The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Suzanne
Date: 2000-06-11 18:49
Hi!!! Hope you can help me make a decision. I was quite a good player at one time. I used a Noblet. After having to sell it to pay for college, broke my heart by the way, I am now looking at two different horns--LeBlanc 1142S (Infinite) a pro model or a Buffet E-11 intermediate. LeBlanc new at $1275 (somewhat negotiable) and the Buffet at around $600-$700 new. I plan on playing for personal enrichment, but am unsure if I'll like having an intermediate model again. I don't want to "blow it out." However, my Noblet was an outstanding instrument. I loved its ease and responsiveness. That's why I'm leaning more to the Leblanc. I've heard the Buffet is over-rated and the tone isn't quite to some persons liking. Any suggestions? THANKS!!!
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-06-11 19:20
Suzanne wrote:
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Hi!!! Hope you can help me make a decision. I was quite a good player at one time. I used a Noblet. After having to sell it to pay for college, broke my heart by the way, I am now looking at two different horns--LeBlanc 1142S (Infinite) a pro model or a Buffet E-11 intermediate. LeBlanc new at $1275 (somewhat negotiable) and the Buffet at around $600-$700 new.
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Suzanne,
If you like both equally or near equally, and their tone and intonation both please you, then get the less expensive one and treat youself to a better mouthpiece. However, if one is significantly better than the other, then you need to weight that into your decision.
Since you mention that the instrument is to be used for your own pleasure, other people's opinion of the tone shouldn't factor in very much.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-06-11 19:36
You need to play each instrument for yourself and pick the one that you like. There is some variability among instruments by the way and sometimes you will get an individual "intermediate" instrument that will play better than an individual "professional" instrument.
By the way if you liked the Noblet that you had before, you should try some of them out too. The Noblet 40 would be Leblancs intermediate level competing directly with the Buffet E-11. There is also a Noblet 45, which would be a competitor to the Buffet E-13.
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Author: Bob Gardner
Date: 2000-06-11 22:44
The problem is --they are all good. I have been searching for the perfect horn and now I have four of them. As in most things you get what you pay for. There is nothing wrong with buying a used horn.. Someone purchsed your used and look what they got.
So you may be able to get a used top of the line for the same price as a new middle of the roader. Be use to check pads etc. ask the seller if it is returnable if you wish to send or take it back. Try and get a 7 day at home trial.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2000-06-12 05:44
If I were you I would buy the professonal one if it is in a satisfactory playing condition. 'Infinity' is Leblanc's the very top line instrument. Something like the Buffet's Prestige line-up. http://www.gleblanc.com/
Reason:
1.Anyway you need to overhaul it sometime in future since it is a used one. It will cost some 150$ maybe a year or 2 year from now. Professional one seems to deserve more this overhaul cost.
2.Professional ones have many advantage than intermediates.
Grenadilla material grade,silver plated keys,good key mechanism,better craftmanship,good sealing double skin pads,blue steel etc. Moreover,they have been owned by people who match the instrument grade and knows how to handle the instrument(hopefully?)
3.No regret. You may regret that you may be able to sound better with a pro one someday.
4.You cannot execuse your bad(sorry) tones/technical clumsiness by the instrument use if you use an instrument even pros use.
5.At present you wrote it is for your own fun but in due course you might feel like playing in front of others,when whether other people like your tone may matter.
6.The last criteria would be how you evaluate the price difference 600-650$ in the long run.
Most provably you will be astonished to re-find your own tones other than those you thought yourself good.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-06-12 11:08
Hiroshi wrote:
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If I were you I would buy the professonal one if it is in a satisfactory playing condition. 'Infinity' is Leblanc's the very top line instrument. Something like the Buffet's Prestige line-up. http://www.gleblanc.com/
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This is not quite correct. The Infinity is Leblanc's "standard" grade pro horn and was designed as a direct competitor to the R-13. The higher grades of instrument are the Opus, Concerto, and Symphony.
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