Klarinet Archive - Posting 000406.txt from 1998/06

From: reedman@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Leblanc Bass clarinets
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 19:03:32 -0400

Ed,

Leblanc has in the past made several models of professional bass
clarinets. I reviewed them in the Clarinet Mag several years ago and
described the differences.

You have the model that has only one register vent and I find this to
be quite unsatisfactory for a professional model bass. There is a model
that uses 2 register vents and it is much better, When Tom Ridenour was at
Leblanc I urged him several times to do some serious wotk on the bass
clarinet line. He said that they would be addressing the bass clarinets in
a few years and would be focusing on the professional clarinet line for
several years. This appears to be true. So far, I have heard no rumors
about an improved bass clarinet from Leblanc

I know of only two people that play the Leblanc instruments in
professional orchestras. They are Linda Baker of the Lyric Opera and the
bass clarinetist in Baltimore (Palanker?)
The stuffiness that you are experiencing is from the acoustical
deficiency of the single register tube. No correcting that.

I doubt that the instrument is longer than either the Selmer or the
Buffet, but the Bay neck will put the mouthpiece tip higher due to the more
abrupt angle. I am 5'7" too and I use a small cushion when playing my 1976
Selmer Low C.

Clark W Fobes

Clark W Fobes
Web Page http://www.sneezy.org/clark_fobes

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