The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sambo 933
Date: 2008-12-18 23:59
Hi,
About a year ago I got a Leblanc Ambiance. I love the instrument, it has a great sound, great intonation, great response, all around it's a pretty great clarinet.
I have become very curious about its back round though. I have met a lot of clarinet players that have simply never heard of the model. During the summer I was able to attend a few master classes with the principle clarinetist for the symphony orchestra here in Augusta and he had never head of it(and we're talking about a guy who studied at Julliard here).
As a matter of fact I have yet to meet a clarinetist who has heard of it, but I am fairly confident that someone on this board has. So what's the deal with this clarinet?
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Author: clariknight
Date: 2008-12-19 00:05
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=92298&t=92298
Someone on that thread (about 5 or six down) about owning a Leblanc Ambiance. He says that they were discontinued and he got it on a closeout deal.
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Author: Mike Blinn
Date: 2008-12-19 06:50
I have a brochure from LeblancFrance which includes the Ambiance (models 1193S, 1193AS). It falls between the Opus (models 1190S, 1190AS) and the Concerto (models 1189S, 1189AS).
According to the brochure:
"The playing characteristics of the Ambiance meet the most demanding performance needs. The instrument offers a rich and round French sound, direct and centered emission and balanced evenness for dependable articulation under all circumstances. The Ambiance is an excellent choice for the professional clarinetist."
Sounds like a winner. I play a Leblanc LX (model 1185S) myself, and I love it.
Mike Blinn
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2008-12-19 18:56
It did not live up to expectations, and had a limited reception in the states.; discontinued rather quickly .
richard smith
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-12-19 19:22
The Infinite appears to have had a similar fate - the Concerto and Opus were the more popular of the top end Leblancs.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-12-19 19:44
Too bad about the Infinite' as it was a good horn.....but the other 2 models probably had higher profit margins. I own one and 3 R13s and rate all 4 horns equally.
Bob Draznik
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2008-12-19 23:14
“It did not live up to expectations, and had a limited reception in the states.; discontinued rather quickly.”
The Ambiance is a great clarinet that “died” a premature death due to LeBlanc USA pushing (advertising heavily) the Opus and Concerto. I understand it was better received in Europe. It is a reverse cone bore instrument rather than poly-cylindrical. I play an Ambiance Bb and enjoy it very much. I really don’t know how to interpret “…did not live up to expectations”. It wasn't marketed well, but those of us who did take the effort to try the instrument found a beautifully lyrical clarinet. I believe it is a gem of a clarinet and fits me better than the R13. It’s a lot more fluid between the registers than the R13 to me (opinion).
John Butler
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Author: aguzz
Date: 2008-12-21 12:23
Hello,
I've play with Leblanc Ambiance a lot from 1993 until february 2008.
My instrument was a pretty instrument and very good performer and I've love this instrument for a long time.
My personal opinion are the same as the other person in this thread....
Andrea
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