 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2003-06-01 08:32
Here's the situation -
My teacher is selling a pair of Brannenized LeBlanc Concertos, silver plated, 3 years old and used as a secondary pair, but, at the end of the day, still 'used'.
OR
I could buy a NEW pair of LeBlancs. I couldn't afford silver plated keys, or to have them Brannenized.
My argument is do I want all these bells and whistles? The clarinets play beautifully, however may have 3 years less until they're 'blown out' (for those of us who believe in it), OR, get the new pair, which will be 'mine' and not pre-loved, but minus the extras (which I REALLY would love!), and by the time they're 'blown-in' and playing optimally, I will be doing my final-year recital.
I can't decide, I don't know enough about the pros and cons of each.
Help!!!
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-06-01 14:04
Morrigan wrote:
> Here's the situation -
>
> My teacher is selling a pair of Brannenized LeBlanc Concertos,
> silver plated, 3 years old and used as a secondary pair, but,
> at the end of the day, still 'used'.
>
> OR
>
> I could buy a NEW pair of LeBlancs. I couldn't afford silver
> plated keys, or to have them Brannenized.
A: You win.
B: You win.
Why care?
1) If the clarinets get "blown out" (damn, I wouldn't be playing clarinets if they got blown out so fast ...) sell them and buy new ones. You'll be "that much better" by then and will probably be able to distinguish really fine clarinets even better.
2) New ones are just fine. You don't need the bells and whistles, just a reasonable repairperson. My son just graduated from a fine conservatory here in the States and he didn't have any of that "stuff" done to his clarinets. Maybe now he will, but it sure as heck wasn't necessary to get through school.
Just do it.
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Author: bassclarinetchicka88
Date: 2003-06-01 14:09
personally, i would get the ones from your teacher. if they were only used as a secondary pair, how much harm could he/she have done to them? besides, they have extra features that you otherwise wouldnt be able to afford, so i'd go with them
thats just my opinion though
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Author: cyso_clarinetist
Date: 2003-06-01 16:46
If you absolutely insist on leblanc... I would buy the pair from Robert. I would do this because you know exactly what you are getting. You won't have to order new clarinets and hope they are good.
three years of playing the clarinets won't hurt them. I doubt you would notice blow out any soon than you would on a new set of horns. Besides there are several ways to "refresh" an instrument such a new barrel and such.
good luck
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-06-01 17:01
No-NO!
Definitely hold out for something better...
If you buy this perfectly good, well-Vetted, professionally chosen set at a significant discount - your opportunity for handwringing will end....
THEN WHAT?
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-06-01 17:18
Good words all around. I second the comment from cyso_clarinetist: "...buy the pair from Robert...because you know exactly what you are getting. You won't have to order new clarinets and hope they are good."
I have bought exactly three new Clarinets in my entire life. The first I played for hours (really) before selecting it, the second was untried and proved to be a real dog (you could hear barking as the case was opened), and on the last one I was lucky. It's hard to beat a purchase of hardware that has all the problems of "newness" gone away.
For those who believe "blowout" is a real phenomenon, I have yet to hear from anyone who claims to be able to predict how long it's going to take for the instrument to become valueless.
I think your teacher is offering you a great opportunity .
Regards,
John
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Author: Benni
Date: 2003-06-01 18:22
I would go for the pair from your teacher . . . What is usually called "blow out" is most often a loss of resistance in the upper joint, which can be fixed by a skilled repair person. I believe they put a spike on the register key that extends into the tube and then hollow out a section of the bell to counteract the effect of the spike on the lower register.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2003-06-01 19:26
I play on a 34-year-old R13. Blowout? Not that I can tell, but YMMV...
I say, go with the known quantity & buy your teacher's horns...
Katrina
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-06-02 00:38
Morrigan go with your heart. As to the comment "if you absolutely insist on Leblanc" um. they are fine instruments indeed.
You're not studying with Paul Dean are you? If so - I'm sure he'd be selling clarinets that are in perfect playing condition.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
Post Edited (2003-06-02 00:38)
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2003-06-02 07:00
Diz - I'm a student of Robert Schubert's at the VCA.
You're all right - to buy my teacher's would be the best option, as I know exactly what I'm getting. And, they're about AU$3000 cheaper than buying new, so I would have plenty of money to buy new barrells if I was really worried about 'blowout'.
I'm not worried about the state of the mechanism - they've been Brannenized, I've played the Bb several times in my lesson, heard my teacher peform on these instruments a few times as well. In lessons, we both agree I sound better on his LeBlancs than on my R13 (Bb).
Thanks guys.
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