From: "John Kilpatrick"
Subject: Re: [CB] [CB Digest]
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 13:51:43 -0000
> Clark Fobes advertises a couple of contra pieces on his Web
site.
> However, he also says he doesn't sell directly to the
public anymore,
> and I've been unable to find his contra pieces on the sites
of the Web
> retailers that he references.
I found this very quickly through a Google search. The BBb
contra "Debut" mouthpiece is shown as $65 as opposed to the Fobes list
price of $89. By contrast, a search on UK sites turns up
http://www.howarth.uk.com/products.aspx?id=3D114
with a price of £136.17, which at present exchange rates is
over $250. In both cases VAT should be added in UK. UK readers (if
any), take note - buying from USA might be a much better bet.
It's not 18 months since Clark Fobes sent me two mouthpies on
approval, I tried them and sent one back, and the whole excercise cost
around $120 including postage (customs did not ask for VAT). He was
helpful, and I've had recommended him to anybody. It's good to read
that his products are in demand, but it is regrettable that he cannot
continue to be nice to the general public.
John Kilpatrick - Sheffield, UK
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From: "Gordon Hallgren"
Subject: Re: [CB] [CB Digest]
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 09:59:11 -0500
There are two levels of his Contra Bass mouthpieces, the Debut
which is plastic and the San Francisco, which i believe is hard rubber,
retailing for $89 and $295, respectively. Maybe that explains the
differences.
Gordon
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From: Ken Shaw
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 10:05:42 EST
Subject: [CB] Leblanc Contra Finish
John Kilpatrick says:
> The [eBay] description [of a
Leblanc contra] says "silverplate", but I
assume it's nickel. Often
descriptions for early ones say silver plate, and
sometimes they look in the pictures
as though they might be. Mine (1970) appears to
be nickel or nickel-silver on brass.
The new ones are stated to be solid
nickel silver "and free from any
changes in tuning (etc.)" - they also look black
in the gleblanc pictures, which to my
mind rather spoils them.
Does anyone know the history of the
material and finish of the Leblanc
contras? Does anyone find they have
to clean or polish the metal? the finish of mine
looks as good as new after 30+ years.
John -
My 1965 Leblanc paperclip is nickel plated, and I've seen quite
a few earlier ones. They've all had nickel plating, not silver.
Fairly recently -- probably within the last 5 years -- they
switched to a shiny black lacquer coating. I agree that it looks
tacky, but maybe they wanted it to look sort of like wood, on the
assumption that the reputation of metal is so low that it hurts
sales. Who knows. With the price for new ones so high, and
so many used ones on the market, it's hard to know what they were
thinking about.
I've never had to do more than wipe off any dust or fingerprints
with a soft cloth. Still, I've seen instruments where the finish
has gotten pockmarked. The lacquer might help with that.
Ken Shaw
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Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 09:33:50 -0800
From: "Grant Green"
Subject: Re: [CB] Leblanc Contra Finish
The earliest horns (pre-1950?) were satin or brushed silver
plated, and have a distinctly different appearance from the modern
nickel (or "German silver") plated horns. My first contra was silver
plated.
Enjoy!
Grant
>My 1965 Leblanc paperclip is nickel plated, and I've seen
quite a few earlier
>ones. They've all had nickel plating, not silver.
>
>Fairly recently -- probably within the last 5 years -- they
switched to a
>shiny black lacquer coating. I agree that it looks
tacky, but maybe they wanted
>it to look sort of like wood, on the assumption that the
reputation of metal
>is so low that it hurts sales. Who knows. With
the price for new ones so
>high, and so many used ones on the market, it's hard to know
what they were
>thinking about.
--
================================
Grant Green Contrabass.com
Sarrusophones & contrabass winds
================================
--
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From: "Kevin Highley"
Subject: [CB] Leblac conta finishes
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 20:50:55 -0000
John Kilpatrick asked about the finish on Leblanc contra
clarinets.
My early paper clip contrabass tarnishes fairly quickly, and
appears to be silver in that the tarnish is black. I live
near the sea, so the salt air may contribute to the
tarnishing. I believe the machine, serial number 246 dates
from the fifties, it descends only to low D (concert C) and has an
attractive matt surface, unfortunately worn through to the brass in one
or two places. It seems to have travelled the world,
although it now lives in southern England it is engraved with "Killeen
High Shool #4". I looked up Killeen High School, and found
a probable match in Texas. I have heard that Texas does
things on a grand scale, but a school band with four or more contrabass
clarinets would be impressive.
I have heard of later Leblanc contras with a greyish gunmetal
coloured finish, and also a hard black gloss, but have not actually
seen either. A friend has a straight contra alto of about
the same vintage as my bass, which also appears to be
silver. Interestingly, the two have exactly the same bore,
and parts are interchangeable. We have had fun linking the
two together to try and find out what the famed octo contra bass might
have sonded like. We din't manage any very creditable
noises, but the contortions needed by two middle aged and portly
players in order to reach the keys would have amazed
onlookers. Next time I will try to have a camera present.
Kevin Highley.
---------------------------------------------------------
From: "Kevin Highley"
Subject: [CB] Lebblanc finish
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 20:58:46 -0000
Ooops, finger trouble, in my last message I meant to say that my
old contra bass has a polished finish, but that later models seem to be
semi-matt.
Kevin Highley.
---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 15:41:39 -0800
From: "Grant Green"
Subject: Re: [CB] Leblac conta finishes
Kevin said:
>friend has a straight contra alto of about the same vintage
as my bass,
>which also appears to be silver. Interestingly,
the two have exactly the
>same bore, and parts are interchangeable. We
have had fun linking the two
>together to try and find out what the famed octo contra bass
might have
>sonded like. We din't manage any very creditable
noises, but the
>contortions needed by two middle aged and portly players in
order to reach
>the keys would have amazed onlookers. Next time
I will try to have a
>camera present.
Terje, somewhere you had a description of which keys to cork
shut so that certain notes could be played on the
octocontracombinaltobasso: is the description still on the web
somewhere?
Enjoy!
Grant
--
================================
Grant Green Contrabass.com
Sarrusophones & contrabass winds
================================
***End of Contrabass Digest***