Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2010-10-29 13:00
"Music major" covers a pretty wide territory so it's really hard to make a recommendation without knowing more about you, how and how much you plan to play clarinet and your reason for considering these. However, if I were a college student majoring in music and I was looking for a front-line instrument that I planned to play a lot, I probably wouldn't go near any of these. (Well, I might consider the Centered Tone for jazz or pit work if it is in pristine condition and tunes fairly well.)
All of them were professional instruments when they were new. Any of them might be fine for an amateur playing in community music ensembles or a doubler whose first instrument isn't clarinet but they are all old-to-very-old technology. While you can only tell by trying, the L7 will probably have the best intonation and might be an adequate back-up instrument but you may find its tone, for lack of a better word, dull. (It was Leblanc's top-of -the-line when it was new.) The Centered Tone will probably have the biggest sound if you have a mouthpiece that will work with its larger bore but it may have intonation issues. It's best use is probably swing and jazz. If: (1) it has a low Eb, (2) you expect to play classical music occasionally or in a community group, (3) you don't plan to buy an A, and (4) you can transpose, it might be useful.
All of these instruments are old enough to have developed serious problems over the years. At this point they may or may not be able to "hold" an overhaul. In average condition, I wouldn't pay much more than $350 for either of the Leblancs. The Centered Tone might be worth more as a collector' item.
What does your teacher say?
Best regards,
jnk
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The Clarinet BBoard
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