 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sinkdraiN
Date: 2004-10-25 02:52
Would any of you please describe the differences between these two instruments?
I recently compared my 1975 Leblanc LL to my brothers 1993 R13. My Leblanc is focused and consistant throughout the range. Nothing is stuffy or out of tune. His R13 had a bigger sound. When I pushed lots of air the tone got bigger and bigger. It seemed to have more flexibilty than my LL. While the Leblanc's tone was very consistant, I did not have as much control over it. The R13's lower end was fuller and the high end was sweeter. My leblanc seemed a little on the bright side. The R13 was not as constant- some notes had a different timbre and the pitch was not as "spot-on" as with the Leblanc. However the R13 had an overall more pleasing tone to my ears. I liked both horns for different reasons.
...So I am wondering if the newer Leblancs share the consistancy of my older LL with a more resonate tone.
Please give me some of your experiences playing any of these horns.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-10-25 07:26
I recently played a few new Leblanc Opus II and Cocerto II clarinets, and also new R13s. I think the only difference between the Opus and the Cocerto is the left pinky Eb/Ab key which I never use anyway. Overall I much preferred the R13s over the Leblancs. Both were very much in tune but the sound of the Buffets was better.
Good luck.
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2004-10-25 09:55
Quote:
I recently played a few new Leblanc Opus II and Cocerto II clarinets, and also new R13s. I think the only difference between the Opus and the Cocerto is the left pinky Eb/Ab key which I never use anyway. Overall I much preferred the R13s over the Leblancs. Both were very much in tune but the sound of the Buffets was better.
Good luck.
The same story, but I liked the sound of the leblancs better......
It's all a matter of personal taste.....
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-10-25 15:11
As far as I've read, the only difference between the original Opus and Concerto and the II versions is the keywork.
While Leblanc has claimed a difference in playing qualities between the Opus and the Concerto, Tom Ridenour, who designed them, told me there was none. It's barely possible that the wood for the Opus is more carefully selected, but I've always found that sample-to-sample differences within any model far outweigh the differences between models. The best Leblanc I've ever played was a fabulous Concerto they had at the late, lamented WW&BW in New York, shortly before they closed. As with any model, you have to play a bunch to find the good ones.
Best regards.
ken Shaw
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2004-10-25 15:39
The Concerto is a very nice instrument with a nice rich tone and very nice key action. I find the key-action much smoother than any of the LLs I've owned and played. It is also a very responsive instrument and plays very nicely in tune. I quite enjoy playing these--as well as playing the Opus. I know we've had the discussion many, many times on this board, but I found my personal Opus to sound a bit darker than my Concerto. I know Tom Ridenour designed the Concerto, but I'm wondering about the Concerto II. I don't think he was working for Leblanc at that time and they went with an endorsement from Eddie Daniels (who plays the Concerto).
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Author: sinkdraiN
Date: 2004-10-25 16:17
Brenda how does your LLs compare to the Concerto you played? I know Tom designed both instruments. Is there really any significant difference in tone
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2004-10-25 19:46
sink,
The LL tends to have a large tone and is very well suited to jazz, big band and klezmer music--although many people have used it sucessfully for orchestra pieces. The Concerto (used by Eddie Daniels) is also a good all-round instrument with maybe not quite as big a tone at first. They both have a very nice sound. The main differences I found between my LL and my Concerto was the key action. The key action in the Concerto is much smoother (especially the bottom right and left pinky keys). Both also play very easily in tune in the upper range without much effort.
With either instrument the addition of a specialty barrel will alter the tone slightly toward a bigger or more powerful sound. I have used Moennig barrels for years and like them very much.
And speaking of barrels, I've just recently acquired a power barrel from the doctor (Forte clarinet developer) and am stunned at the big sound I get on the Concerto I'm currently playing as my main instrument. You gotta get one of these.
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Author: William
Date: 2004-10-25 22:28
BS--"I know Tom Ridenour designed the Concerto, but I'm wondering about the Concerto II."
As far as I know, the only "improvement" in the Opus II was the more user friendly keywork. It remained accoulstically identical to the original Opus model that TR designed.
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-10-26 08:39
Nope - the II series Opus and Concertos are different. Have you actually played them?
I don't know who designed them. The barrels are also different from the originals.
__________________
Don't hate me because I play Leblanc! ![[down]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley23.gif) Buffet
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2004-10-26 09:03
I also found them to be different, tried them both (actually tried 8 Opus, 8 Concerto's, 16 Opus II en 8 Concerto II in total) before buying my new Opus II.
And there was a difference in sound between the models.
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Author: William
Date: 2004-10-26 20:44
Brenda, I never owned a LeBlanc LL, although--way back in my college days at UW-Madison--I sat next to a former US Navy bandsman (Washington) who played one and sounded great on it. (It was given to him by Vito P., then owner of LeBlanc here is the USA). Personally, I play on Concertos that TR tweaked for me at the Kenosha factory while he still worked for LeBlanc. My information regarding the original Opus/Concert/Sonata models came to me directly from his mouth and my assumptions about the Opus II comes from what I have read. I still do not believe that there is anything different, accoustically, between the two Opus models in question here--just the spiffy new keywork.
Next time I go to Illinois, I'm going to try an Opus II for myself. (I never played an original Opus that I liked)
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Author: sinkdraiN
Date: 2004-10-26 22:41
Whenever players see I have a LL they usually turn their noe up because they never heard of it before. From all your posts it seems like the LL is highly regarded.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2004-10-27 15:19
I thought my LL was a good instrument. I didn't keep it long because I also had an Opus and a Buffet R-13 at the time. Also, I was buying and selling clarinets for a hobby and bought and sold over 300.
Sorry, William, I got you confused with another William on the bb who bought the LL from me.
I've played the Opus II at International Musical Suppliers and didn't care much for it. Just didn't like the way the keys felt in my hand.
I owned and personally used a Concerto A that Tom Ridenour set up and it was a wonderful instrument. I sold it because I was using a Buffet R-13 Prestige Bb at the time and it was hard to go between the two instruments (different key feel). It was a good instrument.
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