Satish Robertson

How many of you on TM had the experience of playing on both a vintage Martin Committee and a current Leblanc model? Which would you say was superior?

I owned a red laquered Leblanc Martin Committee for over a year and I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread until my mentor told me that I haven't played anything until I played vintage.

Well my luck would have it that I accquired a vintage 1947 Committee this year (after fronting some cash & trading my red horn + a lousy Jean- Baptiste). The slotting was unreal, the valve action was too good to be true, and the tone- IMMACULATE. For my taste the Leblanc line can't compare. What do you think?

ptynan

Satish,

Sometimes the vintage Committees are great,...sometimes they are the worst. I have played both types, and I owned a great one for a time.

As with any vintage horn it just depends on the horn itself.

Generally the Leblanc Martin Committee are more constant overall, but they will never be as good as a great vintage Committee.

I found my old Committee to be like a great old car,...I had to do a bit of tinkering with it to get it to work sometimes, but was alot of fun to drive.

PT

Satish Robertson

Yes, I've heard before that some of the vintage ones weren't all that great. Lucky for me the only fault I can find with mine is that damn finger ring; intonation & slotting are fine. I got my horn unused & in virtually mint condition; did you own a 'virgin' horn?

ptynan

No,...I got it from a french horn player I went to school with (I paid $300). He got it from a yard sale for $50 to use as his beater. It needed some lovin'.

I had to save it from a life of 5th grade trumpet players.

PT

Satish Robertson

At the prices both you and the french hornist paid for the trumpet, I would call that a steal.

That would have been a grusome fate for such a prestigious horn- goodness!