Comments on: Leblanc or Selmer – Best clarinet for jazz?

By: john boughton

john boughton — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 03:49:42 +0000

Hi I think I have an RI selmer paris clarinet. My father left it to me. I think the serial no is L1101. It has not been used in years but looks pretty good. I might sell or at least more info about this clarinet. John

By: Will H.

Will H. — Wed, 26 May 2010 15:04:27 +0000

Hey just thought I’d throw this out the but Selmer Signant. Its about 50-60 years old its got a good sound good price about 350-450 and its a classic. Also its gunna be hard to find sorry:P. Vandoren B45 Vandoren 3 1/2 and Selmer Signant. Also I play Brass, Jazz, and some concert so all around a good horn.

By: Tony F.

Tony F. — Sun, 09 May 2010 12:28:30 +0000

I play an 80+ year old Jerome Thibouville-Lamy clarinet for everything, because for me it’s the best sounding and best handling instrument I’ve come across. Vandoren B45 and Legere 3.5′s.

By: Geoffrey

Geoffrey — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:57:33 +0000

My advice would be to try as many instruments as possible. Most reputable music stores are more than happy to let you try out various instruments. If you’re looking for a distinct sound, I found what I was looking for in my Selmer Recital which is made of heavier grenadilla wood and has a narrow 14.35mm bore. Warm, focussed but stropng sound that’s not easily dominated by the saxes.
Good luck.
Geoffrey

By: Andy Sherwood

Andy Sherwood — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:37:35 +0000

Believe it or not, I own two Pete Fountain Leblanc clarinets, two Buffet R-13s and a Leblanc Concerto II. They are all great clarinets in various respects. I really believe that if you play classical AND jazz, the Buffet or Concerto is the way to go. Unless, you want to switch back and forth. I’ve found that the Pete Fountain model is not the best for playing classical. It’s great for Dixieland. Between the Buffet and Concerto, the Buffet has the bigger sound. The Concerto could be considered to have a smoother sound throughout all registers. Also, I prefer the key work on the Concerto; it feels smoother. The Buffet has been and continues to be highly regarded by classical clarinetists everywhere. The Buffet would be a very excellent choice.

By: Paul Stein

Paul Stein — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:39:30 +0000

Artie Shaw played a Conn 444N large bore model. But it’s the Indian, not the arrow, as Ted Williams put it so well. Some people are better with Buffet or Yamaha. Personally, I prefer Conn or Selmer.

By: Mike McKeon

Mike McKeon — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:07:38 +0000

For what it is worth as someone mentioned earlier – reed and mouthpiece are more important. I play mainly Jazz but also have performed classical.
I owned a pair of Leblanc full Boehm back in early 60s – wish I still had them now, my memory is they were wonderful.
I now have a pair of Buffet ‘Prestige’ claris [3/4 Boehm] – good thing is the extra Eb lever key on LH cluster.
THE BEST reeds by miles and kilometers are Reeds Australia – I use the top of range and virtually every one in the box works well and out lasts any other brand.

By: lars karlsson

lars karlsson — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:51:55 +0000

I am Lasse from Swden and I play a Frank Hammerschmidt Cocobolo-clarinet.It haas a big sweet sound and it projects really well. I use a 5JB-mouthpiece with Legere 31/2 reeds.

By: Shelley Anderson

Shelley Anderson — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:18:03 +0000

Kind of sad. I’m not a player. I made Leblanc clarinets for 20 years. I loved my job and was proud of the product I helped produce. Conn-Selmer bought us and 3 years later shut us down and moved all operations to their Indiana facility (Leblanc was located in Kenosha, WI). I guess all I’m trying to say is I hope the people that still make clarinets under the name that I WAS so proud of still produce them with the integrity that we did and I also hope they are keeping YOU THE PLAYER in mind.

By: Rainer

Rainer — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:55:45 +0000

I bout my Buffet Crampon Clarinet in the year 1973 and I am still satisfied with it. I first played classic clarinet and since a few years I play jazz. All the best wishes Rainer