 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Phil
Date: 2001-02-24 00:10
I am trying out a new Leblanc "Concerto" A clarinet. I am just wondering what the boards view was on these horns. Meaning all acpects of the horn from keywork to tone. I know noone that owns or plays a leblanc, and am a current Buffet player, and need an A that will play well. One may ask why not just buy a Buffet A calreint, well I do own one, and it is the pits, just no projection or life or fire in the tone as is on my Bb R-13. So i'm looking to other options, the leblanc being one. And for $1400 for a brand new horn i couldn't pass it up.
Thanks
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-02-24 01:22
I can't speak specifically to the Concerto model, but I am one of several people on this board who plays and loves an older Leblanc Bb instrument.
While I do not know if my experience applies to the Concerto, I find that my Leblanc Symphonie II (made in the early to mid 1950s) is more agile in the the altissimo register than the limited number of Buffets that I have tried (ones belonging to friends and instructors). It is also less resistant and easier blowing throughout the registers. On my particular instrument, I find that if I wish to blend with Buffet players in the altissimo range, it is best to select the fingering option where the right little finger is *not* on the Ab/Eb key. Otherwise I'll be slightly sharp in comparison.
Leblanc makes good quality products and the Concerto is one of their latest professional models. If you like the way it plays, then that should be all that's necessary to make your selection.
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Author: Pat
Date: 2001-02-24 03:30
I found switching barrels helped me with my A clarinet situation. I do own both R13 Bb and A. I just switched to a chadish 66 A barrel. i found it matched my b flat in terms of life and energy and I project very good as well. i was using a moenig 67 (it still tunes good with my instrument), but was a little stuffy. Now i am loving my setup currently. I tried out an leblanc concerto and wasn't really impressed with it. The question is with the leblanc, is it a good match for you Bb?
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Author: Phil
Date: 2001-02-24 04:27
I have and play on a chaddash barrell alreaaady and it made No difference, it is even a 65mm and pitch is still low...I'm just ready to try something different...and this A was the best out of 10...
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Author: Todd
Date: 2001-02-26 04:36
I purchased a Concerto A about 3 years ago. I have a Buffet R-13 Bb and chose the LeBlanc because it played with less resistance than the Buffet. Compared to the Buffet for me, the Concerto played effortlessly. Now that I've had it for a while, I still like it but I notice that many of the pieces of cork have now come off. The keys are very noisy and the tone has become fuzzy on some notes. I need to take it in to my repairman to replace the pieces of cork that came off, quiet the key mechanisms and look for bad pads. I'm not sure how long new Buffets last before needing repair work, but it seems like this should not be happening so soon. The corks and excessive noise started last year. My Buffet, which I've had for 23 years, finally went to the repairman for the first time this year to replace a couple of bad pads.
Todd
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Author: William
Date: 2001-02-26 15:08
I've been playing the LeBlanc Concerto A for about ten years now. When I first started, I found it to be a more even and better accousical match for my R-13 Bb and much better in tune than my R-13 A. About seven years ago, I switched slso to a Concerto Bb so that there would be a better "match" of keywork than with the Buffet. The Buffets have good sounds, but the Conceros play more evenly and are much better in tune and I continue to use them as my "main-line" instruments. I recently switched to using a 64.5mm Chadash barrel on my Concerto A with has improved the over-all projection as well as the upper register sound focus and use the shorter barrel on my Concerto Bb when I have to play above 440. As far as repair history, I find maintaining the Concertos to be pretty much the same as I did for my Buffets--as we all know, all clarinets are like good dogs, they need a lot of TLC to "stay healthy." Hope this helps a bit.....good clarineting!!!!!!!
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