CLARINETS DIRECT

020 85811113 or 07787 770071

GEORGES LEBLANC, PARIS, CB Bb CLARINET, £895

An exceptionally rare and unique professional Leblanc Bb Clarinet with automatic dual function Bb hole and speaker tube, and articulated C#/G#. This clarinet is a wide, parallel bore model, at 15.1mm, with designation "CB". It is likely that this clarinet was manufactured in the early 1950's as a direct competitor with Selmer's contemporaneous Omega Centered Tone model, which also featured an automatic dual function Bb and speaker key. This instrument is a commission sale for Clarinets Direct, the current owner is an American collector.
This Bb has matching serial numbers 6525, which probably dates to the 1950's. The wood is in excellent condition with no cracks and repairs. The German Silver key work is also in very good condition. The pads are mainly fish skin in good condition, with some cork pads on pad cups likely to be affected by water. This clarinet demonstrates a fat and flexible tone, with excellent intonation, rather like a "super improved" Pete Fountain model. It competes easily with much more expensive new instruments on the market today. The case is elderly but still fully functional.