 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: gkern
Date: 2016-03-30 22:30
I recently had a Leblanc L7 repadded, and it plays beautifully. However, all the mouthpieces I would like to use are way flat (15-20 cents). This includes Portnoy BP02, Selmer C85 105, Rico Reserve X0, Selmer HS* and others.
So I tried the original Leblanc mouthpiece that came with the L7 - shazaam! - pretty much in tune.
Can anybody point me to a mouthpiece that might work better?
Gary K
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2016-03-30 23:09
Talk to some of the mouthpiece makers about this problem. Clark Fobes, Walter Grabner, Greg Smith, Brad Behn, Ramon Wodkowski, Lee Livengood. They might come up with something. You could see Tom Ridenour too; he was with Leblanc a while, designed some of their later model clarinets (the L7 was Leon Leblanc's design), and probably has some familiarity with the L7 and the Lx models.
One problem with the L7 you need to be aware of is that the American office for Leblanc sometimes had the L7 rebored to give a supposedly "fatter" sound. If memory serves, Ridenour was a vocal critic of this practice, since it tended to play havoc with the tuning.
Post Edited (2016-03-31 01:19)
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2016-03-30 23:26
Or have a tech shorten your existing barrel.
Pull out until you are 30-40 cents flat and that should be approx the amount you need it shortened.
Alternately you could have your chosen mouthpiece similarly shortened.
However after owning/playing many Leblancs I have't found a pitch problem with most stock mouthpieces.
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Author: gkern
Date: 2016-03-31 00:34
No seabreeze, it doesn't seem to have been rebored, as the top joint measures 14.8mm at the top and 14.9mm at the bottom, which I think are the proper measurements for the conical bore.
Gary K
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Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2016-03-31 00:45
Gary -
Fortunately, 4 of the best makers out there are VERY friendly, and enjoy talking with prospective buyers and players. They really want to help!
Call or e-mail Clark Fobes, Walt Grabner, Gregory Smith, or Tom Ridenour. You will get fabulous help from some of the nicest folks in the industry!
Truth!
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2016-03-31 03:50
Gary. 14.8mm at top and 14.9 at bottom would indicate a reverse conical bore - those should only exist in certain barrels not top joints.
I suspect some distortion has taken place under the tenons (not uncommon) and one needs special bore guages to correctly measure the bore at several places further along the instrument.
I don't know the specific L7 dimensions but would expect the true top size to be 14.9mm or greater and the lower bore to be less than 14.8, probably 14.6/14.7 region.
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Author: gkern
Date: 2016-03-31 05:56
Norman - from Steve Sklar's website - <www.clarinetperfection.com>
L7- conical bore (measured - ie, smaller at top UJ bore, larger at bottom UJ bore
Leblanc called this conical bore.
Gary K
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2016-04-01 02:35
Gary - yes 14.8 top 14.9 bottom would be a cone not reverse as I stated.
However I have never heard of this before, just checked Steve's site but can't find this reference, would appreciate if you would point out where on site I can find it.
In all my years of measuring bores I have seen many version of inverse cones (i.e decreasing from top to bottom) either covering the top 1/4 - 1/2 of joint or in few cases a linear reduction over entire joint. And I guess that polycylindrical is in essence a form of revese cone but with steps rather than linear reduction.
thanks
Norman
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2016-04-02 02:31
Thanks Gary,
have now found another page on his site that gives L7 data as 14.67mm top and 14.80 bottom though doesn't specify if this is a "Spec" value or result of someone measuring an L7.
That 14.80 figure is identical to the cylindrical bore of most of their earlier models e.g. Classic, Symphonie, LL etc.
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Author: gkern
Date: 2016-04-02 06:44
Thanks Norman - I also have a Leblanc 176 made in 1949. I believe its bore is 14.62mm. Really a sweet playing clarinet.
Gary K
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