Leblanc T357 Sandoval - Bell Material?

Autigermania · Regular Member Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 29

I recently acquired a Leblanc T357 Sandoval. Current specs on the horn say yellow brass bell. I know it supposed to be a X3 style horn....my question is that when I flick the bell, it sounds dead, like a copper style Schilke bell.

Does anybody know if the older models (mine is an older model) may have used a different material than yellow brass OR does the new models have this same characteristic "clunck"?

Many thanks!

Derek
_________________
Derek Saidak
Legends Brass
www.legendsbrass.com
Ask for the TH Member Discount!

James Becker · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 7:51 am Post subject:

Very likely your bell rim is not soldered, while the same bell with a soldered rim or bead will ring when struck regardless of alloy.

I hope this is helpful.
_________________
James Becker
Brass Repair Specialist Since 1977
Osmun Music Inc.
77 Powdermill Road Rt.62
Acton, MA 01720
www.osmun.com

Our workshop is as close as your nearest UPS store https://www.ups.com/dropoff?loc=en_US

Ed Kennedy · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 3187

trpt_music · Veteran Member Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 146

I remember the bell on those horns being very big but with a great sound when it was played. I never put much care into whether or not it "flicked" and sounded good.

I played one from about 1997 - 2002. I loved the sound and feel but the F, F#, and G on top of the staff were WAY sharp.

This was before I knew anything about valve alignments so I sold it. Unfortunatly all of that might have been fixable to some degree with an alignment.

ScottA · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 11:07 am Post subject:

I have seen several of those horns and all had the same "thunk"! I believe it had more to do with the process than the material and it never seemed to affect the projection which was always excellent.

The Sandoval model flugel does have a copper bell and was also a pretty nice instrument.
_________________
Scott Apelgren
Indialantic, FL

Autigermania · Regular Member Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 29

Thanks to all for the GREAT information!

This T357 is a player. I am enjoying it.

Derek
_________________
Derek Saidak
Legends Brass
www.legendsbrass.com
Ask for the TH Member Discount!

7thtrpt · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 8:44 pm Post subject: LeBlanc T357

I have the opportunity to play several of these horns.

I own two lacquer finished instruments. Both of them have a brass bell.
I also have one in silver plate.

The piccolo trumpet in the Sandoval line has a rose brass bell, as does the flugelhorn.

The flugelhorn is super, and the trumpet I call the poor mans Schilke B3.

When I first played this horn, I said the G is sharp. I had played a Bach 37
SN 32XXX for over twenty years. The LeBlanc rep said the Bach plays flat, and i agreed.

It's a shame that Selmer didn't continue manufacturing when they bought the brand. These horns are real sleepers.

american boy · Veteran Member Joined: 22 Sep 2012 Posts: 344 Location: ny

I tried a friends Leblanc Sandoval for a few days,and yes the bell was kind of dead to the touch,but I liked the way it played.After a few days, it became big;I could`nt really handle the bore size,perhaps because of my mouthpiece(kinda large for commercial playing)..Made me wonder about what a Leblanc Gozzo,with its .459 bore I think ,would feel like.Have never had a chance to play one,but would be interested.