 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Hy-Dex
Date: 2026-10-24 22:01
Hello, I am appealing to this forum for any possible reliable information. First, please permit me to stipulate respectfully that I, myself, am knowledgeable and experienced, and that I am a meticulous, creative thinker and problem solver in my own right. However, here is the issue that I do not understand.
Why would a brand-new Bb clarinet leave the factory with a bore that is smooth as glass?
I estimate that I have purchased between 25-30 brand new clarinets (Bb/A) throughout my life thus far, and although the bores were not necessarily rough inside when they were brand new, they also were not perfectly smooth. They became smooth as glass per se over a couple of years' time as they were played, slowly broken in, and swabbed, which is my understanding of the normal or usual course of things.
So, to encounter a brand-new clarinet with a bore that is already smooth as glass is a very highly unusual phenomenon for me. And, I happen to know that this is not the standard outcome leaving the factory for other examples of this make and model. Does anyone know why this might be the case for this one example, and/or can anyone speculate why this might be the case for this one example?
Why did the factory deliberately polish the bore of this one clarinet the way that it obviously did? This is a mystery to me. By the way, the sound is exquisite, warm, lush, yet colorful.
I know that we may never have the answer to this question, especially because the maker is now defunct. Yes, I am speaking of LeBlanc France and the LeBlanc Concerto II model (New/Old Stock), of which I have multiple other examples.
Any respectful, considerate contributions are most welcome. Thank you.
Hy-Dex
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2026-10-24 23:46
The final phase of putting all the pieces together (that were disparate blocks of wood) is the polishing of the bore. In the case of the Wurlitzers (100c) that I received in the mid '80s, they looked as you described and I wondered the same thing. Then a year later, the bore looked like the skin of a shriveled up old man and I similarly wondered why that was. Apparently for Wurlitzer, they place a lacquer coating in the bore that is meant to be buffed out by the manufacturer at around the year mark........I did not know this. So it depends I suppose on the maker, their intent, and how meticulous they want to be for each instrument. For a manufacturer cranking out horns like Buffet R13s, I would guess there is not much but the bare minimum accomplished on each horn (adequate but still nominal).
..............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2026-10-25 04:50
If you really want to know about late Leblanc clarinets, contact Tom Ridenour of Ridenour Clarinets. Tom was the Acoustician who designed the Leblanc Concerto clarinet.
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A and Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
