 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Groovdaddy1
Date: 2012-06-19 10:20
Hello everyone. I have a Conn Pan Am from the 50's, but have an opportunity to get my hands on a Leblanc Bliss. I like them both. Can anyone help me with making this decision. These would be my outdoor horns. I should also mention that my main horn (right now) is a Selmer Series 10S. Thanks,
Groovdaddy1
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-06-19 12:24
You should really play test the Bliss before making a decision. The Bliss clarinets have a pretty good reputation as for as playability goes but there have been a few threads here in the past couple of years with complaints about build quality and setup form the factory.
Pan American clarinets (and pretty much Conn instruments in general by the time the 1950's came along) have a less than stellar reputation for playability and build quality. That's not to say that they were all lousy but most people seem to agree that with relatively few exceptions the instruments made by Conn post-war were never up to the quality of the pre-war instruments.
Since you already have the Pan Am and you like it the only way to make the decision is to try the Bliss and see if you like it better.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-06-19 12:32
If it's a straight choice between the two, no question that you should get the Bliss. The Pan Am was a mediocre instrument when it was new, and by now it's an antique. The Bliss is a modern design, and is a superior instrument all round.
Tony F.
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Author: Joe Bloke
Date: 2012-06-19 13:03
The following link provides info on the Bliss.
http://www.kesslermusic.com/blog/?p=429
I've owned a Bliss (wood) for a little over one year. I think it's a good horn for the price (and better than some of the horns I tried that were more costly).
But, if you buy one new, make sure you follow the break-in instructions provided on Leblanc's website. I (and the same thing has been reported by others) had some initial problems with the joints binding. It may have been due to playing the horn too much right out of the box but, my tech guy thought the bore was inordinately absorbent, causing the wood to swell and the joints to bind. I oil the bore now, about every month, and have had no additional problems.
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Author: MartyMagnini
Date: 2012-06-19 21:29
I bought a composite Bliss from Kessler about a year ago for my son (he just started 5th grade band this year), and I am very happy with it. I would play it in a concert without hesitation. Build quality is good, and it came from Kessler very nicely set-up. I personally play a Yamaha custom clarinet with a Backun barell and bell, and it seemed comfortable for me to play on. I may get one myself for outdoor situations. The other instrument I would check out is the Backun designed Antigua clarinets. I haven't played one, but hear very good things about them, and they're also inexpensive.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2012-06-19 21:40
If you get a synthetic leblanc bliss, do some reading. The first batch had slightly different dimensions and had some tuning problems (allegedly from people reoprting it to possibly compensate for student "biting"). The wooden ones sound very good and I think they've been about the same throughout.
I haven't had a pan am, but I had a wooden leblanc bliss and a synthetic bliss (revamped dimension) and they were both excellent instruments. I also would recommend a different barrel. I just couldn't get those stock barrels to work, but with a different barrel it transformed it into a REALLY great horn.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2012-06-23 09:25
I recently sold off a mid-1950s Pan American 58N clarinet in hard rubber, which I used extensively for outdoors gigs. The instrument had excellent projection and could generate a truly impressive volume of sound, which made it a natural choice for playing outside. In the end, though, the spongy left-hand F/C lever, awkward key placement, the very long travel of the right-hand pinky keys, and the uneven response between the chalameau and clarion registers made the 58N just too much work to play. And, the 58N was one of the better Pan Ams, with sturdy nickel-silver keywork instead of the cast pot-metal works found on many other Pan Ams (and later, the Conn Directors).
Unless ultimate power and projection are your sole criterion for choosing between the two--the sole aspects in which a Pan American would likely hold an advantage over the Bliss--do yourself a huge favor and get the Bliss. And if all you really want is a really loud clarinet for outdoors, there are some vintage Pruefer models that are light-years better than an old Pan American.
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