Getting Guidance on Selecting a New Clarinet: Important Things to Think About

[evansdavis090]

Hello Everyone,

I’m reaching out to the community as I’m in the process of upgrading my clarinet and could really use some expert advice on making an informed decision. I’ve been playing for a few years now and have reached a point where I feel it’s time to move beyond my student model and invest in a more professional instrument.

At this stage, I’m considering both brands and key features. I’ve heard a lot about clarinets from Buffet Crampon, Yamaha, and Selmer, but I’m curious if there are specific models from these or other brands that stand out, especially in terms of sound quality, durability, and overall feel. My playing style tends to focus on classical music, but I also enjoy dabbling in jazz from time to time, so versatility would be a plus.

I’ve also read conflicting advice on materials—wood versus synthetic clarinets—and I’m wondering if anyone has experience with both types and can share insights into the pros and cons. I’ve heard that wood clarinets offer a richer tone but are more prone to cracking, whereas synthetic options might be more durable but potentially lack warmth. What’s the real difference in playing experience?

I have also checked this: https://www.woodwindforum.com/forum/index.php?threads/what-is-the-quietest-woodwind.26660/ but didn't get any clarification on it.

Finally, I’d appreciate any tips on what to look for when testing out a clarinet in a store. Are there specific characteristics or sounds I should pay close attention to? I’ve played on a rental model for most of my time, so I’m not as familiar with the nuances of different instruments.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Carl H.]

1: What's your budget. This is a pretty large item in the selection of an instrument.

2: Materials. Controversial, but I have metal, hard rubber, and various grades of wood clarinets. The design is much more influential in the tone than the materials. My metal Eb clarinet is the sweetest Eb I've ever played including some very reputable wooden ones.

3: Brands. Your budget and location will determine what is available to you. I mostly play Buffet, but have a wonderful Yamaha 34 that does 99% of what the Buffet brings to the table and uses a Buffet barrel as easily as any Buffet. I have too many other clarinets of wide ranging prices that are wonderful in their own way that I could be perfectly happy with, but the Buffet is just something special - but it was a journey to get it there.

4: Criteria for choosing. If it can't be played in tune nothing else matters. If it doesn't fit your hand that can be an issue as well.

Don't let a name sway your choice.

Reeds and mouthpieces involved in your search can also influence your choices. Some mouthpieces don't play well with some instruments, just like some reeds don't play well on some mouthpieces. You'll need to experiment with these as well. I started on a nice Selmer HS mouthpiece that didn't play well at all on some of instruments, but did on others. Be willing to experiment. At this point in time, I find that same HS mouthpiece to be unplayable - but it served me well in college. Try the mouthpiece that comes with the instrument and some fresh reeds. (More than 1, what if a dud reed made you pass on a great instrument?)


You say you are coming from a rental instrument, so your perception may be skewed into a certain response that feels natural and a better instrument may feel off. Try to get someone with more experience to help you make a decision - preferably someone with MUCH MORE experience, not your buddy who has been playing for 2 years longer than you.


Then there are barrels... A few years back I went on a quest for a barrel for a vintage top of the line Buffet. I have many barrels made by top makers and am somewhat educated on how they impact an instrument. I am not a rookie clarinet player and have been trained to play in tune to the best of my ability so I had habits developed to compensate for the shortcomings of my main setup. When it came time to find a better matching barrel I tried my best to place the mouthpiece in a neutral embouchure did my best to do as little as possible with my air/embouchure to see what the instrument was doing. The shop owner wondered what I was up to as he had never heard such a crummy tone in his life - BUT - I was blowing directly in front of a Peterson strobe app and watching what the intonation was doing. My process was to test the barrel/instrument compatibility, not my ability to make it sound good.

I've heard of a clarinet player - a very fine one - who played Twinkle Twinkle as his play test. Keep it simple so you can make an honest comparison between instruments in the early stages - maybe play around the circle of fifths to see if it can manage to stay in tune with itself around the full range of the instrument to your ability.

 

[pete]

Reeds and mouthpieces involved in your search can also influence your choices.

Word.

I won't comment on reeds because I haven't played even semi-professionally in years.

Mouthpiece? Oh, I can comment on that. Replacing the mouthpiece made me change from hating the clarinet to loving it in the space of about a minute. As Carl H. says, experiment a bit. Don't look at the price tags. You might be able to get the same mouthpiece off ebay for 1/2 the price.

 

[ghostler]

By looking at your profile, I gather that you are already a young adult in the working world. (I say young because I am 70.)

@Carl H. asked an important question regarding budget as a starting point, as to what is affordable. Professional level clarinets can be quite expensive, and I have found that it is more the player than the instrument that makes it shine, although the instrument helps.

Thus on a leaner budget, many intermediate grade clarinets can suffice for continuing your learning education, too.

When I was 100% getting pay for play as a member of the 264th Army Band, Honolulu, Hawaii in the early 1970's, then, the Buffet Crampons were considered the top clarinet for concert work. The larger bore Selmers were preferred for jazz, but both can do either.

The right mouthpiece can have a large effect into the sound and performance of the clarinet.

We used the less expensive student model clarinets for outdoor events like street parades, because we did not want to ruin an expensive Buffet or Selmer if we encountered inclimate weather like rain. They still did the job.

At times I have played my 1965 LeBlanc Vito plastic (Ebonite) clarinet. It has been overhauled twice. It is about 1/4th tone sharp in the throat register, so I play it in tune. An oddity, the first clarinet that played well in tune for me was a new Selmer Bundy ebonite clarinet I was issued when gigging with the 91st Training Division Army Reserve Band, in Saucelito, California in the mid 1980's. It played even better in tune than the Buffet Crampon Bb wood clarinet I was issued with the 264th.

At this stage you are probably wanting a wood clarinet for its warmer timbre, which usually starts in intermediate grade. Unless you can afford it, I would shoot for a good intermediate brand name grade instrument.

Then tweak it with a good mouthpiece reed combination. Note, I have found some less expensive mouthpieces can perform as well as more expensive ones, so price alone is not a gauging factor.

Most important is continuing to work on your music proficiency on the clarinet.

 

[pete]

Um. I took a closer look at that link in OP's post (which I've now corrected). If you click to one side or other, it goes to the WF page. If you click the middle, it goes to a most definitely non-WF page. Possible coincidence, but probably not. Someone taking advantage of my bad eyesight ...

I've banned OP's account until they e-mail me.

You can carry on posting on this topic, if you'd like.