 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2001-06-12 01:28
Hi
Can anyone explain to me why Noblet clarinets all seem to have different trill key designs? Some seem like adaptations of the LeBlanc "inline" jump keys...others
are just straight...while some have a Buffet look to them....what's the story? Are the ones with the Buffet "swoosh" look older models?
thanks....gibson
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-06-12 15:00
That's a question for someone at Leblanc to answer. Or, you could do some research to discover when Noblet changed to the in-line trill key set up they now use. I do know that Leblanc, as a company, has done a lot of research and design in the last decade or so in order to keep up with Buffet and others with new designs. The Noblet is one of their older clarinets, originating with the Noblet company 220 years ago (they just celebrated their 250th year, but their clarinet wasn't designed until 30 years after their founding).
The reason for changes usually is a quest for something that works better than the old. The Buffet-style keys are probably those that they call "offset," and are on the Symphonie VII, the Opus, the Ambiance and are one style on the Concerto. The Concerto is also available with "in-line" keys.
Most of the upper level pro models have the offset key action, which is sometimes more comfortable to professional players. Why? Who knows. I play both and it takes a min. to get used to the difference, but then it's a matter of deciding which clarinet I want to play for which music and which mood I'm in.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-06-12 15:04
John, any explanation is prob. a "trade-secret" of the LeBlanc-Noblet-Normandy-Vito manufacture, perhaps using what they had made up and available in France AND in Kenosha, Wis [and elsewhere] . The Leon LeBlanc patent on the jump keys is US 1,926,489 {1933} Paris , Fr., prob. available only? on the top cls made in Fr?. I have a "Stubbins" model [his pat is 1950] saying "Made in France by Noblet" which has the straight [not Buffet "curved" nor jump] which I associate with the earlier Normandys and the US Vitos. Others, please help. Don
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-06-12 23:47
I've found that the Normandy "Specials" have the "swoosh" look as John describes them, as well as the Normandy's that aren't the Normandy 4's. I've even worked on a few Normandy 10's, as well as some Normandy 6's, 7's and 8's. As far as the Noblet's go, I can't quite remember which ones have the sculpted trill keys. Most of them have the jump keys. The only ones that I know have the sculpted trill keys are the older D.N. Noblets.
John
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