Professional Clarinets

Professional clarinets are designed for advanced musicians who require superior tonal quality, precise intonation, responsive keywork, and greater expressive flexibility. While student clarinets typically feature durable synthetic bodies and simplified mechanisms, professional clarinets are often crafted from carefully selected grenadilla wood and feature sophisticated bore designs, premium keywork, and enhanced acoustic characteristics. These differences provide greater control over tone color, articulation, dynamics, and projection.

New professional clarinets typically range from approximately $3,000 to more than $10,000, depending on the manufacturer, model, materials, and features. Top-tier handmade instruments and specialized models may cost considerably more. Used and open-box professional clarinets can offer excellent value, providing access to premium instruments at significantly lower prices. The Mighty Quinn Brass and Winds offers a selection of new, open-box, and pre-owned professional clarinets to accommodate different budgets.

A well-maintained used professional clarinet can be an excellent investment for advanced students and experienced performers. High-quality professional instruments from established manufacturers often retain substantial value, particularly when properly maintained. Buying a pre-owned clarinet can allow musicians to obtain a higher-quality instrument than they could otherwise afford. When purchasing a used wooden clarinet, it is important to evaluate the condition of the wood, bore, tone holes, pads, and key mechanism.

A high-quality professional wooden clarinet can provide decades of reliable musical service when properly maintained. Regular cleaning, appropriate humidity management, periodic adjustments, and professional servicing help preserve both the instrument's mechanical condition and playing characteristics. Pads, corks, and springs may require maintenance or replacement over time, while the wooden body should be protected from rapid temperature and humidity changes. Many vintage professional clarinets remain excellent performing instruments long after their original manufacture.

When selecting a professional clarinet, consider tonal quality, intonation, response, ergonomics, construction materials, and the instrument's suitability for your musical goals. Important features include a well-designed bore, comfortable and precise keywork, consistent response across all registers, and the ability to produce a wide range of tone colors. Players should also consider the compatibility of their mouthpiece and reed setup with the instrument. Comparing several professional clarinet models can help identify the best combination of sound, resistance, and playing comfort.

Some of the most respected professional clarinet manufacturers include Buffet Crampon, Yamaha, Backun, Selmer Paris, and Uebel. Popular professional models include the Buffet Crampon R13, Festival, and Tosca; Yamaha YCL-CSVR and SEVR; Backun MoBa and Lumière; and Selmer Paris Présence and Signature. Each manufacturer offers distinctive tonal characteristics, playing resistance, and ergonomic features, making personal preference an important factor when selecting a professional clarinet.

The body material of a professional clarinet can influence its tonal character, playing feel, and resonance, although bore design, mouthpiece, reed, and the player's technique generally have a much greater effect on sound.

Grenadilla wood, the traditional material for professional clarinets, is prized for its density, dimensional stability, and durability. Players often describe grenadilla clarinets as producing a focused, rich sound with excellent projection and tonal flexibility.

Cocobolo wood, used by makers such as Backun, is often associated with a warmer, more colorful tonal character and a slightly different playing response. However, these characteristics depend heavily on the instrument's design, and cocobolo does not inherently produce a warmer sound than grenadilla.

Other hardwoods, including mopane, offer alternative densities and playing characteristics. Some manufacturers also produce professional clarinets using advanced composite materials, which provide excellent resistance to humidity and temperature changes while maintaining professional-level performance.

The Mighty Quinn Brass and Winds specializes in quality woodwind and brass instruments for musicians at every level, including a carefully selected inventory of professional clarinets from respected manufacturers. Our selection includes new, open-box, and used instruments, allowing musicians to explore premium clarinets at a variety of price points. We offer a 30-day return policy, with free return shipping through Redo on eligible purchases, manufacturer warranties on new instruments, and a two-year in-house warranty on qualifying open-box and used instruments. Whether you're upgrading to your first professional clarinet or searching for a premium instrument for orchestral performance, The Mighty Quinn Brass and Winds is committed to offering exceptional instruments, competitive prices, and knowledgeable customer service.