 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Charles
Date: 2001-12-17 17:22
My son started playing clarinet 2 yrs ago but not serious. Last summer, he joined local youth orchestra. Same time, he met real good teacher. He is flying now. He started to learn "Mozart Concert" last week. He is pretty much talented young man. He plays my Leblanc L7. I bought this horn 2 yrs ago. It was a new old stock. It looks new, plays like new.
I have a chance to get a new Leblanc Concert at $1000 less than current price. I want a decent horn but I also want to give him a better horn. I expect him to play the horn for his life long. My choices are 1. Give him my L7 and get used pro or intermediate for me. Or 2. Buy a concert for him and keep L7 for me. I know it's a stupid question. But my point is " Is L7 good enough for him to play long time?"
Thanks in advance.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-12-17 18:08
[ ...(pssst) There are no stupid questions. There have never been stupid questions. There will never be stupid questions)... 
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I vote for No. 1 for the time being. Let him continue with the L7 instrument he's become used to. Get the Concert for you if that's what you like. He's doing very well, see how things work out for him.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2001-12-17 22:22
As I see it, you are really asking two questions here. First, how far can a promising clarinetist go with a Leblanc L7 and, second, should you buy a Concert(o).
To address your first question, I think the L7 is good enough for him to play a long time. According to Dave Surber at Leblanc, the L7 was a high-end professional instrument when it was being made during the 1970's. I own two that I have restored and, while they are not going to replace my primary instrument (an R13 from 1963 -- after almost 40 years, I guess I've grown attached), I really like the way they play. The L7 *is* older technology so if your son makes it to Curtis or Juilliard or Michigan State as a clarinet major, he will eventually probably want to get a newer instrument, possibly by a different manufacturer, but, by that time, he might also want to replace the Concerto. If he continues that far, however, he will have enough experience/ability to choose exactly the clarinet he wants and the L7 should still make a good backup. Otherwise, IMO, an L7 far exceeds the minimum standard for high school, college (at least as a non-clarinet major who plays for enjoyment) and amateur adult ensembles (where he will probably still have a better instrument than 90% of the other members). I also think the L7 can function very well for a doubler.
With regard to your second question, I'm not sure what you mean by $1,000 less than current price. To me, "current price" is what the mail order stores such as Woodwind and Brasswind are quoting -- somewhere around $2,100 -- $2,200 as near as I can tell. If you're saying that you can pick one up, brand new, with full warranties, etc., for around $1,100 and you like the way it plays, I would say that it is a very good buy. If, however, you equate "current price" more closely to current list price, about $3,650, then $1,000 less is not really much of a bargain.
Best of luck with your decision.
jnk
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Author: Charles
Date: 2001-12-17 22:45
I can get a new concert around $1300 by the end of this month but it's from out of US.
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Author: Charles
Date: 2001-12-17 23:11
No! I personally got an offer from him. I'm buying some sax stuff(custom made sax neck) from him.
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-12-17 23:34
I think what Mark is trying to tell you is that you will not have any warranty from LeBlanc if you purchase the instrument from another country. You're on your own. Also expect to pay customs duties on the instrument.
jbutler
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Author: Charles
Date: 2001-12-17 23:41
I see. It's not what I think. I mean it's not a real bid deal, huh...
So, it's clear now. Thanks all.
Is warranty a big matter? How many of you sent your new horn back to dealer or factory? I have no idea cuz I haven't purchased any brand new clarinet.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-12-18 00:06
Any adjustsments (key, pads, plating, etc.) will not be covered. If your instrument cracks - lotta luck getting it fixed ... I
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2001-12-18 04:29
A friend in our community band bought a concerto new summer a year ago. He had enough problems with adjustments/ regulation that he did have warranty work done. I bought an R13 for my son around the same time, we had the tenons shaved under warranty. None of this would have cost very much. But, as Mark points out, cracks are always possible, buying without the warranty means that you are assuming the risk of a cracked joint.
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