Klarinet Archive - Posting 000758.txt from 2001/02

From: Joe Sinote <windinglow@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Leblanc Problems
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 03:38:51 -0500

Couple of questions and a comment or two:

(Reason being as I was also treated poorly by Leblanc
and got stuck with a new Bass Clarinet (not a contra
and not a VITO) a top of the line Low C NEW INSTRUMRNY
that what shipped from the midwest with a crack in the
upper joint and the company refused to honor the
warranty because Leblanc claimed it was the
responsibility of the dealer. So Leblanc said it was
the dealer's responsibility and the dealer said it was
the responsibility of the manufacturer. The instrument
remained in their shops for longperiods of timebeing
sent to the dealer and from the dealer (who I care not
to advertise) back to Leblanc and finally back to me
worse each time, it was in limbo so long the warrany
ran out and I had little time to play it. As such the
crack turned into a split right down the plateau-keyed
tone holes even after they pinned it. I kissed about
$6,000. goodbye. They want another 2,200 for a new
lower joint and they are doing me "a favor" by
offering this as a wholesale factory replacement.

Good Luck!

J Sinote

--- Topper <leo_g@-----.com> wrote:
> Beware of the VITO Contra. Leblanc sold a me lemon
> (through a dealer)
> Woodwind & Brasswind (WW & BW) and did not do
> proper warranty work
> at the Leblanc factory.

What did they do (if anything) to improve the function
of the instrument before they returned it and what was
lacking?

> It is only because of my experience as a pro wind
> player that I can
> play this instrument but for the few minor
> adjustments I had to make
> which do not require and major work that would void
> the
> warranty--

Have you played contra long or prior to this? Did you
try different reeds and mouthpieces, and how are you
abobe to adjust your fingering technique and ebochure
to compensate for the leaking and obvious machanical
difficculty you are having?

What did you do the inprove the playability?

> work which must be done including a
> complete re-pad. I must
> warn off for any student or school orchestra until
> changes are made
> and these companies put quality and the importance
> of musical
> education before profits. The instrument has the
> basic capability be
> used professionally if made with better care and a
> few changes. One I
> had played at a NAMM show was carefully made and
> adjusted by a pro
> while the ones "On order" are slapped together and
> subject to the
> whim of the one and only person who assembles then,
> and NOT WELL.
>
> There is no signal from Leblanc or Woodwind and
> Brasswind that I will
> get a replacement or a refund.
>
> Leblanc is clueless as to what is wrong with the
> instrument, which is
> an indication that their professional instruments
> could have the same
> problems should they run into an unforeseen mishap
> past the French
> border. Woodwind and Brasswind also has no clue on
> what a Bass
> Clarinet should feel like and had to send it back to
> Leblanc because
> there was no-one there who could adjust the
> instrument... they did
> not even try according to their (WW & BW) warranty
> service
> professional. Both companies refuse to see I have
> worked on clarinets
> and saxophones for over 30 years and have sold new
> and used
> instruments before returning to my work of playing.
>
> The list deficiencies, which is supported by
> documentation from other
> woodwind technician, and the list of problems is too
> long to get into
> now but it includes mechanical design flaws which
> makes the register
> mechanism not only impossible to adjust properly for
> a balanced
> transitional fingering (however this can be
> corrected to a reasonable
> degree but not without voiding the warranty and not
> by a novice
> repairperson);
>
> also; incorrect spring diameter; the wrong pads
> (cheap Italian rivet
> pads) which have impressions so deep the changes in
> humidity cause
> them to swell and leak according to the amount of
> humidity and amount
> of incorrect (uneven) seat. The instrument is
> excessively noisy and
> the neck tenon even leaks water as it does not fit
> well in the socket.
>
> The keys have far to much play in them, some bind,
> and the spoons of
> the keys could have easily been assembled and/or
> bent better for
> comfort. Beware of carpal tunnel syndrome.
>
> Leblanc's tech had the gall to tell me that it (the
> excessive play
> which in some keys was 1/16") was needed because of
> the instrument's
> size and composition. But this play is not on all
> the long keys and
> not even and even if I did not know the statement
> was not true it
> still would not have made any sense because the some
> of the keys were
> binding.
>
> This has such inspired me such that I intend to
> devote a website to
> this instrument and other horrific experiences so
> that musicians need
> not suffer. I shall keep you all informed of what
> Leblanc and
> Woodwind & Brasswind may or may not do as well as to
> the actions of
> lack thereof regarding Woodwind and Brasswind.
>
> I shall not alert the entire musical community even
> though six months
> has gone by. I will give it two more weeks before I
> file a lawsuit
> and post detailed macro photos on the web for the
> purposes of
> journalism and the people's right to know.
>
>
> Sincerely
>
>
> Leo G Carroll
>
>

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