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This is the best bass clarinet ever made. It has such a rich, dark tone that one expects from a bass clarinet. I highly recommend this instrument for any serious university or college student and for well developed high school students. I love this instrument. I bought one myself about a year and half ago and I would never play on anything else, unless it was a newer model.

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In my opinion, this instrument is the gold standard for Bass Clarinet sound. I have had one for 10 years now (previous version- mostly just a different bell,) and paired it with a Roger Garrett mouthpiece (MO). It has a gigantic sound, great hand position and plays easily in every octave- even altissimo. You can play ANYTHING on this instrument. The Gortex pads are like new after 10 years. The only suggestion I would make is to be sure and humidify the instrument if your climate includes a winter season like here in the mid-west. I use 3 cello size humidifiers, and the instrument seems to sound best when the humidity inside the case is 50% or a little higher. (Buy a hygrometer sold for violin cases) As a repair tech, I have seen many of these big horns crack. I know there is a back order on these Basses a lot of the time, but well worth the wait.

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The 1193 is just a phenomenal horn. The altissimo plays even easier than the Selmer top-of-the line. The Three alternate fingerings for low D is extremely helpful, and the set-up of the keys fits the hands perfectly. (I have big hands) I have played on many bass clarinets, and none of them come close to the Buffet 1193. It's expensive because you are getting top quality grenadilla, and it's hard to find such large pieces that are of high enough standards for Buffet's clarinets.

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These are a phenomenal horn. The one that I own is easily the best clarinet Bb, A, Eb etc that I have ever played. I was working as a repairer and tried a batch of six to choose this one. If at all possible I would suggest the same for potential buyers as Buffet seems to have inadequate quality control as all of the horns were very different in every aspect and some bordered on unplayable from the factory. The horn that I own centers extraordinarily well re: tone and pitch and does not have that vague feeling that a lot of basses have in regards to the pitch it is smack on. The pitch across all of the registers is superior to any clarinet that I have ever played. The only note I take care on is the high G. I spent about 18 months working of and on to get it playing properly as the bottom end is very difficult to set up well and requires repeated adjustments to refine the seating. Once it is set up the adjustment is rock solid. Now to really upset you I use a 7C Yamaha mouthpiece with a Legere studio tenor sax reed. The Yamaha mouthpiece is superior in tone and tuning to any other mouthpiece on the market. If you have the rails and tip thinned it will also tongue quicker than anything else out there.

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Have played bass clarinet for over 30 years and this instrument is WAY ahead of anything I've ever played. The sound is a little less big than the Selmer horns but the keywork and intonation are much better. With a Grabner or Fobes mouthpiece you will make beautiful music with this horn. It actually makes bass clarinet playing no more complicated than playing the Bb. My only complaint is the case. It is a little flimsy and could do with a bigger compartment for storage. However there are other cases that fit this horn nicely that you can use a substitute.