Klarinet Archive - Posting 001075.txt from 1998/01

From: ROBERT HOWE <arehow@-----.net>
Subj: Re:LeBlanc Bass
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 09:37:39 -0500

My first low C bass was a LeBlanc, circa 1979, had only a single
register key or I would own it still. Had a large, loud sound above the
break, and enough noise in the tome everywhere that the sound carried
for miles. My 1995 Buffet Prestige is more civilized and has better
pitch but sometimes seems too tame, and at such times I miss the old
LeBlanc.

My bassetto and BBb contrabass are both LeBlancs and I love them both.
I think LeBlanc instruments generally deserve better press than they
get.

Robert Howe

Anna wrote:
LeBlanc basses

Having recently played a LeBlanc for the Khachaturian piano concerto
(fantastic!) I can say that I really liked it. The high notes weren't
quite
as good as the Selmer Paris ones, but that could be because the LeBlanc
was
not new where the Selmer was only about one or two years old. (Not that
I
needed the upper register for the Khachaturian, but I used them in
another
work). The LeBlanc also had a crystal mouthpiece, and its lower note
fingerings were slightly easier to get my hand around than the Selmer
Paris
- - I do have small hands though!