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

Author: clarnibass
Date: 2018-05-09 10:47

Seems that the cost issue is solved anyway.

As mentioned it's a double register mech model as opposed to just a separate Bb key, and the mechanism from the G/D key is original... probably. If it was a simple separate Bb model and was modified to use the G/D for the Bb tone hole, it would usually work terrible as a vent for low clarion (B to Eb). So it sounds more like the linkage from the register mech to the throat A key was just removed for some reason. That area is not visible in your photos.

It's just a personal choice but to me not having the regular fingerings for throat Bb and having to use the D/G key would be a problem that I would fix. Not knowing what part is missing, it could be anything from a simple broken arm to an entire key with its hinge, arms and posts. Getting an original one is extremely unlikely but making one possible. Probably not the most difficult key to make either.

the Leblancs in general are in some ways not as good as the best Buffet and Selmer basses but they have a very good tone and decent intonation. The difference is such that some players might very well prefer its tone over the others.

Re the crack, I know there are so many opinions but after years of seeing just about any type of crack... it's too variable to say anything for sure. Some cracks get very big, then stay that way and never cause any problems. Some cracks start tiny and then suddenly or slowly grow. Some cracks will grow even if you pin or band them (even with excellent repairs).

My approach now is that if it's very small and not through a tone hole, just keep watching it and see if it changes. If it's a little larger, consider gluing it. If it opens again I might even just glue it again (statistically, most cracks that I've repaired that way, when opening after gluing them once, haven't opened a second time). I pin and/or carbon fiber band in some cases but almost never do that as a first repair... or at least it's extremely rare.

It does look like this crack might be getting into a tone hole so it could be a good idea to glue it anyway. Some people always prefer an insert when this happens but. Even though I can do it and sometimes do, it's unnecessary most of the time IMO.

In the case of a like-new clarinet a crack can lower the value significantly. With an instrument like this, maybe a little but not that much.

Post Edited (2018-05-10 07:32)

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