The Leblanc BBb contrabass clarinet is back!

In this video, I do a few adjustments to my Leblanc contrabass clarinet and play it in public for the first time!
Are you entered to win a professional clarinet mouthpiece? See my previous video for details!

[@InstrumentManiac]

Cool video! I'm continuously stunned by your knowledge of low end clarinet construction ^_^

[@alphakky]

I played the Bb and Eb contrabass in the San Diego State University Wind Ensemble and almost all the music we played had contra parts. I was able to balance out the ensemble and along with the occasional contrabassoon, we filled out the rest of the ensemble.

[@liamisafireplace]

This is the contrabass that my school has! I love playing it even tho the instrument is pretty broken. I’ve done my best to fix it up and have successfully improved some of the issues by using tape

[@blobbler8940]

Our school has this exact one, too. It's at least a decade old and has some loose pins and leaks, but I hope to be able to play most notes on it when I test it out.

[@noahb3370]

I played this exact model contrabass clarinet in my Wind Ensemble and I loved it.

[@r100curtaincall]

I played rosa in high school on my contra. Was really fun

[@BretNewtonComposer]

So a single Contrabass in an ensemble of 90 will probably make little to no difference. If I were balancing it, 4 Contras would need to be there just to begin to balance what is probably a top heavy (and trumpet-heavy) group.

[@Jared_De_Leon]

4 contras (and maybe a contrabassoon) would be lovely! Unfortunately it's just me right now. I may see if I can use some kind of electric amplification to give the instrument more volume.

[@JasonAlder]

Fairly certain you'd be able to hear me on contra in an ensemble of 90...

[@BretNewtonComposer]

@@JasonAlder exception, meet rule. Rule, meet exception.

[@bandgeek6778]

I used to play a contrabass, but it broke.

[@alphakky]

Not nessasarily. The contra is to blend in with the bass, not stand out unless it's a soli part. Unfortunately most contra players are clarinet rejects and are too timid and afraid to squeak to play loudly.

[@ckjuicyj82]

Awesome! Glad you got it to being fully functional again and even getting to play it with the band. Can't wait for the next contra video!

[@n.messick3903]

Hey so your videos have really inspired me to want to repair instruments as a career in the future and i was wondering if you could make a video of how you studied and and talk about instrument repair in general (ps im looking into woodwind repair specifically)

[@Jared_De_Leon]

Sure I could probably make something like that in the future!

[@n.messick3903]

@@Jared_De_Leon awesome thanks!

[@Clarinetfanz]

Cool video! I also have played Movement for Rosa, except I played a transposed version on a Contra Alto Clarinet and it was during an Intercollegiate band concert.

[@500vdc]

Interesting! I once extended a low-A bari sax to low G for some fun in a college jazz band, using rolled up paper like you did. I have played this same model contrabass clarinet in our community wind ensemble for several years, on pieces that call for it. Finally made an extension to get the low D for the same piece you played! (and others the need the D). 1-1/4" PVC I.D. is pretty close. Added a cork on the outside of the bell joint and made something that is easy to put on and off. Had to make a bent floor rod too, which was pretty easy. Wish I owned a Low-C contra, but hard to justify when I only play it 2-3 times per year. :-) Cool that you found a reasonably-priced 342!

[@pukalo]

Can we call you the "Clarinet Surgeon"?

[@Jared_De_Leon]

Haha I like it!

[@marcusstables2553]

That was awesome, thank you

[@pileofgold]

We played this in high school! I planed Eb contra for it... but I think I just played the bari sax part.

[@MolnarPohdap]

Actually, a lone contrabass clarinet should be audible even in such a large band, simply because its low pitches, below those of the other basses, are telling just because of their pitch level. I've experienced this with pipe organs, when a soft 16' or 32' alone is very telling under stronger 8' pitch basses. That said, yes, I do think it would be best to have more than one contrabass clarinet in such a band! In fact, I think bands would be better off having multiple contrabass woodwinds instead of multiple bass tubas, for a clearer, better blending bassline.

[@James.D.B.]

Agreed

[@robertforrester578]

What price would one expect to pay for this particular make and model, if in decent condition? My nephew is nuts about contrabass clarinet for some reason. There is one on craig's list and the guy wants $3000. That is about the limit I want to spend on a 19 year old, who may change his interest. Basically Brother, I'd like to know if I could get my money back in case the kid loses his desire to take up what looks to me as, an unweldy thing to play. Although I must admit it sounded cool in your video, which was very helpful to me. Thanks for your time and expertise. Bob Forrester

[@Jared_De_Leon]

Robert Forrester $3000 is quite fair, I’ve seen clean examples sell for $4000. Make sure it plays really well though. There’s one on Reverb too for $3000. If it needs work it can get expensive fast. As for resale value these things have been shooting up in value so there’s very little risk.

[@robertforrester578]

@@Jared_De_Leon Thanks for taking the time Brother.

[@teddydunn3513]

Sounds great

[@teamcori]

amazing

[@TrūęRøbÿG]

Great video!

[@JohnRandomness105]

From the title, I thought that perhaps Leblanc had returned to producing the paperclip contrabass clarinets.

[@Jared_De_Leon]

I wish! Leblanc Paris is completely dead at this point :/

[@JohnRandomness105]

@@Jared_De_Leon I'm sorry, I apparently didn't finish watching this video before, because I had misunderstood even more. For some reason, I thought you were playing a paperclip clarinet, which goes to low C. I read in a book many years ago, that one could make a cone of some sort to play a low D on a low-Eb bass clarinet -- or in an emergency, drop your mouthpiece cap into the bell.

[@glace963]

Wow! You are great at clarinet repair! I have a question for you. I may possibly try and build a piccolo Bb clarinet. How should I go about doing this?

[@pukalo]

I would build a frame around the body of the clarinet that contains the actual keys with linkages to the tone holes so that the instrument is actually playable.

[@Jared_De_Leon]

Start by building some prototypes using PVC pipe. Then build the final version using 1" od x 1/2" id Delrin or abs tubing. I would see about repurposing some piccolo keys for the project.

[@glace963]

Jared De Leon Thanks! I’m getting a professional Turkish G clarinet, and I know you have one too. I was wondering what I should do for reeds. I found G clarinet reeds, but they’re only 2.0’s. Should I just use my Bb clarinet reeds, use the 2.0 g clarinet reeds, or something else entirely? I was wondering what you do/what I should do.

[@pukalo]

@@glace963 G clarinets should use regular b-flat reeds, but in strengths around 1 to 1.5.

[@Jared_De_Leon]

TheCrysticalCryptic Try using your standard mouthpiece and go a strength softer on the reeds. I normally use a 3.5 but on G I use 2.5

[@aidan6819]

What model and brand is that I’ve been want a contrabass clarinet for a while

[@Jared_De_Leon]

Leblanc model 342

[@aidan6819]

Jared De Leon thank you

[@israelsantosrezendetorres7510]

👍👍👍👍

[@Metalpazallteway]

Idk but I feel like this instrument belongs more in the sax family for some reason timbre wise

[@huskypuppypaws4850]

Yay!!!!

[@shayshay1239_]

A incredibly late question lol, but is it hard to blow air into?

[@Jared_De_Leon]

It’s not hard, it just takes a lot of air so you have to constant think about where you’re going to take a breath.

[@shayshay1239_]

@@Jared_De_Leon ooh okayy thankss

[@schererman6410]

My school has the same model contrabass but it needs work done on it. too bad they dont write for it much

[@bandgeek6778]

Same; we have a 1962 model 342 contrabass clarinet that has a few bent keys, a broken octave system, has air leaks, and overall doesn't play well. (I estimate it cost around 300 to fix) Also, I've only had one actual contrabass part for it.

[@joeldiaz222]

Hi Jared! I have got a problem with my buffet E11. Some keys do not close very easily and that makes me do more pressure with the fingers than I should do. My repair person can't fix this. Do you know what can I do? I can contact you via Instagram if you want.

[@Jared_De_Leon]

This should be a relatively easy repair. I think you should start by looking for a better repairman in your area. Unfortunately I don't think I have the time to take on any more projects at the moment.

[@abedinsubashi]

Don’t contrabass clarinets go down to low C Or is it just certain ones

[@Jared_De_Leon]

Only some do, and the cheapest option is a paperclip to low C which would be well out of my price range. These straight Leblancs to low Eb are some of the most common.

[@abedinsubashi]

Jared De Leon is it possible for you to make your own extension for your contrabass down to low C

[@johnspence5689]

What is the range of it

[@schererman6410]

Eb an octave below the bass clarinet

[@schererman6410]

Low D with the paper

[@sanstheskeleton2023]

Schererman64 Only the early paperclips had low D. If the bell goes above the top loop it goes to Low C

[@blu3620]

Why are you so shooked when you play it on your band

[@Jared_De_Leon]

Lol that's just the face I make when i'm focusing

[@diminuendo7525]

its cool but so.. so quiet....