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Re: Leblanc Paradox

Author: Leon P
Date: 2019-04-06 21:10

Steve,

Thanks very much for all of the useful information! This project is probably going to turn into my own version of "Hunt for Red October" and have just as many dead ends and plot twists to keep my interest.

With your suggestion in mind, I looked up Doctor's and ordered a few products from them to clean and preserve the wood. Who knew that there were so many ways to care for a clarinet? :-)

The Humidity Indicators and Desiccant Canisters made me chuckle; the case came equipped with an old glass pill bottle (think Bayer, Bufferin or Doan's) which had a translucent plastic cap with hole-punched holes. The wad of dried paper towel inside, used to keep moisture in the case, put me in mind of my first clarinet teacher and his everlasting search to keep his instruments in good order. Sometimes the lowest tech can be the best...

I'm going to keep the large pads, which have "VITO" printed on them, as a souvenir and mount them in a small frame for the silliness factor.

The serial number mystery will probably never be solved, which is a shame, but it is fun to have a clarinet with an earlier number. Who knows? It might spur someone to delve more deeply into the company's past and discover more to share!

Cork for the register key is my choice, and I'll keep in mind the edge beveling. For the rest, I'm thinking of Valentino Master's Series. From what I've been able to discover, they fill all of the criteria which you've outlined.

In the meantime, I'm filling the rest of my time with playing my new Ridenour Lyrique Libertas, which Ted Ridenour helped me to select. I'm marveling at the amazing tone and sound, ease of hitting every single, in-tune, note and wondering at the marvelous timber produced, which contradicts every single prejudice instilled in me from my first lesson with Bram de Wilde back in the Dark Ages, regarding "playing a piece of plastic." This clarinet is honestly the finest which I've ever played, and that's including my first clarinet in 1965 (a Leblanc LL), as well as testing out some of the fantastic "clarinet porn" offerings (think Buffet Legende, Wurlitzer, S&S and MOBA). As I'm regaining strength after a major accident, the Libertas is bringing me great happiness from both a physical therapy point of view, as well as being able to create gorgeous sounds again.

Anyway, thanks again for your help!

Regards,

Léon P

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