Tech Recommendation for Leblanc "Rationale"

[jazfyrski]

Hello,

I've just acquired a Leblanc System "Rationale" Model 100 alto. It's in great shape cosmetically, but true to the seller's description, it requires at least a partial overhaul. The mechanism on these horns is very innovative. In fact, Leblanc originally issued a "service manual" with the horn specifically to guide technicians to properly adjust the horn!

Since these horns are unique and I want to maximize its playability, can anyone give me a recommendation for a great technician who has experience servicing these horns? Ideally, the shop would be in Northern California, but I'm willing to ship my horn out of state to an excellent repair person.

Thanks!

[FremontSax]

I live in Fremont ca and I had Gabe Eaton at Alegro Music do a complete rebuild on my Vito Model 35 which is very similar to a Leblanc rationale. My horn has at least some of the adjustment screws supposedly found on a Leblanc rational. Gabe did a fine job.

[SaxSanDiego]

Jazfyrsk - Congratulations on your LeBlanc alto. They are great horns and, I think, under-appreciated. About two years ago one came into my possession that needed an overhaul. I have had several saxophones overhauled in the past and when I got those horns back I had problems that I attributed to lack of attention to detail. The Leblanc semi-rationale (the true rationale's were made by LeBlanc in the 1930's) has special adjustment requirements so I wanted someone who really knew what they were doing to work on it. I search around this site (and others) and Kim Slava's name came up several times. He specializes in French-made (and sometimes obscure) saxophones. I sent it to him (his shop is in Madison, WI, www.doctorsax.biz) and I was very, very pleased with the result. It plays flawlessly.

As an aside - up until I got my LeBlanc semi-rationale, I played a Buesher Big B alto that was made in the 1940's and had also been overhauled. It is a very nice horn but it pretty much sits in it's case. The LeBlanc plays and feels so much better in every way that I pretty much play it exclusively.