Contrabass Digest

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2001-03-21

 
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2001 20:21:00 -0500
From: jim lande & joyce mason
Subject: [CB] bone density

Contra frequency vibrations promote bone growth.   The mouthpiece is
right in front of the head.  This explains a lot.

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From: "The Saxfiend"
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2001 23:10:47 -0500
Subject: [CB] Leblanc Contrabass Clarinet

Has anyone been to the Leblanc website
(http://www.gleblanc.com/instrumentpages/LeblancFrance/leblanchtml/340.html)
lately and noticed that the new Leblanc Contrabass clarinet is two-toned?
The main portion of the body (excluding bell and neck) appears to be black
nickel!?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tristan Carpenter- Clarinetist and Saxophonist
www.geocities.com/bourbonstreet/bayou/2048
"What do you mean IF these walls could talk?"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 00:07:57 -0500
From: Eric Mumpower
Subject: Re: [CB] Leblanc Contrabass Clarinet

> black nickel!?

Reminds me of a story I read recently (http://www.k2b2.com/martyinstr.html)
describing painting a nickel contrabass black to fool an ignorant but snooty
composer. :-) And Leblanc's change might well be for about the same
reason....

What's more, at least right now, they have the images for the 340 and the
342 backwards -- the page which says "range to low Eb" and "straight body"
has the paperclip picture, and the page which says "range to low C" and
"curved body" has the straight picture.

(When I first saw this, I didn't notice the switch, and I thought that
they'd decided to cripple the paperclips to only go to Eb, and then I was
mystified by the fact that the bell in the photograph went to the top of the
instrument, as it only does on Leblanc's low-C instruments, which made me
read more closely. :-)

Presumably a work in progress. =}
---------------------------------------------------------

From: "TERJE LERSTAD"
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 09:50:45 +0100
Subject: Fw: [CB] Beware: Leblanc-VITO & Warranty..also Woodwind &Brasswind
 

Dear list,

It seems to be a lot of confusion about what is VITO and what is Leblanc (or LeBlanc
as someone insists on calling it). The Leblanc clarinets where until two years ago
made by G.Leblanc, Paris.  VITO is a company in Kenosha, Wisconsin, making
what I call student models of clarinets in all sizes. Some years ago VITO bought up
Leblanc (Paris), Holton and some others, and this american company calls itself
G.Leblanc Corporation. Thus if you buy a VITO clarinet from Leblanc, this has
nothing whatsoever to do with the french company. A VITO clarinet has never been
to France (if the player didn't bring it there).

Léon Leblanc and Vito Pascuci was friends since the second world war, and after
Léon Leblanc died, the people who like Leblanc clarinets began to get problems:
Leblanc,Paris is still making the ordinary size clarinets, but for bassett horns and
bass clarinets, they make the bore, and it was supposed that the keys should be
made in the US. The problem is that no keys arrive in France, so they cannot make
any instruments. Concerning contraalto and contrabass clarinet, the situation now
is:  The last instrument was probably made 2 years ago.  After the american ownership
started, they have not trained anyone to make contras in France, and there are now
only 3 living people who can make these instruments: 2 pensioned men in Paris and
my favourite repair man living in Oslo (!).

So, if you own such an instrument, keep it, because it's very valuable! Except for
Selmer's monster of an instrument (in palisander), you can not get any new contra-
bass clarinet descending to low C.  Both VITO, Selmer (Bundy),  Orsi and Ripamonte
go to low Eflat, and they are very big wooden or plastic instruments.

Terje Lerstad
 

---------------------------------------------------------

From: "Ulrich Drechsler"
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 10:00:55 +0100
Subject: Re: [CB] Beware: Leblanc-VITO & Warranty..also Woodwind &Brasswind

Dear Terje,
thank you very much for the information about Leblanc and Vito.
At this point I also want to thank you a lot for your great fingering charts
for the contrabassclarinet.
I own a Selmer (palisander) down to low c and your fingerings work very well
on my instrument. Thank you so much.

Ulrich Drechsler
Vienna/Austria
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Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 09:14:22 -0400
From: Topper
Subject: Re: Fw: [CB] Beware: Leblanc-VITO & Warranty..also Woodwind&Brasswind

Thanks for clarifying the information. This is understood but
interesting is the history of this association. The problem is that
when students instruments fail to be something that promotes and
facilitates good playing through proper regulation and solid
manufacture and the student instruments are made at the same facility
other professional instruments are assembled and services this
reflects poorly on the company as a whole. Contra manufacture will
resume in Kenosha of the Leblanc 340, 342, and 345 sometime this
year. The price will likey go up about 20-30%
 

What separates a student clarinet from a professional should largely
be the player.  Improvements on student instruments could ultimately
lead to design improvements for new models and even pro instruments.A
tech on student clarinets should strive to be able to work on the
better pro models but should be proficient in assembly and adjustment
before solo work. There is no real reason why for instance the Vito I
had purchased had to be so poorly regulated and assembled. The
company still insists that the play in some keys is there for
expansion. However, as a repairman and as a Leblanc parts dealer (no
more) having overhauled a bass sax and bass clarinets I saw no method
except incorrect placement of posts and over-cutting of some solid
and hollow hinge tubing. Two keys were due to the lack of a proper
draw-screw and lock for the upper and lower joint - to keep them from
separating. In addition they need to use hollw micro fiber in in a
more dense plastic to strengthen it and make it respond more like
wood.  Also, why torture people with a 6'2" case. It would be so
simple to design and make a simple child-proof bridge system for this
inst. so that the upper and lower sections could be taken apart.  In
addition the register mechanism could easily be redesigned to be
adjustable and less problematic. This is not my problem with the
instrument. Woodwind and Brasswind NYC is attempting to regulate this
instrument where Kenosha G.Leblanc failed in two tries. My problem is
that VITO would allow something to be "playable to student standards"
where it can actually harm a player's wrist and finger joints, and
not even recognize the problems inherent in this instrument. When a
design fails one does not simply leave it, one should allow and
welcome feedback and improvements.
In any event the instrument does sound OK and the intonation is OK.

I will pick up the instrument next week and let you know if WW&BW did
the next to impossible.

Leo

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Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 09:29:12 -0400
From: Topper
Subject: Re: [CB] Leblanc Contrabass Clarinet

I believe they are mixed up as to the range of the curved and
straight metal models. Seems they do not know their own instruments.

see also http://www.gleblanc.com/instrumentpages/LeblancFrance/leblanchtml/342.html

---------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 08:11:34 -0500
From: "John Webster"
Subject: Re: Fw: [CB] Beware: Leblanc-VITO & Warranty..alsoWoodwind&Brasswind

Leo  I also have recently aquired a new Vito.  Fortunatly mine seems to be much better "out of the box" then the one you received and my problems are limited to embouchure and getting used to a much softer reed than I use for the bass and soprano.  I share your dispeasure with the 6 foot+ case and the one peice design.  I had assumed  (one should never assume anything) that the thing would break in the middle.  It will not fit in my new Saturn sedan so the only way I can move it is with my van.  John

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Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 10:58:45 EST
From: BJacobs571
Subject: [CB] Leblanc Contra Alto

         I have just bought a Straight Leblanc Contra Alto clarinet. I am wondering wether anybody can give me any infomation on it. It only has one octive key and the octive changeover is positioned on the main body where as the one Lablanc make now has an octive pad which goes to the part that turns down. The top semi circle tube is removable and doesn't have the support strut. The rest of it seems to be normal and goes down to Eb. What suprised me was that it is the same bore as my friends Paperclip Contra Bass. I was expecting it to have a smaller bore.
       It seems to play alright until I get to G on the clarion register where it just refuses to play any more. The pads are not in the best condition and as soon as my local repairman can get some replacements I will have it repadded. It takes the "Conn" style pads which have a hard backing disk and they appear to be difficult to get hold of here. The repairman thinks it should have another octive hole further up the neck but there is no provision for one.

    Some time back there was a discussion on the effect of low notes on watching computer monitors. I have now seen this first hand. The screen wobbled as if there was a variable magnetic field. The other people in the room saw no change to the picture. This makes me think it is due to my eyes vibrating rather than the monitor being affected. You can get the same effect if you have a vibrating electric toothbrush.

     If people are looking for a Stright contra alto or bass Taylor music have some . The Conta alto is $2500 and has been services and comes with a new case and M/P. I bought my Alto clarinet from them and the standard of their "economy" overhaul was quite accecptable. They have two Lablanc contra bass clarinets and they are $3500 ish. Their Web address is www.Taylormusic.com.
      The Contra alto I bought came from London. I live in England and the inport taxes on musical instruments is about 20%. when you add shipping to this an instrument in the USA has to be very cheep before it is economic to buy there.

Regards Bernard Jacobs
---------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 11:24:11 -0800
From: Grant Green
Subject: Re: [CB] Leblanc Contra Alto
 

>         I have just bought a Stright Lablanc Contra Alto clarinet.
>I am wondering wether anybody can give me any infomation on it. It
>only has one octive key and the octive changeover is positioned on
>the main body where as the one Lablanc make now has an octive pad
>which goes to the part that turns down. The top semi circle tube is
>removable and doesn't have the support strut. The rest of it seems
>to be normal and goes down to Eb. What suprised me was that it is
>the same bore as my friends Paperclip Contra Bass. I was expecting
>it to have a smaller bore.

Is yours a model 352 (all nickel silver)?  How old?  I don't have
direct experience with the Eb contras, but the octave mechanisms is
the same for the Bb and Eb models.  There should be two register
vents and a Bb vent coupled to the octave key.  See
http://www.gleblanc.com/gleblanc/lebcontr.pdf .  The student model
(Vito) may have only two vents (an upper register vent, and a
combination Bb/register vent): this is the setup on my Buescher (and
probably on Bundy/Selmer USA models).  I'm surprised to hear that the
upper barrel is removable.  It sounds like someone may have
"repaired" the instrument by replacing the proper upper curve with
the upper bow from a student model instrument (all the wood and metal
contra-altos have metal upper bows).

The bore diameter is identical on all the Leblanc (and Vito) contras,
both Eb and Bb.  I think the general consensus is that the diameter
is right for the Eb, and a bit too small for the Bb.  The Selmer Bb
contra has a much larger bore (1.33" vs. 1.13" for the Leblanc).

>       It seems to play alright until I get to G on the clarion
>register where it just refuses to play any more. The pads are not in
>the best condition and as soon as my local repairman can get some
>replacements I will have it repadded. It takes the "Conn" style pads
>which have a hard backing disk and they appear to be difficult to
>get hold of here. The repairman thinks it should have another octive
>hole further up the neck but there is no provision for one.

Yes, if you look at the pictures, there is an octave vent on the
ascending bore and another on the descending bore.  I would check to
see if the serial numbers on the neck and body match up.

Best of luck!

Grant

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green
ecode:contrabass       http://www.contrabass.com
Professional Fool -> http://www.mp3.com/ProFools
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 18:44:48 EST
From: BJacobs571
Subject: Re: [CB] Lablanc Contra Alto

>Is yours a model 352 (all nickel silver)?How old?

I dont Know what model I have or how old it is its serial No. is 328

>I don't have direct experience with the Eb contras,
>but the octave mechanisms is the same for the Bb and
>Eb models.  The student model (Vito) may have only two
>vents (an upper register vent, and a combination
>Bb/register vent): this is the setup on my Buescher
>(and probably on Bundy/Selmer USA models).  I'm
>surprised to hear that the upper barrel is removable.

The Octive mech is essensialy the same as my Lablanc Alto and is just a single Bb/register vent  changeover

>It sounds like someone may have "repaired" the
>instrument by replacing the proper upper curve with the upper bow
>from a student model instrument (all the wood and metal contra-altos have metal upper bows).

I am sure the instrument hasn't been "repaired" as all the parts fit in the case. There is not room for the longer Bow the other Contras have. There is no mark on the main body where the strut would have been soldered on either. The thing just looks too neat not to be a factory job.
 
>Yes, if you look at the pictures, there is an octave
>Vent on the ascending bore and another on the
>descending bore.  I would check to see if the serial
>numbers on the neck and body match up.

all the serial numbers match up

Regards Bernard Jacobs
***End of Contrabass Digest***


 
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