 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: abstarks
Date: 2007-07-14 19:54
Hello,
My name is Alegra and I'm new to The Clarinet BBoard. I have a question about my instrument that has gone unanswered for a long time.
I have a Vintage LeBlanc Classic that is dated around 1964 by what the seller told me (I bought this instrument off of eBay Express). I bought the clarinet in order to replace my Yamaha student clarinet, which was made of some kind of hard rubber/plastic (I needed a wooden clarinet to improve my tone quality and intonation), and that I'd had since I started band in 5th grade. My mistake was that I let my sister (someone with little to no knowledge of what I would be needing seeing as she plays oboe) look around the Internet for me (I don't know how to navigate through eBay), so what I ended up with was a LeBlanc which I knew nothing about rather than a Buffet which I would have known much more about (I've been obsessed with Vandoren and Buffet as far back as I can remember). However, the clarinet had been through a complete overhaul, so I was confident in its condition and felt that I wouldn't be too disappointed in it.
I purchased my LeBlanc back in March and it is now July. My tone quality and intonation has improved little, and seems to not change no matter how much I practice. Then I noticed that every time I tune my instrument is consistently sharp. My future clarinet professor told me that some manufacturers make and tune beginner/student clarinets sharp on purpose because they assume a beginning student is using improper embrochure and lousy posture/breath support. It was then I started suspecting the worst: I unknowingly purchased a student-level clarinet which is not going to help me at all in college! But the fact that I know nothing about LeBlancs has given me the slightest hope that I may be wrong.
Herein is where my question lies: what 'level' is a LeBlanc Classic? (i.e., student level, intermediate, etc.) That is a question that the seller couldn't answer, my band director couldn't answer, nor that my former clarinet teacher could answer. All I've heard from anyone so far is, "My, I've never seen a clarinet with a carrying case as big as a brief case before!"
I am desperate to find an answer because ever since I got this instrument nothing has gone right with my playing. I'm always sharp no matter how much I pull out or where, and my intonation and tone quality doesn't seem to improve no matter how much I practice. I just want to know if I've made a huge mistake. I had my heart set on a Buffet R13, but because my mom and step dad are going through a divorce, we had to move and since then have been barely able to make ends meet. This LeBlanc Vintage, which I purchased for $700, feels like the biggest mistake I've ever made, but it was all we could afford for me at the time. I just feel so awful to think that I haven't made any improvements at all after the investment my mom made in this clarinet because to our family $700 is a WHOLE LOT. This clarinet is supposed to be my ticket to success because I'm not going to get the money to buy an R13 any time soon, so it's very important that I learn as much about this clarinet as I can so I can start trying to make improvements instead of what feels like digressions.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Alegra Starks
Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught. - Oscar Wilde
But now at length I have the happiness to know it is a rising and not a setting Sun. - Benjamin Franklin
Post Edited (2007-07-14 20:09)
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2007-07-14 20:47
These are killer horns, NOT built for beginners.
Get a longer barrel from Muncy Winds to get on pitch.
Just because it says Buffet, doesn't mean it can play.
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2007-07-14 20:57
Indeed the Leblanc "Classic" was top of the line professional clarinet. Make sure your clarinet has no leaks and not only through pads but through the tenon corks or even posts. The standard barrel for the "Classic" is 67 mm (2.638") long.
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: Tony Beck
Date: 2007-07-14 22:37
Vytas is the master. You might want to send your Classic to him for a thorough checkout. A Classic ought to be a great player, with excellent tone, as long as you do your part. I play a set of Symphonie 3s (which are very similar to the Classics). Our church choir director has nothing but praise for my tone, and she is a clarinetist. Yours should have a beautiful tone. Check that the original barrel hasn't been replaced. This can really screw up tone and intonation. It's a common problem. What mouthpiece are you playing? That also will affect both tone and intonation.
If you are going to play clarinet in college, keep an eye out for Classic, Symphonie or LL in A to go with your Bb.
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Author: abstarks
Date: 2007-07-16 05:44
I'm playing on a Selmer CP100 122 mouthpiece right now with Vandoren 56 Rue Lepic reeds strength 5.
Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught. - Oscar Wilde
But now at length I have the happiness to know it is a rising and not a setting Sun. - Benjamin Franklin
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Author: abstarks
Date: 2007-07-16 05:51
Well I'm glad these are not for beginners because I had my crappy plastic Yamaha for 7 and a half years and the last thing I need to do is get rid of one beginner horn to trade for another beginner horn. I've had this LeBlanc for only a few months, but is just doesn't feel right, you know? I mean, do you know what I mean when I say it doesn't feel right? Or do I just sound crazy?
Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught. - Oscar Wilde
But now at length I have the happiness to know it is a rising and not a setting Sun. - Benjamin Franklin
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Author: abstarks
Date: 2007-07-16 05:53
I'm sorry, next time I'll specify who my replies are meant for so no one gets confused!
Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught. - Oscar Wilde
But now at length I have the happiness to know it is a rising and not a setting Sun. - Benjamin Franklin
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Author: donald
Date: 2007-07-16 09:46
it only takes one or two slightly "less than perfect" pads to make a clarinet lose it's tone and feel weird to play- case in point, my "spare" clarinet is a Leblanc Concerto that i purchased 2nd hand. I could tell that it was an instrument with many good qualities, but never felt entirely happy with the tone. All the basic tests confirmed that the pads were sealing ok, but it just felt as though it was leaking somewhere- the tone wasn't clear, some notes just didn't seem to resonate....
eventually a couple of very small leaks were located (not really damaged pads but rather just pads that weren't seating evenly) and a couple of minor repairs made a HUGE difference (improvement) to the tone quality.
donald
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2007-07-16 12:20
The resistance pattern, which notes "speak" easily compared to the notes that require great effort to project will be different from model to model.
It is particularly pronounced between student instruments (built for ease of blowing through, but short on tonal qualities) and a professional instrument (with the opposing design consideration).
Follow through with the suggestions on a check...
take the clarinet to another tech, if possible for a leak test.
You may also wish to verify that your mouthpiece seals well and your reeds are in best condition. What mouthpiece and reed do you choose?
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Author: Tony Beck
Date: 2007-07-17 05:43
Once you get your instrument leak checked by a good tech, you may want to audition a few mouthpieces. Vandoren M-15s are popular for good reason. I particularly like a V-13 I stumbled into a couple years ago. They are now discuntinued, but turn up often enough. You might also try some semi-custom mouthpieces. Several excellent mouthpiece makers post here. Do a search on mouthpieces. Don't just try one either. Each is a little different. You can easily love one and hate another of the exact same model.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2007-07-17 12:53
Alegra --
I would echo the suggestion to consider a different mouthpiece and/or barrel for your LeBlanc.
Is the Selmer C100 122 mouthpiece what came with the instrument? Does 122 refer to the tip opening? If so, that would seem pretty open to be using with a 5 reed.
Also, as far as I know, Selmer instruments generally have a wider bore than the LeBlancs. I played, for a while, a LeBlanc Opus (newer equivalent to what you have), and found that I did not want to use the same setup on it as I did on my R-13. I used a Vandoren M-13 with #3 or 3.5 reeds on the LeBlanc, and still felt it could have been optimized with a different mouthpiece, if I had been willing to put in the time and $$ to find the perfect one.
If you can scrape up the wherewithal, I would also recommend Vytas as a good person to fine-tune your LeBlanc. He has a broad knowledge of clarinets of many different makes and models, and in my experience is a superior craftsman who will do an "artist" adjustment for you (way beyond what the standard competent tech is capable of adressing). Let him take a look at the instrument, and advise you about barrels and mouthpieces for it.
Odds are, you have an excellent instrument that you just need to tweak to your personal preferences.
Susan
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-07-17 13:17
I bot a lightly used Classic for a grandson a number of years ago, he still has it! His pro [Nuclear Whales] teacher praised it back then . I found it to be V G, but liked my L7 better [familiarity?]. Yes, its prob. one of Leon's later, improved [beyond his first US Patent{# available}, jump keys etc] models, of the same general vintage as his [big-bore] Dynamics [also V G], also have one! AM thots, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2007-07-17 21:08
Alegra,
Ultimately, this is a personal decision and I could be totally wrong but I think the biggest mistake you are making is the #5 reeds. Too many (usually but not always younger) clarinetists make the mistake of believing that reed strength is a measure of playing ability. That simply is not true. My guess is that your reeds are too hard for you, causing you to "pinch" your embouchure when you play -- a sure recipe for playing sharp. While I suspect that you will eventually want another mouthpiece, I would recommend that the first thing you try is to drop back to around a 3.5 and see if your tone and intonation don't improve. (You will also likely reduce your risk of a stroke. )
Best regards,
jnk
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