Freshly Restored Vintage Leblanc Paris Basset Horn in F - Serial # 8037

This is a real find for players and collectors alike. This is a vintage Leblanc Paris basset horn in the key of F, serial number 8037. This example features a range to low Eb, something Leblanc toyed with as an alternative to the low C, for increased resonance and better intonation. This is a fun instrument to play, with a uniquely somber tone. While in the clarinet family, the basset horn has a voice all of its own.

This basset horn has seen very little playing time over its long life and remains in pristine shape. No cracks or previous crack repairs/pins to the grenadilla wood body, and little finish wear to the keywork. It features a clarinet-style bell with metal neck, and is overall similar in size to the alto clarinet (being in F, it is closest to the alto in Eb). The instrument was just restored in our shop by top clarinet tech Audrey Denny, and now shows off all new pads and material. It has been precisely adjusted and feels like a brand new instrument under your fingers.

The Leblanc family tends to have a larger bore and while this basset horn does take your air very efficiently, it still has a tonally centered sound and offers outstanding control. It's hard to describe its tonal color, but seems like a subdued or almost melancholic voice, without sacrificing projection. For saxophone players, it is like picking up an F Mezzo when you are just used to the alto or tenor – everything feels right, but its tone is so sweet and inviting that it seems like an entirely new instrument. What a uniquely fun horn to play! Ships in its original case with original mouthpiece.