The 'Official' ClarinetPages Vito Reso-Tone thread.

[350 Rocket]

Yeah, that's a "brushed" finish. They did that to give a vague impression of woodgrain - on soprano clarinets it was usually reserved for the more-expensive ones.

They used that logo from the mid-'60s through the early 2000s.

The Eb contra-alto was model number 7181. I don't know for sure if the serial numbers used the same sequence as basses or if they had their own. But, I can't believe they would've sold enough contras for them to get to a "D" suffix on their own, so it probably matches the basses and you're correct on the year.

[DaveLeBlanc]

Typo correction: I said "it's definitely not metal."

I MEANT: "it's definitely not wood..."

[supervinx]

Thank you all for your kind response.
The clarinet plays well, even if it needs some adjustments.
It has a big sound, with decent harmonic content (it's not wood...)
I paid it 1200€: still shiny, no scratches, nothing.

[ElizabethDeco]

Hello,
This is my first post. I saw this thread and thought of my first clarinet. This was residing at my family home since I stopped playing (I've since taken it up again - twice). I loved this clarinet. But sadly, as you can see the upper joint is bust - I was surprised and disappointed when I found this out a couple of years ago. It was not kept in extreme conditions - just in an indoor closet.

At some point in the past - but I don't remember - the original barrel broke in the same way (and there are two replacements in the case). Serial number A98668. 1973 or 74?

I don't want to put off anyone wanting to buy a vintage Vito Reso-Tone by posting this. It might have just been my clarinet (going to pre-empt any jokes about it suffered from my playing  ).

But I do have a question. Because I remember how nicely this clarinet played for me (forgot to say it came with a NEMC Made in France Steelite Ebonite mouthpiece G8, which I still use), if the new LeBlancs are similar in general? I am in the market for a new clarinet and I would buy the Serenade if it is similar.

Elizabeth

[windydankoff]

This is super-unusual!  If the barrel cracked also, for no apparent reason, I would assume it was a made with a defective batch of plastic.

You can find Vito Reso-Tone clarinets at pawn shops, eBay, Craigs List, ...  all the time.  They are the best of plastic. Even professional players sometimes keep them as backups or when playing outdoors. I would just reach down for some pocket change and buy another one!

[ElizabethDeco]

Yes, I would be happy to purchase another one, but I live in England (that Vito was at my family home in N.Y.) and they are much harder to come by and the ones that are for sale on eBay are going for like 3 times what you would pay in the US.

Having said that, I might plonk down the £££ for another one.

[windydankoff]

I can recommend Yamaha as an underrated plastic wonder. Not sure about the models, but I have a student with an old cheapy and it sounds quite wonderful.

[ElizabethDeco]

Funny that you mention that, because I have a Yamaha student clarinet -RC II. The sound is nice but I find the G/D hole a little too big for my right ring finger and for me the break is a little clumsy. I tend to get a little grunt on the B and C. Again that could be me but maybe I should have a tech look it over.

I just remember how in junior and senior HS how nice the Vito fit with me. 

[brigaltman]

I was the music coordinator for a large school district in Michigan. We bought many of the Vito clarinets each year for our beginning band program. There was a year or two (I'm guessing in the late 70s or early 80s) that we got several instruments that broke with little or no provocation. I'd guess you have one from that vintage. It is possible that a good repairman could epoxy the two pieces back together, if you're sentimentally attached to that instrument, but it would be cheaper to just buy another. The Vitos were, of course, the American "poor cousin" of the French Leblanc instruments (including Noblet and Normandy). I frequently sell completely refurbished wood Noblets and Normandys in the $150-$175 range. I actually have right now an early Leblanc (1950 +/-) professional instrument that I'm just getting ready to list on ebay.

Good luck and best wishes.