 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sockmonkey70
Date: 2007-01-27 19:58
Hi everyone! Let me introduce myself and my clarinet history before I proceed to bombard you all with questions ;p
My name is Mary and I am 20 years old. I am a Graphic Design student. I played clarinet for seven years throughout highschool, concert and marching band, and always placed high in our district honorbands. Our band won two sweepstakes in state festival while I played with them..I was second chair clarinet. My first clarinet in the 6th grade was a student grade Selmer. I upgraded mouthpieces and barrels and milked it as long as I could. My last couple of years in highschool, I upgraded to a brand new Buffet Crampon R-13 and continued to use my beloved Charles Bay Mouthpiece. I was planning on playing in college, but the scholarship for band just wasn't worth the time spent in rehearsal. I ended up selling my prized R-13 to help pay for college. It tore me apart to ship that clarinet off to someone else..but hey..I needed the money.
I miss playing soo much and have decided I have gone long enough without music in my life.
Today I bought an overhauled wooden Normandy by LeBlanc on Ebay. It was in my price range (aka not very much, $250) and was sold by a woodwind repair technician with 100% feedback on over 400 transactions. I knew the new corks and pads wouldn't be a hack job atleast. The clarinet also looked to be in great cosmetic condition. I read a little about the Normandy before I bought it and from what I understand it is an intermediate instrument? I figured for the price it would be a nice place to start over again! I know of course it will be no where near the quality of my Buffet, but I know my mouth and fingers probably wouldn't be up to par to an upper level instrument after not playing for so long either.
So what do you guys think? Is this an OK instrument to start again with? I don't really have the money for anything extravagent right now.
Here is the link if you are still able to view the auction.
Here
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2007-01-28 01:28
Buyer is a "sickmonkey"? Your sig is "sockmonkey". No need to besick over this deal. It shoulod do a very adequate job once you get over the 'pity party' about your R13. You may even grow to love the critter.\
Bob A
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Author: sockmonkey70
Date: 2007-01-28 02:45
Well I played on a cheap Selmer most of the time while I was in school till those last two years, and made it sound pretty decent with the right barrel and mouthpiece so I am really excited about this new clarinet despite it not being a Buffet! No pity party here! Just wondering what to expect with the instrument quality You can make just about any clarinet sound good with a good embochoure, reed, and air flow..and a nice mouthpiece
Mary
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Author: leonardA
Date: 2007-01-28 04:29
At my last lesson my teacher played my Vito plastic clarinet, and I was amazed at the beautiful tone he got out of it. Just goes to show how much depends upon the player. I have a Leblanc Noblet wooden horn, similar to the Normandy, and on a good day it sounds very nice to me. You should do fine with the Normandy. Good luck and welcome back.
Leonard
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2007-01-28 09:27
Which Normandy model is it ? Ebonite, 4, 10 ??
I'm going to assume you bought a Normandy 4, which is a very nice beginner instrument. I purchased one myself new back in 1978 - I still have it. It plays very nicely though tonal-wise it won't compare to your R-13 (to the discrminating ear).
The keywork is very nice and great for smaller hands IMHO - or basically the placement i've grown used to. I also have a Noblet 45, Leblanc LL, Classic, and Selmer CT & O model. The Normandy is very nice and I play it from time to time. In college I was the principal clarinet for a year and I played my Normandy (above all the other high end clarinets).
It will take you far and have fun. It's a nice clarinet and you can't beat it for the money IMHO.
==========
Stephen Sklar
My YouTube Channel of Clarinet Information
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Author: sockmonkey70
Date: 2007-01-28 09:44
Actually I am wondering which model it is. There is no visible number anywhere on the instrument (like the 4)..But it is clearly wood. So I am a little bit stumped.
The photos are in the auction link at the bottom of the first post if anyone wants to take a wack at it
Post Edited (2007-01-28 09:46)
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-01-28 14:42
Lots of people have played Normandies so you are in good company. Not much point in asking opinions about your purchase after the fact, however.
Bob Draznik
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2007-01-28 15:47
even though it's not stamped as such i'm pretty sure it's a "4" model.
the other odd series models have selmer/buffet type keywork. and the 8 & 10s have a slightly different emblem (if i recall correctly).
welcome to the "Normandy 4" club. it's an inexpensive, great sounding clarinet.
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Author: sockmonkey70
Date: 2007-01-28 16:05
LOL Good point BobD. I really just wanted to know what kind of quality to expect from it. I can't wait for it to come in!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-01-28 19:41
Your Norm. 4 may be one of the earliest Leblanc USA cl's, so it may have some design characteristics of the 1930-40 Leb-Paris horns. In this time period Leon L and Vito P were trying to gain market share vs Selmer, Buffet and several [good] US makers. What N 4's I've seen were certainly good "student to intermediate [wood]" cl's, and in good repair, with some "tweaking" to improve individual notes, were good players. I've been "working-up" a discarded old Selmer Signet 100, and am much pleased-surprised at its mellow-dark tonal character. Have fun, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: sockmonkey70
Date: 2007-01-28 19:48
Attachment: 2fba_3.JPG.jpg (95k)
Attachment: 3acf_3.JPG.jpg (91k)
Attachment: 2999_3.JPG.jpg (69k)
Thanks for the information on the instrument! I was not surewhat model it was...I couldn't find any information on the forum about the Normandy clarinet's without the number marked on them.
It does have France stamped on it if that means anything..Would it still be US?
Here are some close ups of the horn attached.
Post Edited (2007-01-28 19:49)
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-01-28 20:54
> It does have France stamped on it if that means anything..
> Would it still be US?
Rest assured - there are decent clarinets made in the US too. ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif)
I wouldn't worry too much until you've actually played that beast. If it has been professionally overhauled/repaired/refurbished, then chances are good that you have a very decent player.
What really counts is how it behaves in your hands. No picture will ever tell.
--
Ben
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Author: sockmonkey70
Date: 2007-01-28 21:26
LOL I have been salivating at the mouth looking at the pictures...CAn't wait to get my hands on it!
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2007-01-28 22:27
Don - what time frame are you talking about with Leblanc USA ? From my past research Leblanc didn't actually purchase Normandy until 1978. (information found on the past leblanc website)
In 1964 (and i'm sure years before and after) Normandy used that Emblem for their model line. I'm not sure exactly which models but they definitely used it for their Normandy 10 model.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-01-29 15:59
Hi Steve - You prob. know more of Leblanc, Normandy and Noblet history, at least for their corporate connections/dates, than I. I have collected over the years some brochures of Leb in which Norm and Nob are also shown, some with [old] prices and dimensions. So I just concluded that, no matter who "owned" who, there was considerable "interplay", prob. extending to exchange of tech info and mfg'g techniques, so that the Leblanc "line-up" would extend from student/beginner to intermediate to professional ww and other insts, so as to be competitive, with Selmer in particular. Much of this is supposition, of course [sorry GBK] but I was an active player in these years, and close friends with a number of music stores. Will be happy to learn more, and correct my impressions of this "funny business". Regards, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: sockmonkey70
Date: 2007-01-31 01:23
I have been looking and looking and can't find any leads on the
model/ year on this clarinet.
The closest one I found was here.
Here
It has the same case and logo as the clarinet I purchased..except it
has Noblet special on it, which I don't see on mine.
Does this give any hints to any of you clarinet historians?
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2007-01-31 02:40
Don - those days they shared alot that's for sure. I'm guessing that they shared bodies with Noblet/Leblanc too. Of course pure guess - well a bit more than a pure guess as I compared two relatvely same date Normandy/ Noblets bores which were very similar (though difficult to measure accurately and .001" difference isn't much here and there anyways) - same tenon rings too.
I'd be interested in seeing those old marketing ads.
sockmonkey
- you'l notice that Normandy Special in your link had different keywork than your Normandy. Yours is inline, that one is offset trill keys (like Buffet/ Selmer). The offset trill keys are found on the Normandy Special, 5 & 7 as I recall. The special sometimes also was a variation of stuff too - silver plating, plastic bell .. seems like any spare part they made a variation from time to time and stamped it special (not sure how accurate that is but just from a few passing over my bench and watching ebay)
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2007-01-31 20:02
I was surprised to hear about the absence of any number. I wonder if that means it's one of the more recent Normandy 4s?
I have a Normandy 10 from 1966 in excellent condition. I noticed that the bore appears much rougher than most clarinets, and the wood is darker and has a different 'feel', as though it's more dense.
Last time I looked on Ebay there appeared to be quite a lot of Normandy clarinets.
Steve
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-01-31 20:28
> Last time I looked on Ebay there appeared to be quite a lot of Normandy
> clarinets.
They must be in season now.
<resists from navigating to That Auction Site>
<must...control...clicking...finger...>
Heck, I thought that this clarinet must have arrived in the meantime. Mary, have mercy on us! Don't withhold the news! Did it arrive? How does it sound?
--
Ben
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Author: sockmonkey70
Date: 2007-01-31 23:56
Haven't gotten it yet tictactux! It's tracking information has it set to arrive on Firday! (Really hope it gets here tomorrow instead!)
Steve, the repair technician who did the overhaul said it looked to be an older clarinet.. So I don't think it is one of the newer models Who knows though!
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Author: sockmonkey70
Date: 2007-02-03 16:18
Update!
Finally got the clarinet in today! It is BEAUTIFUL!! I cut my finger wide open with scissors getting into the FedEx box though, so that may be a set back LOL.
The cork and padding looked great..The corks needed alot of grease. Haven't played yet..Wanted to let the cork grease set for awhile and maybe regrease it.
The serial number is 22XXX so I am going to see what I can find out! Wish me luck
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Author: sockmonkey70
Date: 2007-02-03 17:23
OK So I finally played it. It is very very free blowing, but I can tell I have some cobwebs to knock off. I squeeked like a 6th grader on more than one occasion. I am having trouble with being flat on my higher register notes. Barrel pushed all the way in..Saying Eeeeeee. It will come to me though.
Guess time will mend all.
Very pleased with the horn though!
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2007-02-04 14:57
-- "The serial number is 22XXX so I am going to see what I can find out! Wish me luck" --
http://www.saxmaniax.com/snclarinet.htm
I guess from the serial number, it could be from around 1963.
Happy playing!
Steve
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