 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2007-04-09 18:38
Tom is such a great asset to the clarinet community, particularly for his knowledge and skill with the instrument. He's also a very fine clarinetist in his own right.
As many of you may remember, I recently reacquired my old Leblanc Symphonie VII (the rosewood model). It had been in storage a long time (the whole 6 years since I sold it) and the pads were gone and it needed some adjustments. So I decided to have a complete artist grade overhaul (similar to the Brannen's service). I remembered that Tom designed the Opus and Concerto models for Leblanc when he was their designer, so I sent him an email and asked about the Symphonie VII and he told me he designed it as well (with suggestions from Ricardo Morales for a rosewood instrument). I sent it to him for a full overhaul. When it was finished I decided to drive over to Dallas (about 3 1/2 hours from my home) to pick it up in person so I could make sure any adjustments I wanted were like I wanted. By the way, this is always a good idea with any technician. Better to get it right the first time and not be mailing the instrument back and forth.
I mentioned to a couple of friends in the community band that I was going and I wanted to also try out one of his Lyrique Custom Pro clarinets. They decided they wanted to go also. One brought her Eb that has been giving her fits for a while. The other needed a new instrument desperately.
Tom was such a gentleman and worked on my friend's instrument (even though he didn't know she was bringing it) and got it fixed for her right on the spot. My Symphonie VII is nothing short of amazing after the overhaul. A couple of tiny adjustments after I played it there in his shop and it was good to go--better than ever before. He did some tweeking to the noisy keys and they are absolutely silent. So nice.
We had a great time trying out the instruments and all three of us bought one. My Eb friend bought a C and I bought a Bb along with my other friend.
The Lyrique is truly a great instrument. Nothing student-like about them. Great sound and excellent intonation. I won't go on and on about them because that has already been done (do a search), but I think several more people in the community band with me will be getting them soon. We do lots of outdoor gigs and the fact that it's hard rubber is such a plus. I'll also be taking it to Israel with me this year for the outdoor concerts.
Post Edited (2007-04-09 18:40)
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Author: William
Date: 2007-04-10 16:33
I would just like to "second" everything Brenda just said about Tom. When I picked out my Concertos at LeBlanc, Tom welcomed me at the door, gave me a personal tour of the Kenosha, WI facility, introduced me to Vito P and Leon LeBlanc (who was visiting from France) and then provided me clarinets (new, off-the-line Concertos) and his own office for play testing. And then, after I had selected each clarinet--Bb and A--he went over and above the "line of duty" offering to do "professional work" on each instrument undercutting tone holes and adjusting key action until they were as "in tune" and even as possible--optimum playing condition. He then offered to take me out to lunch, but both times I had to decline. A true treasure and friend to our clarinetists community. LeBlanc just doesn't seem to be the same without him..........
Post Edited (2007-04-10 19:20)
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