 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Drenkier_1
Date: 2005-03-03 02:13
Has anyone here played both the Buffet R-13 model AND The Leblanc Concerto models/opus II? I would like to know what you think of both of these horns, I am thinking of investing some money in a new Bb Clarinet as mine has wearing and tearing. It is a buffet R-13, and is not playing very well.. I tried getting it repaired but I think it maybe time that I get a new clarinet as this one is about 12 years old.
Please give me some info on your thoughts about the Leblanc compared to R-13's, better or worse basically!
Thank you!
Kevin Collins
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2005-03-03 09:22
Leblanc are quite different to Buffet - you'll have to try them both and get some opinions. Either Leblanc are for you or they aren't.
__________________
Don't hate me because I play Leblanc! ![[down]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley23.gif) Buffet
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Author: Klarinet37
Date: 2005-03-03 11:55
Hey LeWhite, what do you know about a Leblanc Eternite? Ever heard of it?
I play a Leblanc Dynamic-H and love it. A guy is offering to sell me a Leblanc Eternite A clarinet for $900. It's brand new. He got it a while ago from a music store near DC very cheap. But I can't find anything on the thing.
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2005-03-03 12:25
Drenkier_1,
I've never tried the R13...but have tried the RC, Festival, ConcertoII en OpusII. Personally I think they're all great clarinets, but each of them has his own strenght and weakness... It's important to know what you like in a clarinet and what strenghts you find important to find in a clarinet.....
Just give the Leblancs a try and look if you like them or not... I did this and am still in love with my OpusII!
Klarinet37,
Search the archive here and you will find several posting,
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=43608&t=43577
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Author: William
Date: 2005-03-03 14:38
I play both R13s and LeBlanc Concertos, but--first said--it is most important to have "good" clarinets no matter which brand name you ultimately choose. Having said that, my experiance (over the past 12 yrs) is that the LeBlancs are easier to play in tune and produce a more even scale between registers (important for ease of expression), but that the Buffets--while a bit more demanding of the performers control of pitch and voicings--ultimately have the most desirable sound for musical expression. I enjoy playing my LeBlancs, but feel that I can generate more sound with my Buffets and, therefore, be more effective as a performer.
So--once again--I have put my LeBlanc Concertos in my closet and have resumed playing my 1960s R13s "full time". And our symphony conductor has stopped saying, "clarinet, please, a bit louder". Again, the Buffets are a little harder to control, but the resulting sound is worth the effort.
FYI, my mouthpiece is a Chicago Kaspar #14. Also, I use Springer barrel on both the Bb and A. Guess that makes me a total 1960s "Retro Clarinetist".
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2005-03-03 20:50
That's interesting William - I find I have a MUCH more focussed tone on Leblanc and my conductor is always asking for some parts of solos to be quieter. Could be our set-ups, anyway.
The biggest difference between Buffet and Leblanc, I have found, is the left hand notes of the upper register: they are more 'raw' and will require more control. But once you have that control, this part of the register is more flexible.
__________________
Don't hate me because I play Leblanc! Buffet
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-03-04 13:34
The LeBlanc Infinite' is a fine horn that is highly underrated...imho
Bob Draznik
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Author: William
Date: 2005-03-04 15:02
LeWhite--I agree that the quality of sound is more focused on the LeBlancs, especially in the more pp passages. But I just think that I can achieve that same "focus" via embrouchure control with my R13s and utilize the wider range of dynamic projection available with my Buffets. But perhaps it comes down to a concept of sound that I developed over all those years (30+) of playing Buffets and listening to other clarinetist--whom I have a lot of repsect for--do the same. I always got compliments on my tone quality with the Concertos, but to my own ears the R13s still sound better when I play them and when I hear others playing them. Regarding our "set-ups", I have many different mpcs that play well and on which--after a few weeks--I basically sound the same. My reasoning for playing my Chicago Kaspar is (simply) that, why have an expensive moutpiece sitting in my accessories drawer going used?? It really is no better that my Ithica Bay, "Ann Arbor" Kaspar, Hawkins, Bowen custom WW G8s, Greg Smith "Cicero & Chedeville"s, or an obsucre Stowell that I bought via eBay. It is all in adjusting the reed and how you blow it to satisfy that "inner ear" concept that we all have developed over the years and not so specifically to exactly "which" set-up we use. Unfortunately, I seem to be torn between the "Buffet" concept of sound and the LeBlanc ease of tonal and intonational performance control. So, for the meantime, I have gone back to my "good old" R13s........but I am not going to part with my Concertos because, who knows what the "winds" will blow next.
BobD--When I was selecting my Concertos at LeBlanc/Kenosha here in WI, Tom Ridenour mentioned that the same accoustical configurations were used for all of the (then) new models including the Opus, Concerto, Sonata and Infinity. If fact, he specifically recommended the Infinity because of the "great LeBlanc keywork" presumably as oppossed to the newer key design of the Opus, Concerto and Sonata. And again (ad nauseum, etc, etc) he told me that all of the Leblanc clarinets come from the "same woodpile" in response to my suggestion that LeBlanc must use better wood in the more expensive clarinets. He went on to say that, "if it were me (TR), I would buy a set of Infinities and save money, because they play the same as the Opus". I then asked him why he had a set of Opus clarinets for his personal use? He just smiled, and directed my attention to a rack of about 50 fully assembled new Concerto Bb clarinets for me to try. However, the Infinity clarinet is the accoustical twin of the Opus and is a fine playing musical instrument.
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