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Re: Leblanc Low C Neck

Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2023-02-05 01:38

From my own experiments with making bass clarinet necks, the location that Buffet, Selmer and almost all other manufacturers use is pretty much ideal for the upper vent. Even though the Leblanc is cylindrical and has a slightly larger bore I see no reason this would be different. In addition to this I just pulled out a Vito upper joint and the vent is in the exact same location as the Leblanc even though the Leblanc has a double register vent mechanism. This tells me this design decision was done to same money, not produce the best possible instrument.

> first that's an older model which in stock condition doesn't respond as well as
> current model in part of the range.

Correct. When I got my bass the register vent was only 2.6mm in diameter compared to 3mm for the new 1193. However I have since drilled it out to 3.2mm which has made a huge improvement to the point where I now greatly prefer it to a stock 1193. I also have an ICON neck for the 1193 and as best as I can measure the position and length of the register tube are the same to the point where I can swap neck keys and use the ICON neck on my older instrument. As far as I can tell the only difference made on the newer model is the diameter.

> Have you checked how is the alignment of other things too?

Yes, I aligned to the thumb F# tone hole for that photo, the lower register vents just happened to align as well.

Looking at my Leblanc upper joint I see a possible alternate solution. There is roughly 5mm above the vent before the neck socket starts. The register vent could be moved up 5mm and enlarged to 3mm. This wouldn't be quite as big of an improvement as moving it to the neck but it would still be an improvement over the current configuration.

Otherwise my plan is simply to remove the existing pad cup and key arm and install a key arm that goes off to the right side of the instrument (from the players perspective). The key on the neck will be a lever key located on one side much like the Wurlitzer. The key will be held on with a simple pair of posts brazed to a rib which will be soft soldered to the neck. This seems to be the simplest solution with the least amount of modifications required.

-JDbassplayer

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Leblanc Low C Neck new

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