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Clarinet Buyer's Guide

Some of the Questions Answered Below

What level of clarinet is right for me?
How does the material affect the sound?
What bore should I get if I mainly play solo?

Clarinet Breakdown

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Clarinet Categories

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featuring

Buffet BC2501-2-0 E11 Bb Intermediate Clarinet

Student Clarinets: Student clarinets are designed for the beginner and meant to provide an excellent start for the first years of playing. Student clarinets are made with durable plastic bodies and priced to easily fit into most families’ budgets. Teacher-Recommended Student Clarinets

Intermediate Clarinets(Step-Up): Once a student is established and learning the fundamentals of good playing, it is important to purchase an instrument that will continue his or her musical growth. All of our intermediate level clarinets feature Grenadilla wood bodies and excellent key work. Recommended Intermediate Clarinets

Professional Clarinets: Designed and constructed with the professional musician in mind, these clarinets are popular among the serious students as well. Recommended Professional Clarinets

Artist: Hand-crafted and true artist quality. Recommended Artisan Clarinets

View Recommended Instruments:

Body Materials

The material used for the body of the clarinet will have a huge impact on the tone and projection of the instrument.

section #2

Plastic (Resin):: Plastic is used exclusively for student-level clarinets. Plastic proves durable and will not change with humidity or temperature.
Ebonite (Hard Rubber):: Our exclusive Allora clarinet line features an Ebonite body. These professional clarinets offer the stability and durability of plastic, but the more dense rubber offers the dark sound and projection favored by professional musicians.
Grenadilla (African Blackwood):: Grenadilla is the choice of more advanced and professional players. The sound is focused and possesses a “ring” that cannot be found in synthetic instruments. For a long life, proper care and breaking in of the wood clarinet must be observed.
Greenline:: To answer the problem of dwindling Grenadilla stock, as well as the problem of instability of true wood clarinets, Buffet-Crampon developed a blend of Grenadilla dust and epoxy. Greenline clarinets offer the density and tone of a Grenadilla clarinet but the stability of a synthetic.
Rosewood:: The Rosewood clarinet offers a darker and more mellow sound than Grenadilla. These clarinets are quickly finding favor among chamber players and soloists.

Key Materials

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Nickel Plated:: Nickel plate is shiny, extremely durable and does not easily tarnish. It is found on most student and intermediate level clarinets, but is preferred by many professionals.
Silver Plated:: Silver plating is warmer in appearance and softer to the touch. It also ads a minute amount of weight to the clarinet and thus slightly darkens the tone.
Hamilton Plated:: Yamaha offers this blend of silver and gold on its G series clarinets. This blend presents a warm, slightly golden look to the clarinet, and the added weight provides a darker and more liquid sound.

Bore Design

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Bore Size: The size of the bore will affect the general feel of playing the clarinet.

Larger-bore clarinets are preferred by jazz players and are more free-blowing with greater flexibility and projection.
Medium-bore clarinets are the most common and offer a balance between flexibility and focus.
Smaller-bore clarinets are the most resistant clarinets and provide a very compact and focused sound. These clarinets are usually preferred by chamber musicians.

Bore Shape: In addition to the size of the bore, the shape also has a great impact on the overall playing of the clarinet.

Cylindrical-bore clarinets are more free-blowing and flexible. These clarinets offer a large sound with great volume.
Polycylindrical-bore clarinets are slightly more resistant than cylindrical clarinets. The sound has more ring and, though less flexible, these clarinets offer superior intonation.