 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dano
Date: 2005-01-03 21:32
I just got notice that I have been given a new Leblanc Concerto II clarinet as a late Christmas gift. I will be recieving it later this week. I don't like to look a gift horse in the mouth, espesially such an expensive one, but I have been playing Selmer and Buffet clarinets for a long time (40 years) and I don't know exactly what to expect (I would have liked to have been asked what clarinet I desire!). I know that I can exchange it for whatever clarinet I want but I just wonder if this clarinet has good or bad reviews from the more knowledgable people on this board (which includes most of you). Does anyone have any opinions on this clarinet? Thanks a bunch in advance.
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Author: Jazz3774
Date: 2005-01-03 21:54
Dano,
I tried a Concerto II for about a month this past November. First time in 30 years that I played something other than Selmers. It was a trial from WW and BW, and I liked it a lot. I had three of them to try out, and all were very good. One of the three stuck out like a sore thumb. The first thing I noticed was the almost perfect tuning on all notes. The needle of my tuner stayed almost put throughout. The throat tones were right there. The sound was very nice also, very sweet, round. Nice keywork. The Concerto II is definitely a nice horn, IMHO.
I did not keep it though; Instead I got a used Buffett in great condition (F series, w/extra keys) for 1/3 of what the Concerto II was going $$ for.
Anyhow, good luck.
Leo
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Author: diz
Date: 2005-01-04 00:21
Wow ... treasure it, it'll be a beautiful instrument.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2005-01-04 02:06
If you don't like it, send it my way!
You're VERY lucky! Leblanc make a fiiine clarinet!
__________________
Don't hate me because I play Leblanc! ![[down]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley23.gif) Buffet
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Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2005-01-04 05:25
Or send it to me! I love Leblancs too. I recently got a Concerto from eBay, and after a few tweakings (the keywork was a bit noisy) it's playing very well indeed. I've got a couple of other Leblancs, an LL and a Symphonie, and they're also great instruments - the LL is actually my favourite out of all my clarinets. I've only had the Concerto since just before Christmas, but it's definitely shaping up well!
Joanna Brown
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-01-04 05:58
Leblancs, like Buffets, are great clarinets. Question is if they just ordered the clarinet from the store to you, or someone actually this specific clarinet you are going to receive and chose it for you. If it's the first option, you might want to go to the store and try more clarinets and maybe replace it with a different Leblanc Concerto, or any other clarinet.
Enjoy your gift!
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2005-01-04 06:18
What can I say....... can I have it???
Great clarinets just try it and you will see ![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif)
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Author: HedgeWitch
Date: 2005-01-04 15:20
I would accept the clarinet with grace and treasure it, instruments just don't come our way like this every day and I therefore I would believe that this instrument will have a certain magic or good luck entwined in it.
I am very envious.
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Author: Dano
Date: 2005-01-04 15:53
After reading how this just does not happen everyday, I have to ask myself "What was I thinking of not keeping this instrument?" I think I will just keep the Leblanc, if it plays as well as it should and consider myself one lucky clarinetist. It was given to me by someone that was being way too kind for Christmas and I appreciate it more than they will know. It will be coming from WWBW which is in Indiana and I am on the west coast so I really can't try out other Concertos until I hit the right one, but I suppose I can do that through the postal service. You are right, BobD, I think maybe I am dreaming. I was robbed at gunpoint about 20 years ago and they had the nerve of taking my beloved, treasured and money making R-13, a ring that my grandfather had brought to the U.S. from Italy when he was a young man and all of my bus tokens and I thought I was dreaming then too, so I suppose this is some kind of better "dream". Maybe some divine retrobution?
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-01-04 16:41
Or perhaps God is smiling upon you. The Concerto has a great reputation, and I expect the Concerto II will earn an even greater one as time goes by.
I've played both Opus and Concertos and find them to be an excellent choice. I think you will enjoy the wonderful tone and easy intonation of the Leblanc professional clarinets.
Smiles.
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Author: frank
Date: 2005-01-04 17:28
I would trade it right away for an R13.  merry holidays!
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-01-04 22:10
Bummer on the gunpoint robbery,Dano. I am curious as to how a friend would choose a Concerto but don't wish to pry. In any event you have a very good friend....and a generous one at that.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Dano
Date: 2005-01-04 23:50
BobD, when I asked her why this certain brand she said she asked around as to what Ken Peplowski played since she knows he is one of my favorite jazz clarinetist and found out it was a Leblanc concerto II. Went on their web site and found out that Eddie Daniels plays one also. Well that was enough for her. If they play it, then it must be great. Another marketing and endorsment deal sells another item to someone that knows nothing about the item. Fortunatly from what I have read, the Concerto II does not seem to be a bad instrument. This all came from a generous, kind-hearted sister-in-law that will now wonder "Why does he not sound as good as Peplowski or Daniels? He plays the same exact clarinet as they do". Maybe I should buy her a $2000 set of pots and pans and ask her to cook me a meal that is 'Julia Childs' quality? I appreciate the fact that she went to the trouble of asking questions and finding info on the web and everything just to get me a gift. How could I ever argue with that?
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Author: Frodo
Date: 2005-01-05 03:11
Really wish I had a sister-in-law like her. I wonder what instrument she gave her husband.
Seriously, I play an overhauled Leblanc Normandy from ebay and it's great. If the Concerto is a top-of-the-line Leblanc it must be greater.
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Author: Jazz3774
Date: 2005-01-05 15:03
I forgot to mention that my A clarinet is a Leblanc LL; It is a great horn.
The only reasons I did not keep the Concerto II was the cost and the fact that I was actually looking for a Pete Fountain Big Easy. WW and BW assured me that the Concerto II had the extra keys I was looking for (which the PF has). When the Concerto II arrived, sure enough, it did not have these extra keys. If I was going to spend that kind of bucks, may as well get what I wanted.
But at any rate, Leblanc makes very fine instruments.
Enjoy it !
Leo
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Author: clarispark
Date: 2005-01-05 18:35
You're so lucky!
I'm still playing on an old Noblet, but since it's technically a Leblanc instrument...
Hey, keep us updated on how it works when you get it. Enjoy!
Best wishes,
Michelle
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-01-05 19:04
Dano, you really don't need to wish for anything more than the Concerto II. The first Concerto was designed by Tom Ridenour and was/is an excellent choice of instrument for anyone. The Concerto II has some upgrades from the original, so you're ready to go. I suggest you practice, practice, practice and listen to the sound of the players you like. You can change a lot with a good mouthpiece/reed/ligature setup and a good Moennig taper tuning barrel. Oh, woops--the Concerto II's tuning barrel is a Moennig taper. I think. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that.
Anyway, if you don't like it you can always get a good price for it. But, you might not get a better instrument.
Bravo for your sister-in-law. All mine ever gave me is an overweight brother.
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Author: Dano
Date: 2005-01-06 23:03
I received the Concerto II today and the first thing that struck me was the fact that this clarinet is not "as black" as my other clarinets. It seems that the color is somewhat rose colored. Not totally rose colored but you can see throught the black alot more than usual. Maybe my inexperienced eyes have not noticed this before. It is even colored throughout and not as "shiny" as my other clarinets. I have never noticed clarinets that are this color when new unless they are meant to be like rosewood or something. Is this good, bad or just a cosmetic difference I should not worry about? The thing plays unbelievably well, feels like a custom clarinet just for my hands and seems to sing perfectly. It is also quite beautifuly put together, no flaws visible at all, and comes in a handy Bam case with an Eddie Daniels mouthpiece. Seems like a good package. I look forward to seeing what it is like as time passes. I guess I owe my sister-in-law another thank you call!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-01-07 01:36
Glad to hear that you like it! Enjoy! As to the coloring, there are more that know about this than I do, but most clarinets nowadays are dyed black because of imperfections in the natural wood's coloring. Maybe this needed less dye, or no dye, or a different color dye. In any case, it has something to do with dyeing.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Jazz3774
Date: 2005-01-07 19:14
Dano,
The three Concerto II's I tried back in November had the same discoloration on the wood. (If we can call it that ). I tend to think like Alexi, the wood color is only a matter of dyeing. IMHO it does not affect the sound or playability.
Maybe you got one of the clarinets I tried? the serial #'s were in the 82000 and had the same BAM case. They also come with two barrels, a 65 and a 67, if I remember correctly. Make sure you got these.
I cracked up when I read Brenda's comment about what her sister in law gave her
BTW Brenda, I bought a nice lig and cap from you on Ebay, great purchase. Thanks !
Leo
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Author: Dano
Date: 2005-01-07 19:38
I might have one of those three clarinets you tried in Nov. The serial #on this one also starts 82 thou. I recieved two barrels, one 66 and one 65. I tried my accubore c66 barrel on this clarinet and it fits and sounds just perfect. I prefer it to the two the clarinet came with. I am glad to hear so far that the color is just a matter of dyeing and not some kind of flaw. I kind of like the way you can see the beautiful wood.
I also cracked up at what Brenda's sister in law gave her. When I mentioned to my neighbor that my sister in law gave me a clarinet, he joked that all he ever got from his sister in law was a headache whenever he saw her.
Dano..
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-01-07 20:16
Dano,
The Concerto II is like the Opus II. The wood is not painted or stained, it's cured top-quality Grenadilla wood. You have a real jewel of an instrument there, my friend.
Don't invite my brother over for dinner unless you have a very sturdy dining room chair. And, he plays the trumpet.
Oh, and to Leo--you're welcome. Wish I had some more merchandise. Maybe I'll buy some more stuff soon.
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