. using your serioal number u can find the date it was produced, and other interesting info such as model, and distinguishing details (buffet has always kept very good records, even recording errors in the manufacturing procss such as a scratch!!
Unfortunantly-it is hard to do this tracing now because the buffet website which use to do it, has not been working for the last year or so. If you eamil me your serial number (dont post -not safe) i have a contact in the milwaukee symphony orchestra who can find out for you from Franciaus (CEO of Buffet)

Byu the way, what you are seeing which u are interpreting as red, is actually the black staining process used on bufet clarinets, its not paint on buffets, its something better its an all natural non toxic grenadilla wood staining process! (i dont iknow the exact name of the process) but it is a very distinguishing factor of buffets and some other fine clarinets (especially on the stage under bright lights ! ) it looks black in normal lighting conditions right?) or in some cases low light conditions)
i hope so otherwise you have a very weird and possibly possesed clarinet (jk)

ANyways, email me ok. We will get to the bottom line of this clarinet of yours lol

Have a good day

Semper Fi,
Scott Sutton

You can contact the Buffet company themselves via their website and have them do a trace on it. That is what we did with my clarinet when we needed wood from the vault to fix the barrell.

its not working lately

HEY I FOUND IT YAY!~

http://www.musicgroup.com/Instruments/service/FrameSerialnumbers.htm

that should work for ya! ps im curious what it will tell you so post what u find out plz

thanks so much for your help-and it looks like the "red" is part of the staining process that buffet uses. thanks again so much

Thank you so much for your help

no really- thanks so much-im getting so much info!

i havent keyed in my s/n yet because its at the shop gettin overhauled-but as soon as i do, i will.
Oh yea, i found out from the shop owner that back when buffet still made their clarinets in paris, all of `em came out in the same assembly line-they just looked at the wood grain to figure out if it would be the pro model or the next level down-mine is the next level down. So it has the pro features--yay.