Option 1: New Clarinets
Students may appreciate a new clarinet as their unique instrument and possession. New instruments will be more expensive than the same models sold used
. While new clarinets are supposed to be play-tested and adjusted by the manufacturer, a retailer will usually test and address any mechanical issues before placing a new clarinet into inventory. Retailers may also have repair staff on hand to fix any flaws found in customer testing.
Price Point
There are numerous manufacturers of clarinets. and each produces different models at different price points. Factors that determine these price points include the main body material (plastic, hard rubber, wood); the keywork material (nickel-silver, silver); additional keywork options; and the refinement of the manufacturing.
Deciding on a rough price point for the purchase should be the first step. New beginner-level clarinets will generally cost $500 and up; intermediate instruments will range from $1,000 to $2,000; and professional models will start at $3,000. This depends on the brand, but all prices tend to rise each year.
Children and Beginners
Plastic or hard rubber clarinets are usually preferable for younger children and beginners. These are designed to withstand rougher handling, and they will not crack in cold or dry weather. Traditional makers and brands of starter clarinets include Buffet (such as the B12 model), Selmer (including the Vito and Bundy brands), Yamaha (such as the 250 model), and Jupiter.
Buyers Beware
Many cheap clarinets, produced overseas, have entered the North American market in recent years. The quality of the build and keywork on these instruments is often poor. Some repair technicians will refuse to work on clarinets with softer metal keywork, as any mechanical repairs will soon go out of alignment again. Replacement parts for these instruments can be difficult, sometimes impossible, to find.
Materials
Most beginner clarinets are made of plastic, but hard-rubber models built by North American manufacturers are a valid alternative, for example the Ridenour "Lyrique." Advanced players will likely notice distinct differences in tone, tuning, and feel among plastic, hard-rubber, and wooden instruments, but beginners are usually unable to detect these variations. However, slight differences in the size, placement, and feel of the tone holes may be noticeable even to beginners when comparing instruments. Selmer clarinets, for example, typically have slightly wider tone holes than other makes. The student’s comfort level should be taken into account when choosing a brand and model.
Intermediate Instruments
Intermediate clarinets often feature a wooden body, which many feel gives an instrument a warmer and fuller sound quality. This level of instrument may have more hand finishing and better refinement of tone holes than lesser instruments; these details facilitate accurate tuning.
Examples of intermediate-level clarinet models include the Buffet E11, Selmer CL211, Leblanc Bliss, and Yamaha 450.
Wood vs. Hybrid Materials
Wooden clarinets are made of grenadilla (or African blackwood), which is becoming a scarce resource. Wooden clarinets are prone to cracking in dry or cold weather and climates, and they need special care.
Students could also be encouraged to consider the hybrid models produced by some manufacturers. These are made of an amalgam of wood and carbon fibre that some listeners find hard to distinguish from fully wooden clarinets. Further advantages of this type of instrument include much more durability and a greatly decreased probability of cracking. Buffet makes a number of their regular advanced models of clarinet in a hybrid "Greenline" configuration, and these are worth a look.
Advanced Instruments
Professional models offer a high level of hand finishing, mechanical refinement, and attention to detail. Tone holes will usually be undercut, meaning that shaped, circular grooves are cut on the underside of each tone-hole chimney, allowing more even sound and tuning.
Keywork is often silver-plated, instead of a nickel-silver alloy. Silver keywork often has a beautiful shine but will be prone to tarnishing and need periodic polishing. Optional keywork is often available—such as a left-hand low A flat/E flat lever that duplicates the standard right-side one, and additional tone holes and keys to bring up the pitch of the low F and/or E. (Note that manufacturing a clarinet with a scale that is consistent in tuning, often renders the instrument’s two lowest notes somewhat flat.) While this optional keywork can be extremely beneficial for playing advanced music and dealing with technical demands, it is absolutely not necessary for beginners.
Professional Models
Anyone buying a “professional” clarinet will find many models and price points for these instruments. Entry-level pro models include Buffet’s Festival, Selmer’s 10s and the Yamaha 650. Mid-level models include the ever-popular Buffet R13 and RC models. Top-end professional models now include the Buffet Prestige R13 and RC models, the Buffet Tosca line, Selmer’s Signature and Recital clarinets, and the Yamaha Custom 850 model.
Competition
Investigating various manufacturer websites to learn about the differences between brands and models, such as weight of the wood used, is good preparation before making a trip to test, and possibly buy, a clarinet. Clarinet companies are constantly revising their offerings, creating new models to compete with one another, so expect these lists to change from year to year. The instruments listed here have stood the test of time, remaining among the most popular in sales and prevalence in the clarinet world.
Option 2: Used Clarinets
While some students will insist on a shiny new clarinet, used instruments often represent some of the best value for money. A used professional-level clarinet may be close in price to a new intermediate model. It's always worth asking retailers and repair shops if they have anything used for sale. From music stores to pawn shops, estate sales, online retailers, and online auction sites, there is no shortage of opportunities to find used instruments.
Also visit the article
Helping Your Student Buy a Clarinet to examine the pros and cons of various purchase options.
What to Expect
You will likely see some evidence of wear with the embossed logos, but the standard keywork should be fully present and functional. A bit of tarnish on silver keywork is okay and can easily be mostly removed with a gentle application of silver polish on a soft cloth. However, clarinet bodies encrusted in dirt or tone holes clogged with dried cork grease should raise a red flag. These things may indicate that the instrument was not well cared for and is, therefore, not a wise purchase. In general, expect used clarinets to have the same standards of function and cleanliness you would expect of new instruments, perhaps minus some of the shininess. However, be aware that strong odors coming from the case or instrument can easily be a permanent condition.
Before placing an instrument out for sale, a reputable store will put the same effort into repairing any mechanical problems that they would put into a new clarinet. You should insist that any leakiness or technical issues be fixed before purchase. Never accept a claim that something that isn't working can be fixed later.
A Closer Look
Inspect used wooden clarinets carefully for signs of previously repaired cracks. You might notice a series of round marks flush with the body on one side of a repaired crack, where pins were inserted. Usually found on the top of the instrument’s upper joint, this type of repair is best spotted when the instrument is moved back and forth while held up to a bright light. A repaired crack does not necessarily mean that the instrument should be rejected, but it should be factored into the selling price. As with used cars, the more honesty you get from the seller about previous repairs or damage, the more confidence you will have that you are being told the full story.
