Here is some of the key take aways from my first month with the Leblanc Paris (paperclip) CAC:
- Start here on Wikipedia for general overview.
- This article calls them CBCs in Eb (aka EEb) but is still very interesting.
- Music Oldtimer has excellent pictures.
My findings:
1. I chose the vintage paperclip over the straights mostly because of the form factor and resulting smaller case. The Leblanc EEb contra alto clarinet just fits so nicely and I sit the peg on my chair between my legs.
2. Mine goes down to low C but the fingering is arcane. Still being able to play lower is always good in my book.
3. The vintage straight Leblanc CAC I tried had a lot of stuffy notes which I'm sure my fav tech, Paul Woltz could have fixed rather handily. As it was he did tweak the keyworks for the low C (two right thumb keys) keyworks.
4. The paperclip was in much better condition visually than the other vintage one. The new one was too expensive compared to the paperclip.
5. The
Walter Grabner CAC mouthpiece allows me to voice the instrument immediately whereas the Leblanc one would have taken me some time to make work. Make sure you specify Leblanc as the Selmer mouthpiece has a smaller diameter.