The Complete Clarinet Buying Guide

Expert advice for choosing the perfect clarinet at our Long Island, NY or Lagrangeville, NY location

With so many brands, materials, and price points to consider, buying a clarinet can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re a beginner picking up the instrument for the first time or an advancing musician ready to step up to a professional model, this guide will help you make a confident, informed decision.

After reading this guide, visit our Plainview or Lagrangeville, NY locations to try our extensive clarinet selection in person!

Student Clarinets: The Foundation of Great Playing

Beginning clarinet students of any age typically start with a student-level instrument. While it may be tempting to jump straight to a wood-bodied clarinet, today’s best student models are made from high-quality ABS resin plastic, a material that resists cracking from temperature changes, holds up to the rigors of daily practice, and produces an excellent tone. Starting here offers several critical advantages:

Our Student Clarinet Models

Yamaha YCL-255 — Yamaha’s flagship student clarinet is the standard against which all others are measured. The YCL-255 features an ABS resin body, precise intonation, and the same quality craftsmanship Yamaha brings to their professional instruments. It’s an excellent choice for school beginners through advancing students and includes their 4C mouthpiece – widely regarded as the very best student mouthpiece.

Buffet Prodige — From the legendary French clarinet maker Buffet Crampon, the Prodige is designed specifically for young beginners. Its ergonomic key layout makes it easier for smaller hands to reach, and the ABS body delivers a warm, resonant tone that surprises players at this price point.

Buffet Premium — A step above the Prodige within Buffet’s student line, the Premium offers refined keywork and a slightly fuller tone, making it a great option for students who are serious about the instrument from day one.

Intermediate & Professional Clarinets: When to Step Up

As your skills advance, typically after 2–4 years of study, you’ll be ready for a “step-up” instrument. Intermediate clarinets bridge the gap between student models and professional instruments, offering grenadilla (African blackwood) bodies, refined keywork, and more nuanced tonal response that rewards developing players. These are perfect for progressing school-aged or college-bound clarinet players looking to improve their sound, but playing as a hobby or in a college band, but not majoring in music.

What Makes Step-Up Clarinets Different?

Our Intermediate Clarinet Models

Yamaha YCL-450II — Yamaha’s intermediate model delivers the precise intonation and consistency the brand is known for, in a grenadilla body. The YCL-450II comes in two versions: the standard model with silver-plated keys and the YCL-450IIN with nickel-plated keys. Silver keys offer a more refined feel and are preferred by many players who plan to continue performing long-term – either one is an excellent choice and depends on player preference.

Buffet E11 — One of the most respected intermediate clarinets in the world, the E11 features a grenadilla wood body with carefully voiced tone holes and smooth, reliable keywork. It’s a favorite among advancing middle and high school students and is commonly used in youth orchestras and all-state ensembles.

Professional Clarinets: For Serious and Career-Bound Musicians

Professional clarinets are designed for musicians pursuing performance at the highest level — conservatory students, semi-professional and professional players, and serious adults who demand the very best their instrument can offer. These clarinets feature premium grenadilla wood, hand-finished tone holes, and keywork crafted to exacting tolerances. The difference in tone, projection, and response is immediately apparent to an advancing player.

Professional Models We Carry

Yamaha YCL-650 — Often considered the entry point to professional Yamaha clarinets, the YCL-650 features a premium grenadilla body, silver-plated keys, and the exceptional consistency Yamaha is known for in professional instruments. It’s a workhorse trusted by orchestral and chamber musicians alike.

Yamaha YCL-CSVR — A top-tier professional instrument, the CSVR represents Yamaha’s collaboration with leading performers and craftspeople. It delivers an expressive, nuanced tone with outstanding projection — ideal for orchestral auditions and professional performance.

Buffet R13 — Perhaps the most iconic clarinet in the world, the Buffet R13 has been the instrument of choice for professional orchestral and solo clarinetists for decades. Its distinctive warm, dark tone and highly responsive keywork make it the benchmark against which all professional clarinets are measured. If you’re pursuing a career in music, the R13 belongs on your short list.

New vs. Certified Pre-Owned Clarinets

Paul Effman Music offers both new and certified pre-owned clarinets — professionally refurbished instruments that deliver exceptional value, particularly at the intermediate and professional levels.

Our Certification Process

Every pre-owned clarinet is meticulously serviced by our master technicians:

Why Buy Your Clarinet at Paul Effman Music?

📍 Our Locations