 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: logie
Date: 2008-01-31 05:38
Firstly.... greetings everyone!
As can be seen, this is my first post on this fantastic forum! The wealth and depth of knowledge available is incredible, so thank you very much!
I am an Engineer by profession (but clarinettist by heart) and am looking to buy a pair of new clarinets (I am currently playing an RC Bb and S1 A). As we all know, this can be an extremely difficult decision to make! The fact that I live in South Africa and have very limited (read 'no') access to proffesional models to try out means that the difficulty increases manyfold! The only professional claris I can try here are the Buffets up to the Prestiges (and only RC at that). Thus I am calling (requesting!) on all (some!) of your combined knowledge to help me out! Please!
As was surely perceived in the heading of this thread, I am considering the Leblancs! I've read many rave reviews of the Legacy and its list of artists is impressive, but what exactly are the differences between it and the Symphonie? Do these differences justify the price difference? I have never even played on a Leblanc before (other that bass) and so am veturing into unchartered waters here! How do they compare to Buffets, specifically the RC Prestige and Tosca (and how do these two compare to one another?)?
One last thing, the price of any clarinets I decide to buy has to, unfortunately, include that of a plane ticket as they are not available down here! Where (preferably in Europe) would you suggest I purchase them? This would have to include the ability to try out several models and brands (as hopefully suggested by members on this forum) before making "the decision"!
Thank you very much everyone for your time and attention!
Don't Rush! The only time you need rush is when you see the mushroom cloud of nuclear weapon! - Victor Yampolsky
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2008-01-31 06:26
Dear logie,
Welcome fellow South African!
If you are planning to come to Europe to try instruments, then please make sure that there are plenty to try wherever you go. I live in Zürich and have only had the opportunity to try the symphonie and cadenza. The legacy hasn't been available here yet, and the other two were only in a shop for a month as a try-out to see if people were interested to buy. Apparently the response wasn't very enthusiastic, so I guess it will be a while before music shops start ordering them in great numbers over here.
Buying a clarinet is very personal. For me the symphonie and cadenza where not at all what I wanted sound-wise. So make sure you try before you buy!
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Author: logie
Date: 2008-01-31 07:40
Thanks very much Liquorice! It's a surprise to have my first reply from a fellow South African! I'll do my best to find a very well stocked store in order to try out as many as possible.
Forgive my asking Liquorice (and please feel free to ignore the question!!), but I only know of one South African clarinettist in Zurich.... were you a student of Herbert Klein?
Don't Rush! The only time you need rush is when you see the mushroom cloud of nuclear weapon! - Victor Yampolsky
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Author: logie
Date: 2008-01-31 09:21
Ha ha! Looks like I have! It's good to finally meet you (albeit it a rather unconventional way!) after hearing so much about you! I have seen you in the Dixieband photo's though....... yip, I was in it too! '99 - '02.
I completely agree that buying clarinets is a very personal thing, but I will take carefull note that you weren't too impressed with the Leblancs! I was unfortunately not able to attend your concerts in SA last year, but a colleague of mine said that you were phenomenal and raved about your sound! Herbert of course is only full of praise too! Do you still play on RC Prestiges? I was going o ask if you recommend them... but you wouldn't play on them if you didn't!
I'm sorry about all of the questions.... but Herbert has had no experience with the Tosca and so can't tell me much about it. Have you played on one?
Thanks very much!
Don't Rush! The only time you need rush is when you see the mushroom cloud of nuclear weapon! - Victor Yampolsky
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2008-01-31 10:05
"I will take carefull note that you weren't too impressed with the Leblancs!"
Please don't!! Just because they weren't for me doesn't mean that they aren't wonderful instruments.
The Tosca has a very even, in-tune scale. Again, it's not what I'm looking for in terms of tone, but I do know people who sound amazing on them.
For what it's worth- at the moment I play on an R13 Bb and a Festival A, but I'm busy messing around with some Wurlitzer German system instruments.
Try everything you can, and may every clarinet player find what works best for them!
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Author: logie
Date: 2008-01-31 10:24
Thank you very much for your replies Liquorice. Hopefully I will find a pair that I'm happy with!
Kind regards
Daniel
Don't Rush! The only time you need rush is when you see the mushroom cloud of nuclear weapon! - Victor Yampolsky
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-01-31 12:15
You might also contact Morrie Backun directly. He has a web site and is very helpful and informative if you have questions about the different instruments. He also might be able to find out where, in a given area, a dealer might be who has several of the clarinets for you to try out.
Here is his website: http://www.backunmusical.com/index.html
His e-mail address is: morrie@backunmusical.com
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
Post Edited (2008-01-31 12:16)
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Author: logie
Date: 2008-01-31 12:36
Thanks very much Jeff, I'll send Morrie an email.
Kind regards
Daniel
Don't Rush! The only time you need rush is when you see the mushroom cloud of nuclear weapon! - Victor Yampolsky
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-01-31 14:18
Also, if you decide to purchase one of Morrie's Leblancs, you might contact Dave Kessler of Kessler Music and ask him for a good price on one. You will probably find a good deal if you do so. He's a sponsor of this bboard.
By the way, one of my dearest friends lives in Cape Town. A singer, Hanli Slabbert. My husband and I had the privilege of visiting her and her family in 1999. I've been invited back and will be coming that way sometime this year or next year. Beautiful country.
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Author: akasico
Date: 2012-12-01 14:50
Good morning ladies and gentlemen, I am new to the forum and hope to exchange views with you, regarding Leblanc Symphonie in A, I wrote to Mr. Dave Kessler of Kessler Music and replied that he can not sell these instruments outside the United States; really I do not understand the reason, as also is the Venezuelan government who will pay the price for that instrument.
On the other hand, they are very tuned instruments but do not know the price difference between the Symphonie and legacy. I hope their views, so long
Clarinet / Bass Clarinet
Orquesta Sinfonica Municipal de Caracas
Venezuela
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Author: akasico
Date: 2012-12-01 14:54
Good morning ladies and gentlemen, I am new to the forum and hope to exchange views with you, regarding Leblanc Symphonie in A, I wrote to Mr. Dave Kessler of Kessler Music and replied that he can not sell these instruments outside the United States; really I do not understand the reason, as also is the Venezuelan government who will pay the price for that instrument.
On the other hand, they are very tuned instruments but do not know the price difference between the Symphonie and legacy. I hope their views, so long
Clarinet / Bass Clarinet
Orquesta Sinfonica Municipal de Caracas
Venezuela
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Author: DaveKessler
Date: 2012-12-01 16:56
akasico wrote:
> Good morning ladies and gentlemen, I am new to the forum and
> hope to exchange views with you, regarding Leblanc Symphonie in
> A, I wrote to Mr. Dave Kessler of Kessler Music and replied
> that he can not sell these instruments outside the United
> States; really I do not understand the reason, as also is the
> Venezuelan government who will pay the price for that
> instrument.
> On the other hand, they are very tuned instruments but do not
> know the price difference between the Symphonie and legacy. I
> hope their views, so long
>
The reason is very simple. Leblanc's parent company (Conn-Selmer) stipulates in their dealer agreement that USA dealers are not allowed to export their product outside of the USA.
Their reasoning is for warranty & distribution reasons. Since Leblanc sets up distributors in other areas of the world, they put this clause in US dealers agreements so that international distributors are not having to compete with the US dealer on price.
They will also point out that in the case of a warranty claim, you need to go through the dealer/distributor you purchased from. So by forcing you to buy from a dealer/distributor "more local" to you, you in theory should have easier support.
Dave Kessler
Kessler & Sons Music
http://www.kesslermusic.com
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Author: Chris2787
Date: 2013-02-22 14:11
Can someone please list the differences between the Leblanc by Backun Legacy and Symphonie? Has anyone played both and if so what differences have you noticed? I am in process of buying a Leblanc by Backun Symphonie Bb clarinet.
Thanks,
Christopher Ljucovic RN, CCMA, EMT-B
CLjucovic@aol.com
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Author: Chris2787
Date: 2013-02-22 15:01
"Leblanc has done some really stupid things in the past years since the new head took over."
Can you explain your erroneous statement and Provide some sort of resource or proof DavidBlumberg??
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2013-02-22 15:23
Chris2787 wrote:
> Can you explain your erroneous statement and Provide some sort
> of resource or proof DavidBlumberg??
Would the fact that there hasn't been a Leblanc professional clarinet line since 2010 and that the brand now only makes student clarinets be sufficient "proof"?
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Author: Chris2787
Date: 2013-02-22 15:43
Are you serious? Buffet had the Tosca out for a while and just came out with the Divine... Not every year or two do companies need to come out with new clarinets.
Are you saying in order to be a good clarinet manufacturer/brand they need to make new models every year or so? If the clarinets are made well why keep on making new kinds. You don't need to change clarinets like that. You find one that suits you and keep it. Then when you want a change you switch. That's how I feel personally. Maybe other people need new clarinets as often as they change their hair styles. Who knows. It seems bizarre.
Chris L.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2013-02-22 17:33
Any pro Leblanc models currently in the market are what is classified as NOS, or New Old Stock. Leblanc stopped making the instruments two years or so in the past. They are currently only manufacturing student/intermediate grade instruments. I have one of the early Backun/Leblanc Symphonie models. It's a very nice instrument, especially since I had Morrie backun work on it for me. It did not come properly set up from the vendor, and Morrie took care of that, and a few other issues, including a new barrel that works better for me.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: Chris2787
Date: 2013-02-22 17:48
I am very excited to go and try the "NOS" Leblanc by Backun Symphonie Clarinet, I know it will be better than my Buffet E11. This phenomenal clarinetist John Parrette from Clarion Musical in Cornwall, NY is tweaking it and adding an LH Eb/Ab key, two backun barrels cocobolo/grenadilla and a cocobolo bell.
Cheers,
Chris L.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2013-02-22 18:31
It normally comes stock with two barrels (one grenadilla and one cocobollo) and a Coco bell. He isn't "adding" these. He might be upgrading to a better barrel set for you (he did that for me when I bought mine).
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2013-02-22 19:24
Chris2787 wrote:
> Are you serious? Buffet had the Tosca out for a while and just
> came out with the Divine... Not every year or two do companies
> need to come out with new clarinets.
>
> Are you saying in order to be a good clarinet
> manufacturer/brand they need to make new models every year or
> so?
You misunderstand. Leblanc is not manufacturing any professional clarinets of any model. After the Kenosha factory was shut down in 2010 all of the Leblanc professional models were discontinued and the company now only sells student/intermediate instruments. These days it might be more accurate to describe Leblanc as the upscale line for Selmer USA since they are now the same company.
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Author: Chris2787
Date: 2013-02-22 20:08
I get it now!! Lol I took it the wrong way!! Haha. You're absolutely right!!
And thanks! He is awesome!
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Author: rtaylor
Date: 2013-02-22 21:05
Hello,
If you are still looking for a shop in Europe to try instruments I can recommend Die Holzblaser in Berlin.
This is a very good shop with a wide selection of brands. They carry the Leblancs you mentioned above as well as other brands of French and German clarinets.
I have worked with Thomas Reichle is the past. He is very knowledgeable and someone you can work with to find you a good instrument.
Check their website for more and or e-mail Thomas.
thomas.reichle@holzblaeser.com
Robert
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Author: Wes
Date: 2013-02-22 23:56
You could also check out Matthews Musiek in Edam, Netherlands. They have a good price on the Buffet Prestige R13. Good luck!
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