 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ben Shaffer
Date: 2015-10-09 18:46
quick question. Ive got what I believe is a "newer" Normandy 4.
Its got the logo with the bell or Mtn image with the ring around it.
I'm interested in picking up what I believe is an older Normandy 4... its got the logo that looks like an oval guitar pick. So do these older Normandy 4's in general sound better, worse or the same as the newer ones?
I've been told that my newer model was made after there was a fire in the Leblanc factory which destroyed all of there good grenadilla wood and they had to hustle and find some more grenadilla on the open marker which was said to not have been aged as well.
The older Normandys one would assume then were made using better aged wood
If Clarinets are like Irish Blackwood Flutes older stock wood made a hugh difference in the sound of the Instrument
so are the older Normandy 4's better sounding than the newer?
Ben Shaffer
GSO,NC
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Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2015-10-09 19:41
Ben -
Why purchase another Normandy? They're okay instruments, but in the scope of things, not great instruments. In the pre - Selmer/Conn days of Leblanc, the Leblanc branded clarinets were the top, followed by Noblet branded clarinets, then the Normandy.
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2015-10-09 23:48
I am probably the biggest fan of Normandy clarinets on this BBoard, having purchased five instruments and old trade publications for study, compiling a serial number registry, and done the model number research presented on Clarinetpages and ClarinetPerfection.
The wood quality on Normandy clarinets has always been variable. The Noblet works used the very best wood for Leblanc-branded instruments, then used the next-best stuff for the Noblet 45, followed by the Noblet 40, and Normandy got to use the leftovers. In the few years when Noblet built the Normandy 10 alongside the Normandy 4, the higher-priced 10 likely got the better wood versus the 4.
The Normandy 4, Noblet 40, and Noblet 45 share the same acoustic design. If you find the Normandy 4 works for you, I would go for a Noblet 45 instead of another Normandy. You will get an instrument made with better wood, gold plated springs, and more hand finishing.
In today's used clarinet marketplace, there is not much of a premium to be paid for a Noblet versus a Normandy. Seek and ye shall find.
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Author: dubrosa22
Date: 2015-10-12 01:23
According to http://www.clarinetperfection.com/clsnLeblancInfo.htm there was a fire in 2003, but grenadilla stock was not lost:
"In 2003 the company's French factory was damaged by a suspicious fire. The ancient La Couture-Boussey plant suffered more than $3 million of damage, but volunteer fire fighters put out the flames before the building was destroyed. Although some inventory was lost, the factory's valuable stock of antique hardwood was not harmed. The factory was back in production about two months after the fire."
I vote for a Noblet 45 myself. Quality instrument at very similar prices. But obviously if it's feasible a Leblanc is the best of those 3 choices.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2015-10-12 13:20
dubrosa22 brings up a good point: If you can afford a used Leblanc Paris clarinet, that could represent your best option.
Doing a quick scan of completed Internet auctions turns up Leblanc's "Classic" selling in the $300 range. This model will feel comfortable and familiar to a Normandy 4 player AND be an upgrade to a professional clarinet built to the highest standards of the day.
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