Klarinet Archive - Posting 000383.txt from 2000/12

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Contra advice (lots!)
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 10:27:33 -0500

I could be wrong, but several years ago while talking to Dave Serber at
Leblanc, he told me that the large metal Leblanc contra altos and basses
were no longer in production. The plant in France that made them was
inefficient and a very old fashioned plant. All of the woodwind keywork
stampings were to then done in this plant, as well. They closed that
plant and brought all of their key stamping to an American plant. He
felt that they probably would not go back into production on these
instruments because there wasn't much demand for them. Like I said, I
could be wrong. Does anyone have more current information?

I've set up a brand new BBb Vito contra bass clarinet. The folks at
Leblanc don't have a clue as to how it should be set up. When I got it,
it really didn't play and the tuning was really stupid.

If one looks at both Selmer and Leblanc catalogs, there are some
distinct differences between the large instruments offered. The Selmer
USA contra alto is a .987" bore. The rosewood French Selmer is a .988"
bore. The BBb, rosewood Selmer is a 1.333" bore. I don't know off hand
exactly what the Leblanc bore is, but both of their plastic instruments
in EEb and BBb have the same bore. If one were to conclude that the
Selmer bores of the Eb and BBb are closer to right, then the Leblanc
instruments are quite a compromise.

What use to be called the Bundy contra alto, but is now Selmer USA, has
keywork that closely resembles that of the more costly Selmer. Three of
the four side, jumper keys are two part mechanisms that cam. This is
much better than having one piece keys that tend to flop from side to
side. Like the Bundy or Selmer USA bass clarinet, the contra alto has
the same dumb, un-ergonomic feeling keywork. In my opinion, one can live
with it because the plastic Eb contra alto is a huge bang for the buck.
When set up properly, it plays very similar to the Selmer from which it
was patterned. Put a quality mouthpiece on it and it becomes a killer
horn. I would recommend this instrument for jr. high, high school and
even university use.

If the Leblanc paper clip, metal clarinets are no longer made, I would
start saving because my guess is that the Selmer BBb in rosewood is
probably the sweetest big horn ever made. I sure can't recommend the
Leblanc plastic. And, after checking Selmer's web page, it seems that
the American company isn't making a BBb in plastic.

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