Klarinet Archive - Posting 000814.txt from 2001/01
From: "Gene Nibbelin" <gnibbelin@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Clarinet Choice
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 00:27:45 -0500
Joshua -
I am a retiree who studied clarinet for over 15 years aiming for a career as
a classical clarinetist, but for a number of reasons (another story) decided
that a career in banking was more practical, at that time. After retiring
in 1991, I resumed playing in 1996 and studying privately in 1999. In 1997
I started looking for both a Bb and an A clarinet.
As a student, I dreamed of someday owning a pair of Buffet Clarinets. I
hardly knew of any other brand other than Selmer. So, when I began shopping
for my "dream" pair, I naturally first tried several Buffet R-13s. But I
had seen so many favorable comments on Klarinet regarding the Leblanc
Concertos as well as their lower priced horns, that I tried several of them
and compared them side by side with the Buffet R-13s. To my great surprise,
for me, the Leblancs were better than the Buffets in a number of ways. To
sum up a lot of technical matters in layman's terms, both of the Leblancs
were better "in tune" than were the Buffets that I tried. There are a
number of intonation matters -external, i.e. generally able to play in tune
with an overall 440A or 441A and internally, i.e. are the intervals between
the registers of the horn in tune?
My teacher, who plays in several symphony orchestras, plays a Buffet Bb
R-13. We have compared our two horns using an electronic tuner, and
concluded that my Leblanc has fewer intonation problems than his Buffet (no
horn is perfect) and he is impressed with the Leblanc's tone and ease of
playing. Our comparison findings have been confirmed when we play duets.
Based on my experience with my pair of Leblanc Concertos, I suggest that you
try several of Leblanc's lower priced models before deciding. My purpose in
all this is to show that, in spite of a "lifetime" of thinking of Buffet
clarinets as the "Holy Grail" of clarinets, when it came to side by side
comparisons, the Leblancs, for me, were much better than the Buffets. I
have never had any regrets regarding my decision.
I must state that I do not have any direct experience with Leblanc's lower
priced models, but have seen many favorable comments posted by other
Klarinetters who have students using Leblanc's student models.
Take your time in shopping and good luck. (A well cared for used Leblanc
Concerto at a reasonable price would be great for your daughter and possibly
"budgetable"). Years age, we stretched our budget mightily when our older
daughter needed a better violin. We purchased a 1760 English violin and a
very fine bow, that I believe inspired her to work hard enough to earn a
music scholarship at DePauw University. Although she and her husband have
their own computer consulting business, she still plays professionally, when
she has the time.
Hope I haven't bored you with all this.
The old "retread", who plays pretty good -
Gene Nibbelin
Cape Coral, Florida
-----Original Message-----
From: Joshua Lincoln [mailto:lincoln@-----.com]
Subject: [kl] Clarinet Choice
Maybe someone could give me some input on purchasing a clarinet for my
daughter.
She is in middle school and plays a "Vito". Recently it needed some work
and her instructor told me that she was as good as any student in any
grade that he had, but that her clarinet might be holding her back a
little.
I am considering the: Buffet E-11 (~$570)
Le Blanc Normandy
Model 4 (~$515)
Le Blanc Noblet
Model 40 (~$605)
She is a responsible and serious student, but she plays piano, clarinet
and sax, and I would like to not get her an overly expensive (R-13)
instrument if I can help it, just because it is too expensive and I
think that she is too young and not proficient enough for such a high
caliber "professional" instrument.
Would the E-11 or the Noblet do a fairly serious student well through
high school?
Thank you very much for your input.
J.Lincoln
lincoln@-----.com
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