I have used both plastic and wood clarinets and I think thet the wood one is the best. Its tone is warmer and clearer that any plastic one that I have ever used! And every clarinetist with a plastic one is jealous

Hi,
I`m a freshman in highschool playing on a plastic clarinet, looking to switch to a wood. I know they are much, much better, but I don`t know what brand or model I need to get. My band teacher has suggested a selmer. Any helpful suggestions on brand or models that are excellent? Also, can a wood clarinet be played in marching band, if dried and maintained daily, of course. Reply to this post, or send an email to southpaw88@hotmail.com.
Thanks,
Will

Hey I have been playing for 8 years and started on a plastic clarinet. When I was accepted into a polka band I bought a wooden one and it was definately a lot better.

There`s a reason why the section was entitled `WOODwind` - cause the original is the best. You can`t have a professional future on a plastic clarinet - the tonal colours are limited and technically speaking, a wooden clarinet is far superior.

Savanna, I have a Buffet R13. About the bore oil, I don`t think that is a must. I didn`t own one. But the key oil is more important. And when you have a wooden clarinet, you should always keep it in the case or leave in a room which is not too warm and not too cold. Mostly, the wooden clarinet have silver plated key, do not always polish it or even polish it everyday. Because everytime you polish it like rubbing out a thin layer of your silver.

I`ve got plastic and wooden horns and I generally use the plastic....

They`re lighter, clearer, sharper, sweeter and quicker in the tone and you could say the same about the handling....

GET WOOD! WOOD IS GOOD!

after 8 years of playing clarinet, i`ve decided that it isnt a real instrument. i mean come on. theres like 50 million holes. its like it wanted to be a saxophone but the guy who made it ran out of material so made a clarinet.

To the last poster: Sorry to burst your little bubble but the clarinet was the PREdecessor to the saxophone. So technically, the saxophone was the one desperately wanting to be the clarinet He he... It just ended up being inferior both in tone and in versatility - not to mention that the clarinet is far more challenging than a saxophone to play well so I`d say the clarinet is the `leader` in that capacity for this argument

Yeah... there`s just as many holes in a sax as a clarinet isn`t there? Or just about.

I don`t think the clarinet wants to be a sax or the sax wants to be a clarinet - they each have their own sounds and therefore their own place... I dig `em both. Different times, different sounds is what I want.

Same for wood and plastic. My tone changes more with reed and barrel than wood or plastic. Because I`m a bad player? Okay, suit yourself, I get a groove out of it - no one`s listening, you know?

Whatever music you play there`s 90% of the world won`t like it. 90% of the world probably doesn`t know it exists. Your kind of music. Never mind your own playing.

You don`t even like the same thing yourself all the time, do you? I know I don`t.

Music is magic. It`s a `muse` - check it out, look in the dictionary. Whatever turns you on is the thing. Putting anyone else down or any other instrument down is a no-no, it`s just not musical, not a-musing, not a `muse`.

It misses the whole point.

Of course many people think there`s a different point - e.g. `amusing` people so`s they`ll pay money for your records and you`ll get rich.

Like you`ll do anything, make any sound, if it will sell. But even then, dude, check it out, how many of those guys continue to be listened to? How many are admired for their solo playing? Consistently? Continually? The past is the past and littered with thousands of names of bygone popular musicians who no one will listen to for a minute today.

Music is a muse. It`s for you and on those odd occasions, for those who share your muse, those in whom it strikes a chord, creates a vibe.. does something...

And why do so many posters have such terrible English? I`m pretty old (30`s) so maybe I`m out of touch. Is it a deliberate youth thing? Or did everyone fail school? Or don`t they teach - don`t worry about teaching - English in school nowadays?

Play on, guys...

I agree, chicko. I think some people on this forum should spend less time on the Internet talking about their clarinet (instead of practicing it) and more time learning how to spell basic words! Schools don`t teach English well anymore.

While being full aware of the primary focus of this board, I must respond to our new off topic discussion. In short, English is being taught. Everything is being taught. Children are being passed along without regard to the actual information they aquire. Most school systems will pass children along if they have aged out in their current grade, which is usually two years. Is it sad? Yes! Is it a fact? Yes! Until we have administrators who will step up and accept the fact that there could be a 12 year old first grader, it is not going to get better.

I started off on a plastic and now have a yamaha wooden clarinet (in a cute little case) its a much better clearer sound. Now i find it weird to play a plastic 1 cos im so used to the wooden 1.
Also i have never heard of bore oil.. is it? Ive been told that as long as i clean through my clarinet regularly after each time i play it it wont split or crack, and ive had it for a good 3 years and so far so good.
Neways a clarinet isnt going to change how well u play neccesarily, its the practice and work u put in that shows how good u can play...rite?

How long can a wooden clarinet last if it is properly taken care of? Is it possible to play it for over 20 years and never crack?

Hey,
I`m a current wooden clarinet owner. There are many advantages to having a wooden clarinet. One of them is their sound. The smooth sound is way better than those plastic ones. Plus, some of the colleges only allow wooden clarinet players to play and be in their bands. I rarely use plastic clarinets and hate using them in pep/marching bands.