The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Koo Young Chung
Date: 2006-08-17 00:21
I have a old Leblanc whose serial # is 36885.
Anyone knows the model name and year it was made?
(I couldn't find the website.)
Maybe some idea about current value,too?(It's in excellent condition.)
Thank you.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-08-17 01:36
MyLeblanc L7 ser # is about 43xxx [1980s] so you likely have an LL, Symphonie, Classic, Dynamic or other [ of many] named models. If you can measure/caliper the top and bottom bore sizes of the upper joint, we could perhaps help more, they were all quite good. Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: BbBabe
Date: 2006-08-17 01:36
In order to find out more about your horn I will need to know if its wood, the engraving, and if there's a letter before or after the serial # on the middle tenon. I work for Leblanc and could do some digging for you if you'd like. I know the Leblanc website offers instrument registration if you have enough info on your clarinet. Leblanc's address is http://www.gleblanc.com , or their parent company's website is http://www.conn-selmer.com.
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Author: BbBabe
Date: 2006-08-17 01:41
The length and series of the engraved serial # vary depending on the model so its difficult to really try and pinpoint the horn by the numbers unless you have a physical database in front of you LOL.
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Author: Koo Young Chung
Date: 2006-08-17 05:40
Thank you for your responses.
It is made of grenadilla wood and I.D.is 14.6 and 14.9 mm.as far as I
can measure with my caliper.(wood is very good quality,I've never seen any better wood.)
And it has two cursive L's above Leblanc logo facing each other.
There are no letter at all with serial number.
I'm not interested in registering my clarinet now.
I'll greatly appreciate if you can find more info about this clarinet.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-08-17 10:56
"And it has two cursive L's above Leblanc logo facing each other."
You've hit the nail on the head there - it is indeed a Leblanc LL.
It'll last you for years. I have a fairly recent LL full Boehm and it's an excellent instrument.
They were my first choice of clarinets when I began studying, but they were too expensive for me at the time.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2006-08-17 10:57)
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Author: joannew
Date: 2006-08-17 16:16
Attachment: Leblanc.jpg (271k)
BbBabe... maybe you could tell me something about my Leblanc A? Here are a couple of pictures. No serial number. It has a beautiful response, although could use a good overhall.
Thanks for any info!
Just out of curiosity, what benefit does one have from registering an instrument with Conn-Selmer?
Joanne
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-08-17 17:13
Congrats, Joannew, you have what may be a "rare bird" [IMHO] , as evidenced by the more complex register key/pinch Bb structure. While I will bow to BbBabes interpretation of this bit of Leon Leblanc's [incidentally thats the LL, K Y C !] inventive history, this structure, is similar to, but beyond, the Stubbins improvement [US Patent 2,509, xxx] of our poor-sounding pinch Bb, and is shown in LL's Pat 3,079,xxx [cant remember all the no's, but have copies, somewhere !, all are in our Archives]]. So. your cl may one of a few "experimental" [Soprano] models, with this keying, which became [perhaps] the very best structure for the larger cls, alto, bass, and contras. I dont know about Leb's Bassets, the Horn in partic., but probably, others please HELP . Velly interesting, a museum piece ??. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-08-17 17:22
I wish I bought the one of these similar to Joanne's that was for sale on eBay in France!
The one I saw listed had the inline side/trill keys (still in unplated NS), and didn't command too high a price, but I think I didn't bid on it because it was a 'local pick-up only' sale.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: joannew
Date: 2006-08-17 18:05
I would love to find the matching Bb for this one - I'm really happy with it so far (despite a few leaks), and that middle Bb really seems to jump out!
Definitely my best pawn shop find yet
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-08-17 18:09
I bet you wish I never mentioned the Bb version I saw on eBay now!
But keep looking on eBay - this one was in France, and who knows? You might find a matching Bb purely by chance.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2006-08-17 18:26
"The one I saw listed had the inline side/trill keys . . ."
Chris, are you referring to keys where the key cups of the shorter trill keys are in cutout places under the shafts of the longer ones -- as opposed to the type where the shafts are bent 90 degrees so that the key cups are out to the side. I see many clarinets with both type trill keys and have always wondered if one style is preferable to the other.
EuGene
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-08-17 19:15
Hi E G S - The "jump trill key" structure, affording vertical pad closure, has been and still is one of Leblanc's sales-incentive "improvements" . However, advantages over the Buffet/Selmer angular closure is difficult to prove [IMHO]. It and other features were/are shown in Leon L's first [as far as I know] US patent 1,929,xxx [1930's, well expired !], and they still list [brag?] these in ads, brochures etc. To me, all of these features, well engineered, was their road to marketing success. A bit of the "better mousetrap" syndrome? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-08-17 21:03
The 'inline' or 'jump' trill keys were definitely a good idea, and indeed they prove to be good in practice - the relative toneholes are set above the bore centre line (lateral) thus reducing the likelyhood of water getting into them. My LL has this, and I'venever had gurgles from any of the side or trill keys (and as mine's also a full Boehm, the C#/G# tonehole is right on top, well out of running condensation's way).
But since the Concerto came in, I feel Leblanc have unfortunately regressed by using offset side and trill keys, and consequently much lower toneholes in relation to the bore centre line- and I've noticed players of both Concerto and Opus clarinets complaining about water getting into the side toneholes (especially the side F# tonehole which is right next to the thumb bush on the inside), and seen the evidence for this myself on the Opus and Concerto clarinets I've repadded - watermarks around these toneholes and stained pads.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BbBabe
Date: 2006-11-14 14:57
Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you! I did not forget your query. After extensive archiving, we discovered your horn was built in January of 1972. The model is an 1176 LL Leblanc. You would have to check into professional auctions for the estimated selling price of your horn.
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