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Leblanc 430S - worth keeping, and for how much?

Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2018-05-05 22:54

Hi folks,

After just a few months, I think I've fallen in love with the bass clarinet. And after lots of positive resonance from others, I'd really like to permanently add the bass clarinet to my repetoire.
It was rented from the local music school and has been used since 1997, though not quite regularly, in an excellent youth orchestra. Now, I've often stumbled over the comments that Leblanc basses are mediocre instruments with keywork problems, and a local tech who knew the instrument told me it was unfit for more serious concert use.

But so far, it did more than OK - however it needs a service.
Curiously enough, a part of the double register mechanism has bee removed, so that it cant't be activated by the A key for playing the throat Bb - instead, you need to use the RH G/D key.
Also, it might have a slight crack in it, which is 2cm long, but it didnt affect my playing.
I do admit that it is raspy in the upper registers, but it has carried me very well throughout 2 concerts and seems to intonate pretty well. Playing the Bach suites was absolutely possible, but the RH pinky keys have contact with each other, making for pretty loud rattling.

So, with a necessary repadding, possibly respringing and cork change for the bell tenon, things that I'll gladly do myself, how much should I offer the music school? Should I rather take a look at the Ridenours/kessler style basses? While the keywork needs some serious adjustments, perhaps even bending, I feel that it's far away from being bendy, which might turn out to be a huge advantage over these "plastic" basses.
BTW, I'm more than tempted to order a Gear4Music low C bass, just to see what it can do compared to the Leblanc 430S

Thanks for your advice and best regards,
Christian

Post Edited (2018-05-05 22:59)

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