 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: iriegnome
Date: 2017-04-09 00:52
My daughter will be heading to college in the fall as a Bass/Contrabass clarinet player. I was looking to get her a LeBlanc Contrabass for her high school graduation. She has been playing a Model 340 - Paperclip, but I have found some really great Model 342 - Straight Contrabass'... I need some help. I have no clue other than shape as to any difference.. HELP!! This is a really great price on the 342 and I am from Kenosha, WI where they were originally made, so we have very special people around me who can do work on them if any is needed.. Please, I need any and all opinions and help you can offer.
Thanks in advance
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Author: derf5585
Date: 2017-04-09 03:08
The paperclip goes down to C and the straight only goes down to Eb.
Does some sheet music go down to C? Or is down to Eb normally scored?
In my Hauty opinion
fsbsde@yahoo.com
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Author: donald
Date: 2017-04-09 05:55
I can't be much help but.... with the Paperclip I believe she can sit on a normal chair, but with the Straight model she may have to sit on a stool- I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but that would seem to be something important to consider.
dn
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Author: Klose ★2017
Date: 2017-04-09 06:04
A related question: does anyone know which companies make metal German system contrabass clarinets?
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2017-04-09 07:42
Stay away from the Leblanc straight BBb. It plays fine, but you must stand. Even a bass stool isn't high enough. You have to take it apart to put it in the case, and assembling it is a nightmare. The long rods bend easily, so they need to be bent back straight every time. Find a paperclip, which must still be treated like a newborn baby, but has the low notes and is much easier to handle.
Keep the 340 and get a Grabner mouthpiece.
Finally, contra and bass are "auxiliary" instruments, like Eb. It's a big advantage to be comfortable on them, but there are only, say 3 people in the world who make their living playing just bass and contra, plus a few in military bands. To have any hope of making a living, your daughter must be a dynamite Bb (soprano) player first, and a dynamite bass/contra player second.
Rather than a metal Leblanc contra, find her an older Selmer bass, or a new one. Also, get in touch with Michael Lowenstern. (He has dozens of great videos on Youtube.) He's the best source of information on instruments, necks and mouthpieces.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Mat42
Date: 2017-04-09 20:42
Hi. I have a straight Leblanc , I play this long instrument in a Bassoon style position, hanging with a strap that you sit down on it. It's very effective. I have also a paperclip, I usually play at the orchestra, when a bottom C is requerired, I prefer the straight one, because the sound is more powerful. Try to find a good mouthpiece, I have many , but the original Leblanc , is the more big of all I have. good luck!
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2017-04-10 18:07
I disagree with Ken Shaw on the straight metal Leblanc contrabass. I've got many hours playing one (not mine, belongs to a friend), I'm only 5'8" but can play it comfortably seated on a moderately high stool, and the instrument is a breeze to assemble. It's an outstanding design (by Charles Houvenaghel), with three bridge keys right next to each other, easy to align simultaneously without damage and then locked together with a nice "knife switch".
The instrument I've used is a fine player. The only thing I don't like about the Leblanc contras (all of them, Vito too) is the lack of three of the side trill keys.
As for the lack of low-C capability, it's not a big deal with contrabasses, those lowest notes just sound like some sort of flatulence anyway.
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Author: iriegnome
Date: 2017-04-10 18:49
Lots of great thoughts here. My daughter has been playing on a 1964 Paperclip for the last 4 years. She is one of the only kids in our school district to play it. Being that LeBlanc was right here in Kenosha, Vito donated a lot of instruments to our local band programs. Therefore the middle schools have a total of 6 or 7 and 2 of our high schools have 3 each!!! This on is the most played and in the best condition. My daughter is very aware of the overall care of the instrument. All this info is great for me since I am a string player and haven't a clue.
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Author: derf5585
Date: 2017-04-10 19:18
"those lowest notes just sound like some sort of flatulence anyway"
Maybe the composer wanted that effect.
fsbsde@yahoo.com
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Author: pewd
Date: 2017-04-10 19:35
Make sure the college will accept her as a bass/contra player before you buy one.
Many music departments rotate the harmony clarinet work between all of the music majors, sometimes you only play one for a semester, or part of a semester.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: iriegnome
Date: 2017-04-10 19:50
She has already been accepted as a bass clarinet as did my adopted son. To her credit though, she plays 14 different instruments, so she can adapt. The Contra is going to be a gift for her high school graduation. She is a great player though. Fun to watch. She will be majoring in music - Bass Clarinet, so she has 3 years of playing for now, plus whatever else comes her way
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Author: super20bu6
Date: 2017-04-12 06:31
Funny.....my Low C just rumbles out of my Paperclip. There are several compositions that call for the extended range Contra's....my vote would be the Paperclip. Plus some good parts call for the extended range in Clarinet Choir Compositions.
Mark
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