 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DaveH
Date: 2001-12-28 23:57
I'm a saxophone player/collector and know very little about clarinets. Today, I purchased several saxophones from a nationally-known professional saxophonist. He also pulled out a couple of clarinets for me to consider. One was a Normandy soprano with closed holes. I've never seen anything like it. I expect it was made specifically with sax players in mind. Anyone know anything about these? Is this a quality instrument? Is there much demand or value for these clarinets? Anybody? Thanks, Dave
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-12-29 00:24
They are not common, but are still currently available. Yes, they are ideal for sax doublers that might not develop the precise finger placement that a clarinet player would. They are also useful for individuals with a slight handicap that would prevent the use of a normal clarinet. The downside? Usually intonation. Those holes were open for a reason, and they don't typically speak as well in a plateau model (that is the proper nomenclature).
Hope that helped.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-12-29 12:58
The Normandy model is made by Leblanc and depending on when it was made is either a beginner or low end intermediate model. They are, however, nice quality instruments but not of any great monetary value.
As the other respondent indicated, plateau models (i.e. all holes have pads) are still made. While it may be possible that they were thinking of sax players, I believe that it is more likely that they were designed for people who had relatively thin or small fingers that resulted in difficulties covering the holes properly. Of course it is a benefit to sax players too.
If you are interested in this instrument, it would be a good buy if the price is not too high. Check places like the Woodwind and Brasswind and see what a new beginner model with plateau keys runs. I think right now this is available on some versions of the Leblanc Vito (a beginner instrument). Leblanc also makes it available as a special order on at least one of their pro models.
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2001-12-29 20:16
The Leblanc plateau model is built on the LL which is a nice playing medium bore (14.80 mm) horn. I would think that the intonation would be very good on a pro-model plateau horn. After all, altos and basses are plateau models and their intonation can be as good as their soprano counterparts.
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2001-12-29 22:00
I find this very interesting; I didn't know that the soprano Bb clarinet was available with plateau
keys. I'd love to see one.
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Author: Bob Curtis
Date: 2001-12-30 21:09
If I remember these MIGHT be the student lline instruments which were made th help beginners with small fingers at first. It seems that they had a removable pad to cover the key holes which could be removed after the hands got to their normal siae. They definitely served a useful purpose, but did not catch on too well.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2001-12-31 08:19
Several months ago, I restrained myself from bidding on a Normandy full-plateaux clarinet on eBay. It sold for between $100 and $125. Who knows what its condition was -- the seller said it needed new pads. I also wondered, never having closely examined such an instrument, about the thumb hole: is it also covered by a pad? I would imagine that to be inconvenient.
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2001-12-31 16:38
I believe the thumb-hole is covered with a plateau like a bass or alto clarinet. It shouldn't be any more awkward than the thumb-hole plateau on the bass or alto. Plateau models make alot of sense. I'd like to have one myself. Maybe a full-Boehm plateau model.
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-12-31 19:38
Bass or altos have stands that go to the floor or quick and easily-donned neckstraps, though. I know that you use your thumb against the body itself as leverage when it's necessary, but still... it sounds awkward even as I mention it.
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2001-12-31 20:19
The left thumb only supprts the horn when the F-hole is covered. The rest of the time it is held slightly above the hole so it shouldn't matter whether there's a ring over the hole or a plateau. I would be willing to bet that an experienced player could get used to the plateau system in less than five minutes.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-01-01 14:29
Owning one and having another for repairing right now, both Normandy plastics, they remind me of my alto and basses, particularly re: the complexities of keying structure and potential adjustment problems therefrom. While watching football, I'll find-out and report-on success/problems in achieving good playing results. Don
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2002-01-02 02:51
Brenda, thank you for the photo reference. I wonder why the left hand middle and ring finger
are left open and not plateau--my alto is the same way.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2002-01-02 13:27
In the same Leblanc catalog, under "Instruments, Leblanc clarinets, Harmony clarinets, 1176AbS, LL, Ab, Special mechanism clarinets" you will find another plateau clarinet.
My old, wood, plateau Conn alto has keys over all the tone holes, I also have an old metal clarinet, which I haven't seen in about two years, which in also a plateu style instrument.
The alto plays excellently, the metal one... well, it plays O.K., I guess.
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Author: Lawrence
Date: 2002-01-05 19:16
I recently purchased on Ebay a Normandy soprano with plateau keys. The instrument is wood but it has a plastic bell. All keys are covered including the thumb. The plateau keys really help me with my fingering problems caused by big fat fingertips. It has very good tone but a few stuffy notes which I improved by rasing the keys a bit. Action adjustment seems crucial to good tone. It plays in tune with itself but is slightly flat, overall, with a Hite Premier MP. Don Berger, please keep us posted on the sucess of your repairs and what MP works.
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