The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: woodwind650
Date: 2005-05-08 19:51
I just purchased a new Opus II and it's amazing. The tuning is incredible. I'm so glad to be a part of the Leblanc club.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-05-08 20:16
Congrats - getting a new Clarinet is always a joy.
Like getting a new car except better and a lot cheaper.
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Author: Buster Brown
Date: 2005-05-09 11:24
I almost bought an Opus last year. Unfortunately, I couldn't get used to the key positions. After many years these old fingers couldn't be retrained--at least, not quickly enough. Intonation, tone, etc were all great! Enjoy!!
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2005-05-09 12:03
Welcome to the club ..
It's a great instrument, take good care of it and enjoy it... Enjoy it everyday for the rest of your live My baby is been fixed with a a new upper joint (the wood cracked above the register vent), but I'm still impressed by the beauty of the sound and the superB tuning of the instrument. (The tuning was after the repair still very very good)
Buster Brown,
Did you try the OpusII with new key design? Then just try the OpusI with the old key design. You can still try/buy them in many shops.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-05-09 13:43
I've owned several Opus clarinets and have loved them! Their tone and intonation are so fantastic! I agree with Buster Brown (above) that the key action takes some getting used to and smooth key action is sometimes a bit difficult to achieve on a brand new Opus. A bit of tweeking by pros like the Brannens and you're home free! If, however, yours is great right out of the box you do have a wonderful thing! Bravo!
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Author: woodwind650
Date: 2005-05-09 14:34
I only tried Opus II's with the new key design. It's going to get adjusted this wednesday because the key work isn't tight just yet. It's pretty good right now but there is some tweeking that needs to be done. I can't wait to hear it after it's adjusted.
Post Edited (2005-05-09 18:18)
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Author: Buster Brown
Date: 2005-05-10 12:04
Never tried the Opus I. I guess too much hype about the new improved Opus II stopped me. Tried the Selmer Signature also. Kind of "stuffy". Ended up joining the Buffet crowd with a new Vintage R-13 (oxy-moron?). Been very pleased with it, especially tonal quality and power. The thing really projects. Intonation OK, but requires some effort on my part on just 1 or 2 notes, but I'm able to compensate without much problem. Both the Opus and Signature were better as far as intonation accross the horn was concerned. Never tried the Yanaha's. Not quite sure why. I guess it's difficult for we "old-timers" to accept the Japaneese making good musical instruments.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-05-11 15:48
Buster, I have to agree about the Selmer Signature. I tried 6 of them trying to get one I liked. They were all stuffy. Loved the key action, though.
As for the Opus and Signature on intonation---I agree. Leblanc is always a great instrument on intonation throughout the scale. The Selmer was a great one on that--just puny in tone.
I've bought and sold several Yamahas for students--usually the 52--never a high level pro model. I've been quite impressed with that model. They've changed it to the 450 now, though. Perhaps it's time to try a pro model and see how it compares to the Opus, Buffet and Signature.
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2005-05-11 22:07
I also agree about the Signature's. I've tried 7 Signature's but have never found the quality of the first one that I tried about a year earlier...
I still believe that they changed the concept in a bad way, they made the rings larger and changed some of the left keys (around the Eb key) and all the new ones sounded stuffy...
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