 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2004-05-22 04:51
Got the new Leblanc catalogue today. Either it doesn't list all the current models or Leblanc has really pared down their line. Gone are the Symphonie VII, the Ambiance, the Infinite, the Esprit, the LX, the Pete Fountain/Big Easy, and (saddest of all) the venerable LL. I wonder who's running things over there. Al "Chainsaw" Dunlap?
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2004-05-22 14:07
Robert
If all those you mentioned have been eliminated from the catalog, what do they list? Just the Opus and Concerto?
JG
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-05-22 14:59
I believe recently, Mark C, gave us the link to Vito Pascucci's obituary, and I recall seeing the first name of the new LeB president, also a Pascucci, SO, isn't the catalog change to be expected with the "new broom" ? Being a LeB-lover, I'd like to see the LeB, and Noblet, possibly the Normandy/Vito "roster" and years of model mfgr assembled by the present management and retirees. Too much to ask ? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-05-22 15:02
Vito's successor was/is his son , so I wouldn't call that a new broom exactly. The Infinite' is still available at some dealers as,probably, are the others mentioned...
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2004-05-22 16:44
John--the pro models listed are: Opus II, Concerto II, Sonata, and Rapsodie (sic). That's it. Also listed are the intermediate (Noblet) and student (Vito) models. No harmony clarinets are shown. No altos. No basses. No contras. No eefers. No C clarinets. And since the LL is discontinued that means no special mechanism models. No full Boehm. No articulated G#/C#. No plateau system. Etc.
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Author: jderoche
Date: 2004-05-22 17:31
Hello Everyone,
Thanks for your interest in this topic.
Don't worry. Not all clarinets are gone. This catalogue that you are discussing is simply a mailer describing the current "regular" Bb line. Soon we will be releasing a catalogue with all the harmony clarinets, Pete's clarinet, the Bb line, etc.
We have removed models that were not current, but this has been a gradual evolution based on customer demand, sales figures, cost of manufacturing, removal of repetitious items, etc. Our current line represents the best of what we offer, in my opinion, and a well-rounded selection - each clarinet with its own unique characteristics.
Again, in my opinion, the clarinet line at Leblanc had so many different clarinets (and some with very few actual "differences") that it became cumbersome and confusing. Our current offerings all "make sense" - meaning that each has a reason for existing in the catalogue.
Certainly you will be able to get the full family of clarinets, large bore "jazz' clarinets, the plateau clarinets, etc.
(Hi Mark. This is not a sales pitch. I don't ever do sales pitches. It's only an explanation.)
Hope this helps explain.
Julie DeRoche (alias Al "Chainsaw Dunlap)
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2004-05-22 18:19
Julie--thanks for the clarification. The number of Leblanc models did seem to be getting a little confusing. I don't think anyone will shed any tears over the discontinuance of the Ambience or the Infiniti. But the LL is another matter. It was the only model in the Leblanc line that had a bore size half-way between the small-bore classical models (Opus/Concerto) and the large-bore jazz model (Pete Fountain/Big Easy). It was also used as the basis for extra mechanism models (full Boehm, plateau system, etc.). My own LL is a 3/4 Boehm (articulated G#/C#, forked Bb/Eb, left hand Eb/Ab key). A great clarinet but I no longer take it on gigs because if it was stolen or damaged beyond repair I wouldn't be able to replace it.
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Author: jderoche
Date: 2004-05-22 18:22
Robert,
The LL actually may come back some day as a "retro" clarinet - or a special offering. We'll see......
Thanks,
Julie
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-05-22 20:08
Considering how many people actually buy professional models in a given year, the breadth of product offered by LeBlanc is immense.
For those of us bemoaning the loss of an item; how many have opened a wallet to purchase retail in the past year/decade?
Clarinets last a LONNNNnggg g time, and for makers to keep churning out such high quality products goes to describe their faith in our loyalty.
What cheeses me off is the pricing disparity between the US distributors and their brethern outside the US of A.
I saved nearly $1800 on my Opus when I bought, and the Euro was about the same price per US dollar as today... so why the retail difference?
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