 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rgoldem
Date: 2007-11-25 09:58
Attachment: leblanc alto.jpg (22k)
I am interested in a Leblanc alto clarinet but I have not been able to identify its model. Can anyone help me with this matter based on an attached photo of the logo?
Thanks a lot.
rgoldem
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-11-25 22:41
Hi rgoldem - At this time I cant help you as to the Leb.'s model #, but their [neck-improvement] US patent # is 2,833,175 , viewable on Google/patents or USPTO. databases, patent number. It was filed in USA 1955 and issued in 1958. I play a Selmer-Paris Alto Cl, and have a bit of embouchure-difficulty as described in the pat, and am looking for a "swan-neck" A C neck of your configuration. Would you, please, measure the OD [outside diameter] of the [metal end] of the neck [mm's preferred] for my use in trying to find such for my S-P. Thanx, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: rgoldem
Date: 2007-11-26 07:07
Hi Don,
The instrument is not here right now but I will send you the measurement once I get it. Thanks,
rgoldem
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-11-26 07:53
Hi Don
I have one of those an can measure it for you. Do I undersatnd correct you want the outside diameter of the neck at the instrument side? anything else? By the way in my Leblanc the neck is loose and according to the logo and everything else it looks like it's the original neck.
Nitai
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Author: rgoldem
Date: 2007-11-26 08:33
Hi Clarinbass,
Can you give me more details regarding your instrument? Does it play well? How is tuning? How old is it? Do you have an idea of its price? Any information will be appreciated. Thanks.
rgoldem
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-11-26 13:18
Hi rgoldem
I don't know too much about it. I have some information I got from a clarinet restorer from UK who got it from Leblanc. The neck was changed to the swan type neck around 1964. The logos chaged around 1972 and yours is the earlier one, so it is pretty sure your clarinet was made sometime between 1964 to 1972. The swan neck started around serial the 7000 s/n but clarinets exported to USA (and maybe other countries in America) had different s/n.
I can't say for sure how it plays because it is not in great condition, and could take a while before it is fixed. From what I can notice now is that intonation is ok for most of the range, but the throat notes are pretty awful (very sharp!). I think the throat Bb is supposed to be played with the thumb key pressed on this model but even with that and other fingers they are still sharp (especially Bb). The keys are the most comfortable of all alto clarinets I've tried, which include one old and one new Selmer, an old Buffet, and an old Pedler. With its one register hole (other than another for the Bb) the response of some notes is probably not as good, but it is mostly because of its condition and I can't judge fairly now (I am sure it will improve after it is repaired).
I have no idea how much it costs. I paid about $400 for mine, not including shipping and tax, and it is in a condition that needs a full repair. How much it would cost depends more than anything about whether you find someone who wants it, and how easy or difficult is to find them. They are so rare here, but pop up all over eBay.
Don, looking at the information I have from the restorer I see some other things. There is a big difference between the lengths of the two types of necks, with the swan neck making the upper joint about 25 mm shoter. I don't know the length of the Selmer neck but you might need to make the swan Leblanc neck considerably shorter for it to have reasonable intonation. Also, the bore of the Leblanc is about 18 mm and the Selmers about 17 mm so there is a problem with that too.
Hope this helps.
Post Edited (2007-11-28 06:26)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-11-27 13:55
TKS, Nitai et al, I haven't given up on posting my Sel's neck dimensions, am revising my measurement technique, and was called away from here to sub in a local duplicate bridge session. My ?new? partner tried hard to re-do my bidding habits with complications, we still came in average in spite of my errors ! I'm ?sure? you wanted to know this !! Will post figures/description shortly. Regards, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-11-27 17:25
Nitai - Neck bores 16.70 mm [both ends], bore bot. of U J 16.50 mm, ?tapered?. The neck bot [tenon] O D is 20.00 mm, I D of U J socket [top] 20.70 mm . "Bend" angle is about 30 deg. from vertical, halfway? on neck length. As best I can measure the [adjustable] neck's centerline length, it is 135 mm min. and 155 max. I tune to A 440 at about 140 mm . Having had a Leblanc A C with single curvedneck [short as I recall], I'm well aware of the diff. bore sizes and neck lengths among brands, I just hope that only a minor re-sizing of a Swan neck might work on my fine Sel. I'll sure appreciate your help on this strange research project. I haven't yet found any shops showing any interest in building me a Swan. Many TKS, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-11-28 06:22
Hi Don
The inside diameter of the instrument end of the swan neck is about 18.1mm-18.3mm (a little eliptic). The outside diameter of the end part of the tenon (after the cork) is approx. 20.8mm-21.0mm. The part before the cork is 20.9mm-21.0mm. The length of the neck (including tenon), going with an imaginary line through the middle of the neck, is approx. 13cm.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-11-28 14:14
Many TKS, Nitai, just what info I need, much as I thot, bore size diff. might affect tuning ??. I might be able to lengthen both of the sockets/seatings by use of bore/tuning rings, [if not readily available, wouldn't be hard to ask a machinist to make some to my specs] . So, I'll continue to try to find an AltoSwan Neck [of some sort], or a nearly-destroyed Swan Leblanc at less than $5-600, or ask someone [like Alseg, or Brad Behn] to make me one for my Selmer. Being old, I'm hunting [somewhat] to make playing life easier for, hopefully, an inheriting grand-son/daughter, perhaps even a Greatgrand daughter [have two at this time]. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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