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Author: pplateau  
Date:   2007-10-27 00:39 
 I am interested in your experiences with the LeBlanc Rapsodie, ya, I know many are more interested in the Bakun/LeBlanc Cadenza, BUT I want to know how you like , experience the Rapsodie?  Some say intonation etc is marvelous for this price point, and I can obtain one at a VERY attractive price. Am thinking as a backup to an R-13 so I don't expect the Buffet sound, but who knows?  I am going to try it on approval basis before I would buy. Thanks! 
 
  
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Author: am0032  
Date:   2007-10-27 12:30 
 I have 2 students that play on these instruments and I found them to play very stuffy and resistant.  They don't play anything like an R-13.  Maybe the one you try will play differently. 
 
Adam
  
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Author: Synonymous Botch  
Date:   2007-10-28 02:24 
 If it cost more than the current Ridenour clarinets, you could consider adding another instrument into the audition... 
 
The Arioso/Lyrique clarinets are brilliant. 
(Built to the specifications of the Opus designer, Tom Ridenour.)
  
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Author: Tony Beck  
Date:   2007-10-29 13:46 
 This may be relevant to your observations. Recently I picked up a freshly overhauled Couesnon Monopole. With my regular mouthpieces (a refaced HS* and Vandoren V-13) it was quite stuffy and resistive, especially in the low register. After struggling awhile, I tried a Grabner K-14. The transformation was amazing. That clarinet now sings! I played a gig over the weekend and my stand mate (an R-13 player I had never met) commented on how nice the Monopole sounds, and looks. I’ve never had an instrument respond so dramatically to a mouthpiece change. Maybe those Rapsodies have the same problem.
  
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Author: pplateau  
Date:   2007-10-29 22:40 
 Interesting!  Especially as the bore is close in size to the R-13, but no doubt each has its own personality!!!
  
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Author: joeyscl  
Date:   2007-10-31 09:10 
 "I found them to play very stuffy and resistant. They don't play anything like an R-13. Maybe the one you try will play differently." 
tried some during clarinetfest 07, Very much agreed!
  
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Author: pplateau  
Date:   2007-10-31 23:20 
 I know one on here who said his absolutely sings with a Bakun barrel.
  
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