Klarinet Archive - Posting 000308.txt from 1998/01

From: "reedy" <mwhight@-----.uk>
Subj: Re:Ambience clarinet
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 18:35:51 -0500

Dear James
I have been over to Leblanc several times over the last year as they are
trying to persuade me to play on their Opus range.I've tried the
ebony,rosewood and violet wood versions of this instrument. The rosewood in
particular is very good.

However last time I went I couln't find one that I was happy with and one of
their technicians admitted to me that he prefered the Ambience range.

This is a model about 6 months old now and only marketed in France but which
is more popular over there than the Opus.

I thought it was a really good instrument and wondered out loud what it
would be like in Rosewood.Jean Cany who designed all the machinery at
Leblanc just said

"OK why don't we make some"
and they are going to use the same production techniques as they do for the
Opus range.

They season the wood for at least 2 years and then let it soak in beeswax
after manufacturing the body.

They are a great bunch of people who are CRAZY about clarinets.
Last time I was there I met M. Leblanc who is now 97 and still CRAZY about
clarinets and very proud of the fact that all their clarinets have improved
by consultation with musicians.

I'm sure if you wanted to try these clarinets they could arrange it.

Good luck!

Michael Whight