The 'Official' ClarinetPages Vito Reso-Tone thread.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedMan]

Got 3 Reso tones or so laying around....  Got them as a package deal on auctions where I was bidding on the other horn.... yeah cant give them away i guess... Ideas?  Gun range? Maybe see how high they can be sling shotted?  Take them 'fishing'?  play baseball with them?

[350 Rocket]

For some reason, the only plastic clarinets that have any resale value now - playing condition or otherwise - are Yamahas. And yes, they're good, but it isn't as if Vitos come up short in comparison.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedMan]

Yeah, the Yamahas are pretty hot as far as resale goes.  The kids got a ad200 that was played for a long time and a 250 which didn't see much use.  Like i said, the Vitos that made their way to me were basically throw ins that they weren't seeming to be able to move. 
The market itself seems to be flooded.  Only ones that move (as far as the used resale) are the newer models and if someone has interest in collecting the either rare or more desirable vintage models.
I would have to dig up my vitos if anyone is interested, not too sure where they got to.  Am thinking there was one 2 and two 3's.  That's better than 6 7's right?(really bad joke)  Would be more of an academic exercise. 

[Windsong]

I have not commented on this thread in 9 years,  and my, what an excursion I have been on since then, and all the way back again.

Not too long afterward, I had given my inventory away to neighborhood kids, and moved on.

I am back to say I firmly believe these are THE real humdingers; seriously--they may be the best student clarinet ever made.  This is my 5th, now, and they have all been consistently excellent.  I love the old clarinets--you all know I do, but what they have in soul they lack in precision.  This is a well sorted clarinet.

Ergos are a wee bit tight (It's a student horn, after all), but not at all unmanageable or even uncomfortable.  The sliver keys, which are typically not evenly placed between ring keys on most other models of clarinet are perhaps the best of any clarinet I've played.  They give the player optimal space without odd finger placement, to prevent their accidental brushing.

These are also tanks.  They have beautifully designed keywork (aesthetic, functional, durable), and they are just super solid feeling.   By the mid 1960s, individual trill posts were standard, which is a nice feature for maintaining regulation.  You can push them hard.  Regarding intonational consistency, these are also excellent.  I find most notes no more than 5 cents out.

This last one came to me over the weekend for the sinfully low price of 25 bucks delivered (with a Brillhart Ebolin MP, to boot--and not a scratch on the body) and I have not even had a chance to regulate it or check it for leaks yet.  It was missing one LJ spatula key pad, so I grabbed a 16mm skin pad, floated it in, and took it for a spin:

[Windsong]

Another Normandy Reso-Tone arrived this afternoon.

It is *almost* exactly like the one I purchased a couple weeks ago, and made in the same year (1965), 2225 serial numbers earlier.

*The only two differences I see are with the LH 5 C#/G# key, (and the slightly longer barrel---66mm, versus 63mm).  While post distance is the same and I believe the two keys would be interchangeable, I prefer the latter key as it allows for optimal clearance of the open C tonehole, and more accurate rapid actuation of the C#/G# key.   

I am curious to know if this key change took place in 1965, and stayed changed, or whether they may have been interchangeable and they flip-flopped from year to year.  (The bottom clarinet is the later model, with the preferred ergonomically sculpted key.)

[Windsong]

This new one is a player too--right out of the box.  The pads look terrible and will probably disintegrate shortly, but I got at least one last run:

[350 Rocket]

*The only two differences I see are with the LH 5 C#/G# key, (and the slightly longer barrel---66mm, versus 63mm).  While post distance is the same and I believe the two keys would be interchangeable, I prefer the latter key as it allows for optimal clearance of the open C tonehole, and more accurate rapid actuation of the C#/G# key.   

I am curious to know if this key change took place in 1965, and stayed changed, or whether they may have been interchangeable and they flip-flopped from year to year.  (The bottom clarinet is the later model, with the preferred ergonomically sculpted key.)

I checked my inventory and pictures of past work. '50s models usually have a straight C#/G#, but I have a '58 with it curved. The '60s models I checked all had a curved one, but on a '63 Vito Reso II it's straight.

I checked some wood ones too: straight on an early Normandy and a Normandy 10 bought new in 1962, curved on a '65 Noblet 45.

The straight ones all give the C/G tonehole a bit more clearance than on yours - the arm is almost perpendicular to the body.

With the oddly-broad array of different model numbers Leblanc had for these (13, 14, 14S, 14V, 15, 16), that key might have been a point of differentiation for one or more of them, and settling for the less-ergonomic option is part of what saved a few dollars for the buyer. It is, of course, also possible that they were just using whatever key was in the bin, but over a several-year period I think they would've used up the straight ones much quicker if they'd been obsoleted.

[Windsong]

I checked my inventory and pictures of past work. '50s models usually have a straight C#/G#, but I have a '58 with it curved. The '60s models I checked all had a curved one, but on a '63 Vito Reso II it's straight.

I checked some wood ones too: straight on an early Normandy and a Normandy 10 bought new in 1962, curved on a '65 Noblet 45.

The straight ones all give the C/G tonehole a bit more clearance than on yours - the arm is almost perpendicular to the body.

With the oddly-broad array of different model numbers Leblanc had for these (13, 14, 14S, 14V, 15, 16), that key might have been a point of differentiation for one or more of them, and settling for the less-ergonomic option is part of what saved a few dollars for the buyer. It is, of course, also possible that they were just using whatever key was in the bin, but over a several-year period I think they would've used up the straight ones much quicker if they'd been obsoleted.

Fascinating--really!  That is a lot of jumping around among years and models.  While I like the curved key a little better, it is a minor criticism, and I suspect both fit, interchangeably, so if I need the other, I'll buy a parts horn for it.   Thank you for all the great info.

[ghostler]

In 1965 in 6th grade I started band on a Le Blanc Vito plastic clarinet with nickel plated keys that my father bought for me. It is not hard rubber, don't know what plastic it is made of. I still have it in playable condition. Plays about a quarter tone sharp in the throat register. I must relax my embouchure to play that register in tune.

It has been overhauled 2 times. I had it overhauled in high school, but an outside shop did not do a good job. Then as a student at the US Army Element, Naval School of Music back in the early 1970's, their professional Navy repairer did a top notch job, even restoring the gilding in its engravings. Since I have replaced a few pads and corks. I used that clarinet instead of a school loaner. Best thing about this 6 month long school is it taught me how to play the instrument in tune throughout its range. Except for the worst or needing serious repair, I can make nearly any clarinet or sax play in tune.

It now resides in a new case as the original by age and wear and tear saw its better days. Case used an inexpensive black plastic alligator pattern sheet material as a covering, which tore easily, and the cotton or flax edge strip stitching had dry rotted. Latches and hinges were well rusted with little of the original nickel plating left. Interior was groady from all the years of handling. The clarinet has some brassing from years of handling and some keys swedged from overhaul, but otherwise still plays well.

At least for the saxes, old man "Vito" often contracted with other companies to make student model stencils for Le Blanc USA. Some were received as parts to be assembled in their US factories, to help defray import tariffs. Some were imported from their manufacturing country of origin and are stamped as such. Some, parts were made overseas but a competitor assembled these in their US factories for Le Blanc. Thus far I gather that these usually lack country of origin stamped on them.

For the saxes, in general whether stenciled by Yamaha, Yanagisawa, KHS Jupiter, Le Blanc Beaugnier in France, etc., they were sold in a Le Blanc USA case. Various minor changes were incorporated to help hide their manufacturer's origins, such as replacing the stamping of company logos and symbols with Le Blanc, using different cutout patterns in guards, and etc.

Example, the Vito 7131 alto sax is a Yamaha YAS23 in disguise. My Vito 7133T tenor sax appears to be a KHS Jupiter JTS-689 in disguise. (Identical except the JTS-689 has adjustable felts on its bell pad guards whereas mine are non-adjustable.) Although a student model, my tenor plays like an intermediate and has such a beautiful subtone for jazz. It's metallurgy is stout, definitely not a lightweight.

If my 1965 Vito clarinet is stencil, does anyone know who made it or the parts it was assembled from?

[350 Rocket]

If my 1965 Vito clarinet is stencil, does anyone know who made it or the parts it was assembled from?

It wasn't a stencil - Leblanc USA made their clarinets wholly in-house in Kenosha, using a keywork design and bore geometry similar to French Noblet and Normandy models.

[ghostler]

If my 1965 Vito clarinet is stencil, does anyone know who made it or the parts it was assembled from?

It wasn't a stencil - Leblanc USA made their clarinets wholly in-house in Kenosha, using a keywork design and bore geometry similar to French Noblet and Normandy models.

Thanks for the clarification.

[ghostler]

They are like "Lay's Potato Chips", "You can't have just one". 😉 There was a very clean 1974 Vito Res-O-Tone clarinet that I had in my eBay saved list. Today, seller dropped the price to $30, plus tax and ship from Michigan, I paid $40.81 total. It was made in Kenosha, WI, S/N B281xx.

[Windsong]

That's not a bad price Ghostler. Since it sounds like you pluck some of these to help others out, check ShopGoodwill.com too.  Sometimes they can be had for $25.00, shipped, and in playing or almost-playing condition.

[ghostler]

Thanks for the tip, Windsong. Today after Salvation Army church services, we had potluck lunch. One woman, a recent attender has school age children. I mentioned to her about my music background and cost of new student instruments for kids entering junior high for beginning band.

She was familiar with what I was talking about, apparently she already researched it. Then I told her that I found used instruments except for certain highly prized professional models depreciate heavily, told her I picked up from eBay a Selmer CL300 student clarinet in excellent condition for $108 total. The successor model CL301 is now selling new on-line for $1,400, but the CL300 will play every bit as well as the CL301. Plus I have a like new Eastar alto sax (it's a clone from the Orient but seems reasonable quality for a student instrument. I bought a Venus Bb soprano sax for $219 back in 2012 based on forum comments, one of the few that had all positive forum comments. Plays like an intermediate, wore out the budget case after a couple of zipper repair kits. Now lives in a quality Pro-pac case. Last year had it serviced at Tarpley's Music, Lubbock, TX for $263 $144.64*, more than the original cost of the instrument.)

She will bring her son next Sunday. I've given away instruments before, found it builds bridges to people, helps kids whose parents otherwise might not be able to help them with band. Plus the kids are appreciative. Owning an instrument is an incentive for a kid to practice it, more than a rental or loaner, IMO.

[350 Rocket]

Regrettably, I didn't see this while the auction was live, but take a look at this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/188783579891

Early Vito Reso-Tone brochure from 1962 or 1963, showing the original logo and listing out the available models - plus a comparison against "Brand B. R." (gee, I wonder what that could be?).