 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: meanie
Date: 2008-06-05 23:09
Hi,
Does anyone have information regarding L200 (specs, retail price)? I tried the Leblanc web site, but it's not listed (discontinued?). I don't know much about clarinets and I don't play but want to buy one for my little sister (she wants an intermediate one after playing for 2 years).
I gone to the music store and found a L200. The sales man says $1500. I could negotiate lower since it's the only one left and it's on display -- probably for a while. It looks in good condition with no scratches.
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Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2008-06-05 23:44
How does it sound?
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
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Author: meanie
Date: 2008-06-06 00:09
she tried it in a rather noisey place and I don't know much about clarinet sound, so it's hard to judge. I would say it's relatively better than her student clarinet.
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2008-06-06 00:51
$650-750 would be a fair price for an l200, pending on it's condition etc etc. $1500 can get you a r13, might as well head the buffet route.
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-06-06 01:01
Hi,
I have an L200 and it is a terrific clarinet (wonderful intonation). I think the price of $1500 is much too high. Maybe the suggested price of $600 to $700 is much more reasonable.
I am saving mine for one of my granddaughters when she goes into high school to replace her Ridenour 147. But that's a terrific instrument also so...
HRL
Do a search for L200 on this site. We have talked about this fine instrument in the past.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-06-06 02:13
Considering you could get a brand new Ridenour Lyrique hard rubber pro quality clarinet for $1000 today, that hardly seems like a "deal." The L200 was a nice instrument, but this is one that was out on display for who knows how long, and you don;t know how it has been treated while at the store.
If you REALLY want this instrument, have a qualified clarinet teacher look it over and lend an opinion. It's worth the cost of an hour or more of lessons. After that, make a reasonable offer to see what they will accept.
JEFF
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: meanie
Date: 2008-06-06 02:36
hm, thanks; that's quite a bit of price difference ... I must have looked like a newb walking in :p
Is the $1500 for an R13 a used price? I search around the web seems to be selling for $2600; though I'm only looking to spend around a thousand.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-06-06 03:14
It's way too much to ask for that instrument. If you're going to spend 1500.00 you should ask Dave Kessler about a Cadenza. He had them for a bit over 1600.00 at one time. The Leblanc Cadenza is a better way to go in my opinion.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2008-06-06 04:02
As Hank says, if you run a search on this Board (click on "search" at the top of this thread) for "Leblanc L200" without the quotes, you can learn a lot about this model. The L200 was one of a series of models (L7, L70, L27, L200, L300), each of which was relatively short-lived. There is evidence in one of the earlier threads that Hank mentions that Leblanc was making the L200 as early as 1978 and still selling it as late as 1982 (but, by this time the L300 was being manufactured) so the instrument in the music store is probably 25-30 years old. When they were made, the models in this series appear to have been Leblanc's top-of-the-line professional model -- but that was many years ago. IMO, clarinet design has moved forward. (And Leblanc abandoned this basic design a long time ago.) FWIW, according to one message I saw, $1,500 was the price for a brand new one in 1982.
IMO, the store's price is severely out-of-line. On eBay a used L200 would likely sell for $350 - $450. Local stores can legitimately ask somewhat higher prices than you find on eBay because they take some (but, in many cases, not all) of the risk out of the transaction. And the condition of the one in the store is probably better (but not necessarily much better) than what you'd find on eBay. But $1,500 is far too high a premium, IMO. It sounds to me like their either pushing something they've had trouble selling or they don't have many professional clarinets in stock (not unusual for a store that focuses primarily on local K-12 programs). By way of comparison, a Yamaha Custom CS (professional model and, again IMO, a significantly better instrument than the L200), probably <10 years old and in like-new condition sold on eBay today for $850. Unfortunately, your store's list price is so high, it is unlikely you can negotiate them down to a reasonable one -- the gap is simply too wide. But, even if this one were brand new, I think you can find a much better instrument for your sister for less money.
On eBay, $1,500 should get you a fairly recent used Buffet R13 in good condition. For $1,349, Woodwind and Brasswind will sell you a brand new Yamaha YCL-650 (entry level professional model, one level below the Custom CS I mentioned above). Personally, I think that would be a much better way to go.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2008-06-06 14:46
The L300 I owned had been bored out by Leblanc, which was also done to others at that time. Check your instrument , and try before buy.
richard smith
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-06-06 15:37
Jack,
You are right on track with your comments. They are accurate and comprehensive. Nice post.
I do have a little personal knowledge about the L200 which I got from the former LeBlanc designer who shall remain anonymous. LeBlanc did bore several of the L200s (maybe the L300s) and according to my source "really ruined a terrific clarinet." I do have one of the non-bored models and the intonation is flawless and the sound lovely; personally, I like the ergonomics of LeBlanc clarinets.
Jack, I picked up a Yamaha CS Custom last year for just about what you suggested. It quickly replaced the L200 as my #1 and I have never looked back. My R13 is a distant third and could even be squeezed out by a "tricked up" Ridenour 147 that I got for next to nothing.
HRL
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Author: meanie
Date: 2008-06-07 00:53
Thanks for the info everyone. You're probably right I can't negotiate to a reasonable price and it's been in the store for so long.
I think I'll just get a brand new one from online store: http://www.music123.com/Buffet-Crampon-E11-Bb-Intermediate-Clarinet-462795-i1143737.Music123
Anyone own one of these? It's more in my price range.
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Author: meanie
Date: 2008-06-07 01:00
Just did a search on E11, seems to be good price ... found post from someone here in 2001... to be $600.
Edit: hm, if it's just 3% inflation it should be about $720.
Post Edited (2008-06-07 01:36)
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2008-06-07 03:49
meanie,
I have an older Buffet E11 that I got for my daughter to start on and I know a number of adult amateurs who play them. I've used it in situations where I wanted a good clarinet but didn't want to take one of my professional models. IMO, unless your sister decides to pursue playing the clarinet as a career, it could very well all the clarinet she ever needs.
Also, my guess is that the real price will be closer to $720 than it is to $1054. Buffet sets a minimum price at which their dealers can advertise their instruments publicly. Dealers can, however, sell below this price and the E11 Bb is often discounted substantially because of competition and its popularity. The way to get the best price is to order by phone.
I just tried to "buy" an E11 Bb online with interesting results. First, I couldn't even find one listed at Weiner Music (http://www.weinermusic.com). I could find E11 Ebs, As and Cs (none of which are generally discounted much) but not a Bb. Does this mean Weiner doesn't have E11 Bbs? Probably not. I suspect it just means that they aren't advertising them online because they are selling below the advertised price.
When I couldn't find one at Weiner, I went to Woodwind and Brasswind (http://www.wwbw.com), which is essentially the same company as Music 123. Here I could find the E11 Bb but, mirabile dictu, when I tried to add one to my shopping cart I got a "page not found" error. (An old trick to find the real price of clarinets at WW&BW was to add them to your shopping cart. The real price would then show up. Then you could empty the cart. Apparently, that doesn't work anymore. Maybe Buffet doesn't allow it or maybe WW&BW just wants you to call so they can negotiate.) In any case, it appears that the only way you can order an E11 Bb from them is by phone.) To double-check whether there was a problem at the site, I tried adding a Yamaha YCL-650 to my cart. That worked just fine.
So, I recommend you call Weiner, Woodwind and Brasswind and Muncy Winds (http://www.muncywinds.com) and ask what they can sell you a Buffet E11 Bb clarinet for. The toll-free numbers are on their websites. Then you can take the best deal. But, just in case, if none of them is close to (or less than) $725 - $750 plus shipping, e-mail me privately. I just might be able to point you at a store that will sell you one for around $725 (and throw in some extra goodies). The Bulletin Board rules don'e permit me to post that information here, however.
Best regards,
jnk
Post Edited (2008-06-07 04:44)
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Author: meanie
Date: 2008-06-20 02:04
hey, thanks. (some stuff come up and didn't have time/energy to look).
I did finally call Music123 a few days ago with their list price of $1,054 and asked if they can lower to a more reasonable price. Well, they offer to lower the price to $1,028 ... I was like ...
Probably won't call WW&BW since they're the same. I might give Weiner a try tomorrow, but I was browsing through ebay and this one seems to be a good deal (brand new with 2 extra mouthpieces and ligatures for $723).
[ Snipped = GBK ]
Post Edited (2008-06-20 02:05)
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Author: meanie
Date: 2008-06-28 01:22
well, really appreciate your help. I probably can't do it without you people here, so thanks.
I got the clarinet the other day for about $750 including shipping and gave it to my sister. She was very, very happy about it (she better stop calling me meanie :-)
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2008-06-28 17:42
congrats. now you can put the money you saved into your gas tank =) well that seems like the growing trend nowadays.
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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