 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: shallow-mo
Date: 2016-06-17 05:03
Hi All:
I am now the proud owner of a mid 1960's Leblanc Bb Contra Bass Clarinet paperclip keyed to low D in satin silver plate.
All the mechanisms work! It came with the original Leblanc Bb Contrabass mouthpiece! Sweet!
The bad news is that the case is shot. Any suggestions on a replacement case? I am considering the Altieri gig bag, but would like to find a hard shell case for it. These seem to be out of production. I really don't want the extra expense of a custom case.
Suggestions?
Steve
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2016-06-17 06:45
The BBb paperclips to low D were made very early, probably in the 50s. By 1960, all of them went to C.
The original mouthpiece takes Vandoren contra reeds. It's much better on the bottom notes than the later mouthpieces, which take bass sax reeds. The Leblanc people told me they made the change because women complained that the original mouthpiece was too big for them.
Almost all Leblanc contras come from schools, where the mouthpieces get badly beat up. You'll probably get good results from a touchup. Also, Grabner contra mouthpieces are in a class by themselves. They use the narrow design, but pop out the low notes beautifully.
Ken Shaw
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Author: clariberto
Date: 2016-06-17 13:36
Attachment: 38. fundas interior.jpg (102k)
About the case, I understand that the expenses of transportation may be too high, but I have heard about a man who makes custom made cases here, in Spain, and quite cheap. He makes cases for traditional instruments, but if you ask him que can make whatever you want.
My teacher ordered a bass clarinet case, and it cost around 180 euros. He has on his website photos of his cases, the photo here is an example.
I am going to order one for myself!
the website is http://www.ezpela.com/
Post Edited (2016-06-17 13:39)
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Author: shallow-mo
Date: 2016-06-17 18:49
Thanks Ken Shaw for the clarification on the vintage of my Contra. The mouthpiece is surprisingly clean. The rails, table, tip and tip rail are all in fine shape.
The instrument is NOT in playing condition. I could honk out down to low A, but that's it. The mechanisms all work, the pinky keys albeit a little sluggishly. The pads are shot and it needs a complete refurbishing.
This was definitely a public school instrument, and shows SOME signs of being beat around. The bottom bow has been slightly flattened and the bell has a couple little pings in it. It is horribly tarnished and smells to high heaven. I think it has sat around for a LONG time given the tarnish and the layer of dust on the outside of the case. Maybe this is a good thing as it spent most of its latter years in an attic or closet gathering dust and not being thrashed by some entitled snot nosed brat.
I am looking forward to playing it once it has been overhauled and finding a suitable case option.
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