 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Francesca
Date: 2000-10-30 20:26
Can anyone tell me about Leblanc professional clarinets? Everyone always raves about the Buffet R-13, but I saw a gorgeous Leblanc, Opus model I believe. It was made of rosewood and had the auxillary G# key on it. Brasswinds and Woodwinds has it for sale at about $5000. Is it worth the money, or should I go with the R-13?
Francesca
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-10-30 20:53
The Leblanc Opus, a "premium" pro grade horn, should not be compared to the Buffet R-13, a "standard" pro grade horn.
Instead, you should compare the Buffet R-13 to the Leblanc Infinite. The Opus should be compared to whatever Buffet has for a "premium" model. Only you can tell if a "premium" horn is worth the extra price over a "standard" model. Only you can tell if the different wood and additional keys are worth the extra cost.
By the way, I think (from what I remember) that you are quoting list price rather than WWBW's selling price.
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Author: Peter Spriggs
Date: 2000-10-30 21:09
Actually Dee, the list price of the Opus is$5575 and it is made of Grenadilla. I think what Francesca likely may be referring to is the Symphonie VII which is made of Rosewood and the list price being $6300
Peter Spriggs
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Author: Bill
Date: 2000-10-30 21:17
The Opus is $3,195 and the Symphony VII is $3,555 - wwandbw prices.
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Author: Josh
Date: 2000-10-30 21:19
Hi! I'm gonna agree with Dee on this one...There really is no comparison between a LeBlanc Opus (which is unstained grenadilla, not rosewood) and a Buffet R-13. If you want a Buffet horn to make a comparison to, I would say either the Prestige or the Elite would be a better horn to try if you want something on the level of the Opus or the Symphonie VII (the rosewood version of the Opus). Good luck in your horn hunt, and I'd just like to say for the record that if you can afford either one of these horns, I'm insanely jealous of you. :-)
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Author: William
Date: 2000-10-30 23:15
FYI--The Symphony VII, Opus, Concerto, Sonata and Infinite all are accoustically identical. I play Concertos and like them over the R-13s.
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Author: Robert Gifford
Date: 2000-10-31 00:19
I've played both LeBlancs (the Concerto and Opus) and Buffets (C-13, R-13, Vintage R-13, and Elite) I personally prefer the Leblanc clarinets to the Buffets, don't ask me why, I just do. I guess it all basically comes down to personal preferences. Its a hard thing to ask people "What do you think I should get?" People have different opinions, and you might not be happy if you end up with one you don't like.
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Author: Aaron
Date: 2000-10-31 02:18
I play a matched set Bb and A Buffet R-13. I like them, however, about a year agao I had the cahnce to play a matched set of Opus horns and fell in love. The sound and feel were amazing. And I would say in no comparison to the buffet line, sound production wise. They are completely different. My only complaint of the Leblanc horns are their prices, and the keywork sems a little less solid than the buffets. HOwever that's my only complaint with them. When I look for new horns in the next few years, I'''m most definately looking at leblanc. They are a wonderful horn, beatiful sound and just all around a great horn.
Aaron
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Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2000-10-31 02:37
Rosewood is really nice to look at. Grenadilla wood stained black is boring. If you like to gaze wistfully at your horn a lot, rosewood is what to get! You know, that gives me a product idea: How about a nice rosewood reed case for those of us (almost all I suppose) who can't afford rosewood clarinets. We can play our nice boring black horns, and then gaze wistfully at our reed cases. Please let me know where I can order my reed case!
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Author: Dawn Anthes
Date: 2000-10-31 02:44
I've played both R-13s, an Opus and a Concerto. I've sold my R-13 and I'll be getting either an Opus, Concerto, or Symphony VII as soon as I save up a bit more money. Ah- the tone is like butter! But then, give the R-13 a chance, try out a few of them, you might find one that strikes your fancy. And they're cheaper.
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Author: William
Date: 2000-10-31 15:14
What I like about the LeBlanc Concertos that I now play, is their eveness between registers, the fact that they do not lose their focused and centered sound at pp levels, and their great intonation, particularily the A which does not tend to go sharp in the upper register like the Buffets seem too. They just seem to play with more freedom and allow me to put more expression into my playing. Now, if I could just find a brand of reed played as well............
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Author: Anthony Taylor
Date: 2000-11-01 23:11
Though I play R-13's, I really like the LeBlanc Opus clarinets. In 1999 I spent a few days in Kenosha at the LeBlanc factory and at IMS in Chicago trying clarinets, and I especially found that the Opus A clarinets were particularly beautiful. It seems that a superb R-13 A clarinet is rare, and a superb Opus Bb clarinet is equally rare, or close. So if you are considering buying a pair, my advice is to choose the Bb carefully. The Woodwind and Brasswind may not be the way to go unless you can go there in person. For the money you spend, I hope you can try many instruments.
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Author: William
Date: 2000-11-03 04:36
Ditto the above: I picked out my Bb Concerto at the Kenosha factory from a group of over a hundred and I think I have a "good" one--at least T. Ridenour thought so. The A Concerto and Opus clarinets are more uniform so finding that "special one" is not as difficult, but the Bbs require that you try more than a few before you buy. However, I think that it is easier to find a good Concerto or Opus than finding a good Buffet. Go down to IMS in DesPlaines, Ill--the have an extensive inventory of LeBlancs and Buffets as well as the other major brands. Of particular interest to me was their stock of Rossi clarinets.
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Author: Ken
Date: 2000-11-03 10:04
I suppose I'm old school but I strongly feel the quality of your instrument is dictated by your skill level, playing needs/situation and one graduates to a premium grade horn as he/she gets better. To me, it's sensless for a beginner or intermediate to be honking away on a professional line horn (Vintage, Festival, Opus, Concerto, Recital...yada, yada). If you can afford to purchase/play on these horns for pleasure that's wonderful knock yourself out, but unless you're an advanced player you won't be able to really tell the difference and it's waste of good money. For my purposes and use (concert band, dixieland/swing) Opus' are fine horns and very flexible, but their hardware overall is cheap, constantly getting out of adjustment and they're NOT road worthy/durable compared to ANY Buffet model in production today. If you play for a living and can work on your own horns go ahead and get an Opus, otherwise be prepared to be sending it to the shop two or three times a year and drop $300-$400.
By the way, a Buffet "Elite" is a smaller bore horn made specifically for chamber playing/settings, if you try and play one in orchestra or concert band you'll get swallowed-up fast.
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Author: Anthony Taylor
Date: 2000-11-04 03:38
I agree with Ken about skill level dictating what instrument is appropriate, and my one criticism of the LeBlanc stuff is that the keywork on some LeBlancs have felt flimsy. I appreciate the stiffness of my silver keys on my R-13, doesn't get out of adjustment much. I am not sure that the issue of the keys would outweigh the strengths of the Opus though, if you like it and can afford it. I know that LeBlanc is working on the key issue...I'd personally be curious to see if anything was done in that regard on the "Millennium Opus".. does anybody know? I know that the shape of the keys was modified, Richard Hawkins designed it, maybe with the help of Larry Combs, not quite sure.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-11-04 11:28
It all really comes down to what you prefer. I don't find Leblanc keywork to be flimsy at all. Instead to me it is light and responsive. Almost all others (Selmer, Buffet) seem heavy and clunky *to me*. So I hope they don't change they keywork (at least before I save up enough to get new one).
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