 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Marcia
Date: 2003-01-11 02:36
I am awaiting the arrival of a Leblanc alto which I purchased from ebay. I have had some experience with a couple of Buffet altos which I found to be very stuffy in the clarion register, and more recently a Yamaha which played like a dream. Has anyone had any experience with a Leblanc alto?
Marcia
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2003-01-11 15:34
Marcia,
Yes, I have owned and played a Leblanc alto. I owned the Leblanc Paris (pro) model and found it to be an excellent instrument. I liked the key action and the feel of the keys in my hands better than the Selmer or Buffet models. The intonation in the altisimo also very nice and it was not stuffy.
It's been my experience that most of the eBay purchases have had to have some pads, springs or some other minor repair work to bring them up to good playing condition. Check out some of the experts on the Sneezy sponsor board. But, perhaps yours will arrive in excellent condition.
By the way, if I were going to buy a brand new alto I would select the Leblanc Paris model over all the others--so you made a good choice.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-01-11 18:20
Marcia/Brenda - I assume we are talking alto clarinets, not saxes, tho I could say something on the latter. I guess inst choice of makes is greatly influenced by condition/age/mp and other less evident factors. I had a '60's LeB alto which didn't really seem to satisfy me, mediocre tonality, [too?] big sound, were what made me look, so I sold mine to a teacher, she loves it! I tried a Selmer-Paris and [believe] I like it better, possibly because of a more-nearly Basset Horn and/or bass cl distinctive sound character. Of course I only get to play it occassionally in comm. band and church orch gigs. It takes all kinds, doesnt it? Enjoy, Don
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2003-01-11 19:23
Do the new Leblanc altos have a left hand Eb/Ab key? If not then it is almost impossible to play low Eb to low Ab (up a fourth) or back down to low Eb. A major design flaw in my opinion. The Yamahas I believe are equipped with this extra key. Buffet too I think. Selmer I think not.
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Author: Gary Van Cott
Date: 2003-01-11 20:36
Anyone looking at a new alto clarinet would be making a mistake if they didn't try the Buffet. It is an excellent instrument.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-01-11 22:34
I have owned 2 both pro horns. The first was a Leblanc Rational designed by Houvenagel which had an interesting mechanism that allowed notes in the left hand to be dropped a semitone by depressing any right hand key. For example C (L2) could be turned into B bey adding a right hand key, like wise A (L1&2) could be dropped to Ab/G# by adding any of R1,2 or 3. The tone of this horn was superb but it had at least 13 adjusting screws and was a nightmare. The second one was just a straight alto in gold plate from the 1960's and did not produce as good a tone. The bore and bell were much smaller than the rational but the keywork was better. It was a bit tight and bright. Info on the rational can be found on Steve Goodson's site with the original manual and patent I think. <www.saxgourmet.com>
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-01-11 23:24
Mark P - Are you referring to LeBlanc's Model 100 alto [and tenor?] SAX of the '60's, L's competition with the Mark 6's? I have both the [beautiful] LeB model and a Vito with the COMPLEX fingering structure. Lots of "fork" fingerings available, special instructions for playing and adjusting!!!. [I have copies of the patent], too bad it didnt sell well, quite something! Don
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2003-01-12 14:47
I also agree that the new Yamaha alto is very, very nice with nice key action. Too bad most directors just laugh when you mention playing alto as well as soprano. I guess they've had bad experiences with them and consider them "useless" instruments. If a composer would write nice parts for them they might get the respect they deserve. I think they have an absolutely lovely tone.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2003-01-13 14:01
If we're talking Leblanc alto CLARINETS, my experience has been: every Leblanc/Noblet/Normandy/Vito alto and bass clarinet I've ever tried or worked on has been rather stuffy and "saxophonish"-sounding in the clarion register -- I blame it on their student-quality single-register vent design. Can't speak for Leblanc alto saxes -- never tried one (except for an old Vito alto I used to own, which was so-so).
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-01-13 14:57
I agree, Dave, I've gone to Selmer on most of my #1 horns. The DRK -double reg. keying- is by far the best for bass IMHO, prob. would improve my alto, tho its not "bad", have had some other-make experience but not enough for "sweeping" statements. Individual, well-set-up cls can be V G . I still prefer my Mark 6 alto sax to the BEST-ever LeBlanc model 100. Don
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