Leblanc LL Bass Clarinets?????
- Thread starter evinjaq
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TrueTone
College Student who likes wind instruments & music
"The first-line pro-quality instruments were identifiable by the intertwined LL logo, and have a completely different bore size from the 300 series horns." "My own 1960's-vintage model 517 was abandoned by Leblanc in favor of a slightly smaller-bore 417 (with a concomitant loss of power and resonance). The x17 numbers indicate low-C instruments;x13 numbers denote instruments with the forked low Ab-clarion Eb fingering (in lieu of a left had Eb/Ab lever)."
-Larry Bocaner (of the National Symphony Orchestra) on this topic on the Clarinet BBoards on Leblanc Basses: http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=352157&t=352157
I believe only the later models of theirs have a double register vent, which I consider to be much preferable. Basically it vents the clarion through two different register vents, rather than just one for all of the clarion and one for the throat Bb.
The model x00 is just standard keywork, so that would presumably mean a model 500 is a large bore bass to low Eb with (thankfully, in my opinion-it's rather hard to keep in adjustment) no low forked low Eb/Ab.
If it has a register vent on the neck it probably plays well, and one without it still might. (although it might have more problems.)
-Larry Bocaner (of the National Symphony Orchestra) on this topic on the Clarinet BBoards on Leblanc Basses: http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=352157&t=352157
I believe only the later models of theirs have a double register vent, which I consider to be much preferable. Basically it vents the clarion through two different register vents, rather than just one for all of the clarion and one for the throat Bb.
The model x00 is just standard keywork, so that would presumably mean a model 500 is a large bore bass to low Eb with (thankfully, in my opinion-it's rather hard to keep in adjustment) no low forked low Eb/Ab.
If it has a register vent on the neck it probably plays well, and one without it still might. (although it might have more problems.)
Thanks a lot True Tone,
So I asked the seller about it, he says there's a register key on the neck but appears to only lead to one vent. Could it still be possible that a 1969 LeBlanc LL Bass Clarinet from 1969 to have the extra benefits of a double vent register system?
I wanna make sure before I buy it.
So I asked the seller about it, he says there's a register key on the neck but appears to only lead to one vent. Could it still be possible that a 1969 LeBlanc LL Bass Clarinet from 1969 to have the extra benefits of a double vent register system?
I wanna make sure before I buy it.
TrueTone
College Student who likes wind instruments & music
It probably depends on the model.
Here's what a non-linked register key looks like: http://www.clarinetsdirect.biz/images/LeblancBass678/LeblancBass678 4.jpg
I can't find a good picture of a Leblanc with a double register key looks like easily, so here's another brand instead: (apologies for the bad photo angle)
https://www.kesslerandsons.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/reg1-1.jpg
Basically if one's on the bottom side of the curve of the neck, and it has a long rod going down from the register key to the low G/D key, then it would have that mechanism.
Are you able to play the one you're talking about?
Here's what a non-linked register key looks like: http://www.clarinetsdirect.biz/images/LeblancBass678/LeblancBass678 4.jpg
I can't find a good picture of a Leblanc with a double register key looks like easily, so here's another brand instead: (apologies for the bad photo angle)
https://www.kesslerandsons.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/reg1-1.jpg
Basically if one's on the bottom side of the curve of the neck, and it has a long rod going down from the register key to the low G/D key, then it would have that mechanism.
Are you able to play the one you're talking about?
you have to check serial number.
I also think that they have a deep metal top tenon piece to the neck. I don't think they have the double "LL" emblem. I'm not a bass expert though.