 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: SteveT
Date: 2002-10-13 03:52
I am considering purchasing a Leblanc Opus Bb. I really like the clarinet, but a couple of people have told me that Leblancs are much more difficult to maintain than Buffet clarinets. I also did a search and read a few posts on this board that also discussed maintenance issues with Leblancs. I would be curious to hear what other people's experience has been. Thanks.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2002-10-13 04:03
And the source of this anecdotal evidence?
A decent overhaul will last years... professional horns of all stripes are built for performance and reliability.
One thing to be cognizant of; any modified instrument will have no manufacturer's warranty service... modification void coverage.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: nzdonald
Date: 2002-10-13 04:22
i've actually heard the opposite- that Leblanc clarinets were better built and lasted longer without swedging (sp?) etc...
donald
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: james
Date: 2002-10-13 05:40
Actually nmdonald, from my expierence with leblanc instruments the horns stay in adjustment better after being worked on by a highly skilled repairman. Even with that I still had a lot of trouble with keeping my opus in adjustment. I had to visit linda brannen very frequently. I have found that buffet's keywork for some reason is much better and stays in adjustment longer. Would anyone know why leblanc key work isn't as strong as buffet's?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-10-13 11:58
I've had no problem with Le Blancs staying adjusted - no more than other makes.
However for decades (and maybe still) they used a substandard glue for key and tenon corks, and possibly pads too. It has consistency and adhesive properties resembling that of firm cheese.
An overhaul should involve total replacement of soft materials and deal with this.
Also, Le Blanc is intolerant of pads that are too thick. Typical 'medium' thickness pads are too thick and will almost certainly establish unreliability. Thinner pads are less tolerant of substandard installation. So it depends on how the overhaul is done!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jbutler
Date: 2002-10-13 13:37
I agree with Gordon. LeBlanc makes a fine instrument. I purchased a new LeBlanc Ambiance and use it for my main clarinet now. I still have my Selmers (CT and BT), but I find the construction of the LeBlanc to be quite superb with attention to detail. I've tweeked it a bit to my needs, but it will not be any more troublesome to maintain than any other clarinet.
jbutler
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jbutler
Date: 2002-10-13 13:55
BTW LeBlanc is discounting to dealers some of their top clarinet lines. LeBlanc decided to delete some of their top models from production in order to not compete with themselves. You can negotiate quite a good price with a LeBlanc retailer for these models. I purchased the Ambiance for way less than half of retail. For a list of close out models you can go to this link:
http://www.gleblanc.com/welcomenew/homeset_720.html
I am not a LeBlanc dealer, just passing along information.
jbutler
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2002-10-13 15:45
The only problem with LeBlanc instruments I have heard of is that their key plating does not hold up well. As for the mechanizms themselves, they have always had good reputations (except the Vito student bass clarinets which are difficult to keep in adjustment). Personally, my LeBlancs (silver plated Concertos) have never had anymore repair episodes than any of my other Selmers, Buffets or Yamahas.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Donn
Date: 2002-10-13 16:33
I have had no problems of any kind with my LeBlanc 1610 in over three years
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: donald nicholls
Date: 2002-10-13 21:26
i have never owned a Leblanc clarinet (except for my E flat which is a very old model)... my earlier posting was made in reference to comments made by 1) a professional player in the US who owned a pair of Buffets and a pair of leblanc concerto clarinets and liked them all 2) an established repair person from the US who spent lots of time working on Buffets owned by professional players and wondered why they didn't play Leblanc as they were better designed (and it wasn't Tom Ridenour!) 3) an international soloist performing on Leblanc who commented that he hadn't needed to have his instrument adjusted yet despite over a year of playing for many hours every day, and that his buffets had needed more regular visits to the shop to reduce key sideplay.
however none of this is from my own experience.... i would note that the Leblanc "in line side keys" on the top joint and practise of having the low G#/D# and F/C keys on separate posts seems sensible (i can't remember, doesn't the Concerto keep these but not the Opus?).
Gordon- have you dealt with the "new" line of Leblanc clarinets? (concerto/opus etc, actually around for more than 10 years) i haven't seen any of them at all (except for one in a shop over on the north shore) since comming back to NZ in 1998, i can't imagine that you've had to repair any of them... the comments above were in reference to those instruments, not the old L27, L200 and L300 or LL models that you tend to run into down here.
just passing on what i've heard from professional players in the US
donald
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-10-14 02:16
Donald, there must be getting on towards 1000 models of instruments that pass my workbench, so with my poor memory for names and dates, I make little effort know the details, such as production times, of different models.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: donald nicholls
Date: 2002-10-14 04:30
Gordon, the top range of Leblanc clarinets changed radically some years ago (around 1992?)but this never seemed to hit the NZ market for various reasons.... i think if you'd seen a Concerto, an Opus or a LX2000 you'd remember as they have quite vivid markings that set them aside from the previous range. They were all designed by Tom Ridenour and play very well- superior intonation and a very even balanced tone. I think right after Mr R left Leblanc there was a period where the factory was a bit imprecise with the bore measurements, but this was sorted out.
Unfortunately it is true (i believe) that they don't quite have the ringing sound of the Buffet. Most of the comments i've heard from top players that use them (both annecdotal and in advertising) is that they are "easier" to play- fewer compensations for intonation, easier to maintain tuning as you change dynamics, more even articulation etc... if this makes your playing better then maybe it's worth missing out on the super focused "Buffet sound" (yes yes, i know, in the end it is YOU who makes the music not the gear, but better gear makes your job easier doesn't it?).
there are virtually no examples of these instruments being played in NZ, certainly none owned by a professional level player.
donald
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2002-10-14 11:44
Buffet has only temporarily won the marketing race. There is nothing wrong with Leblancs or Selmer's mechanically or otherwise. They do not appear in the workshop for warranty repair very often at all. The cork adhesive they use tends to fail in hotter climates but that is a simple fix. Spare parts can be a bit of a minefield though. They use a couple of different types of pivot screw in different places on the horn and if my memory serves me correctly a couple of stack rod diameters. All the parts are very easy to obtain unlike Buffet.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-10-14 18:05
I can't find it now, but there was a good bit of discussion a year or two ago about the pads supplied with Leblanc Opus and Concerto clarinets being too small to make a reliable seal on the tone hole rims. Perhaps John Butler, the Doctor and the other repair people could tell us about the current situation.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2002-10-14 20:14
Not that Leblanc is any different from the other production clarinet manufacturers.
Look at the following link:
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=92360&t=92360
Talk to Brannen Woodwinds in Evanston, IL, Tim Clark in Columbus, OH, or any other high-end technicians and see what they say.
Their comments are not likely to be anecdotal.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
