 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: KevinS
Date: 2001-05-03 00:37
I'm hoping to get some good response from this post. I have a pair of Leblanc Dynamiqe clarinets from the early 1950's. (Serial No's 4032, pretty old)
I am thinking about having the instruments modified somehow to enhance the tone and intonation, as well as playability through the range of the horn. I had the pair repadded, and regulated about 1 year ago. I am thinking of something drastic, like having the bores resized, or other modifications.
Anybody else have experience with this type of serious modification to a pair of horns? I would like to hear good and bad experiences.
If you are a vendor that performs this type of modification, or if you want further details, please feel free to email me off line.
Thanks,
Kevin Stockdale
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-05-03 13:49
I've heard of reboring [by the original maker] where they send a package of the shavings, and wish the owner "good luck" [ intonation??] . Dee and John B are hopefully more knowledgable than I about LeB's and major revisions, but I'd tread softly in this. If one of the Dynamics is an " H", [for Hoevendahl {sp??} ] I'd suggest leaving it alone, as I believe it is a companion model to the Pete F's [15.0 mm bore] !! My old "music-store wall poster" lists quite a number of these older horns, velly interesting. Will read posts with interest as I have a high regard for the LeB's. Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-05-03 17:08
I would recommend proceeding with caution on modifications on your clarinets. Be sure you have them in the hands of someone who really knows what he is doing. I suggest getting in touch with Tom Ridenour at Brook Mays Music Co. in Dallas. I don't have his email address right off, but you can go to the Brook Mays website and get their 800 number and they'll give you his phone number and perhaps the email address you need.
Tom is an expert on Leblanc clarinets and even worked on designing a few of them. He worked for Leblanc before going to Brook Mays. There probably isn't another clarinet man around that would be a better source for you. He redid my Leblanc Concerto (A clarinet) because it was a bit "stuffy" and it was a wonderful instrument after me "tinkered" with it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2001-05-03 21:17
Well just a guess but reboring would probably throw everything off. The tone hole size and spacing would be off a bit if you did that. Also it would enlarge the bores, which is directly opposite to current trends.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Anji
Date: 2001-05-04 00:07
Is it the tuning that is problematic?
Is it the response character (even sensibility of the registers) that you wish to update?
I was under the impression that these were hand-tuned and optimized at the shop before being trundled over the pond.
I wonder how much of a 'Make over' could be effected with a different barrel or mouthpiece on the rig?
I happen to really like the sound of these old wheezers, as they are.
anji
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: KevinS
Date: 2001-05-04 04:37
It's the overall tonal characteristics of the horns. They sound very dull and stuffy compared to my R-13. I'm sure it's probably a personal thing to me. Others (my clarinet teacher) can make the horns sound great. I just can't make them compare to my other horns. The thing is, these are probably two of the most physically beautiful clarinets I've ever seen. The wood is extremely dense, the silver keywork is still as beautiful as the day it came off the line in Paris. (I beleive that was around 1954 or 55, based on the accessories that came in the case when I bought them.) There was quite a bidding war on this set, due to the excellent condition and appearance.
In response to Dee, I was talking with the director of our clarinet choir, Dr. Raphael Sanders, now with UNLV. Dr. Sanders suggests the bore on these old horns were too small, and that it might be possible to have them modified by "the right person."
So, I come to the place I know I can get good information and excellent advice! Sneezy!!! (Thanks, Mark for such a great place to share the passion for our instrument.)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2001-05-04 12:09
Still wouldn't rebore them though as there would be the possibility that now the tone hole spacing becomes incompatible.
You say they are "stuffy." Check for minute leaks. Even new horns and freshly overhauled horns can have this problem. Try a variety of mouthpieces. Try different ligatures. Try different reeds. They may just need a little something different than what you would normally use.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
