Can Dirt-Cheap Clarinets Be Played On?

If you search for clarinets online, you can find budget models priced under 30,000 yen.

“Can such a ridiculously cheap clarinet even play? Won’t it fail to produce sound?”

Many people might hesitate to buy one because the price seems almost too good to be true.
However, the recommended clarinets you usually see online are all over 100,000 yen.
That’s not exactly an affordable price for a beginner to casually pick up.

By the way, there’s a famous manufacturer called Buffet Crampon, used by music college students and professionals. One of their models, the “TOSCA,” has a list price of 1.21 million yen.
Even if you find it at a discount, it’s just slightly under 1 million yen.

This article will look at how usable budget clarinets really are and I’ll also introduce clarinets for beginners if you’re not opting for budget models.

■ Are Expensive Clarinets Hard to Play?

Advanced models of instruments are actually fairly heavy.
This refers not just to weight, but also to how they feel when blowing.
If you’ve tried playing a clarinet during a school band trial, you might have the impression that clarinets are hard to blow into or difficult to produce sound on.

Professional or near-professional instruments are designed to provide a certain level of resistance when blowing. In classical settings, smooth legato playing and soft dynamics are required. In such cases, instruments with too little resistance become difficult to control.

For this reason, many skilled players actually prefer instruments with some resistance.
Instrument manufacturers also respond to professional feedback by producing clarinets with this level of resistance.

However, for beginners, it can make them wonder why they feel so difficult. For players whose bodies are still developing, like middle or high school students, or for those with naturally less physical strength, this resistance can be one of the main reasons they struggle to play well.

■ Affordable Beginner Clarinets

Want to play effortlessly and casually?
Want to enjoy continuing the instrument just for fun?
Want to play as much as you like, whenever you like?

For beginners with these desires, a professional-grade clarinet that is hard to play is not recommended.
It only puts a burden on both your body and your budget.

PLAYTECH / PTCL-200 Bb Clarinet

The PTCL-200, the most affordable model from PLAYTECH, is a standard B♭ clarinet and can be purchased for 7,380 yen.

It produces a very round tone, so much so that you might doubt it’s made of resin.
The sound is extremely smooth.

On the product page, there is a video of music YouTuber 千花音 / chikane playing a PLAYTECH clarinet, and the tone is excellent.
With such a beautiful sound, you can’t call it a bad instrument just because it’s on the lower price end.
The pitch feels natural, and it seems fully usable even in ensemble settings.

■ Differences Between Resin and Wood

Clarinets can be broadly divided into two types: resin and wood.
The affordable clarinets introduced earlier are both made of resin.

Resin uses a lighter material than wood, so it is light and produces a bright sound.

On the other hand, wood is a heavier material, so compared to resin, it has more resistance when blowing, and playing it requires a certain level of control.

■ What Is a B♭ Clarinet?

The clarinets introduced so far are B♭ clarinets, pronounced “B♭-kan” in German.

Many wind instruments, including the clarinet, are transposing instruments. The notes you play with a clarinet fingering do not match the same notes on the piano (except for C instruments). For example, pressing a C note on a B♭ clarinet actually sounds as a B♭ on the piano.
The most common clarinet used in wind ensembles is the B♭ clarinet. In orchestras, A clarinets (A-kan) or C clarinets (C-kan) may also be used.
Therefore, if you want to practice wind ensemble pieces, a B♭ clarinet is the most suitable. If you want to play piano pieces, vocal songs, or flute and oboe music as written, a C clarinet is more appropriate.

Recommended If You Aim to Continue Long-Term from the Start.
The clarinets introduced so far are light and allow you to breathe easily.
They are also inexpensive, making it easy to start playing the clarinet.

However, if you are already attracted to the sound of high-end clarinets or want to join an advanced wind ensemble and play seriously, a clarinet around 200,000 yen is recommended.

High-end models respond well and produce the warm, rich tone characteristic of wooden clarinets.

YAMAHA / YCL-650

The YCL-650 is sold by YAMAHA, a major Japanese instrument manufacturer.
It has a moderate resistance and a well-balanced feel. Even YAMAHA’s wooden clarinets are relatively easy to play compared to other manufacturers, producing a bright and tight sound.

Buffet Crampon / E12F

The famous high-end manufacturer Buffet Crampon also offers clarinets in this price range.
The E-12F is designed for beginners with a lighter body, making it easy to play.

Higher models like the R-13 cost more but are often chosen by students aiming to become professionals or those wanting to develop strong playing skills.

■ Summary

A higher price does not guarantee that anyone can produce a good sound on a clarinet.

If you are starting now and unsure which price range to choose, it is perfectly fine to start with an affordable, easy-to-play clarinet.

If you plan to continue long-term and want a high-quality instrument from the start, it’s important to have a reliable teacher nearby and the determination not to give up even if producing a sound is initially difficult.

Prices are as of October 2021.

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