How can you tell if you're clarinet is made out of wood or plastic? I know I sound ignorant, but that is becasue my dad bought me a clarinet without me knowing. Therefore, my dad is not a clarinet expert and doesn't know if he bought a plastic or wood. My clarinet brand is Selmer--I know that is the worst brand but my family doesn't have a lot of money. I have been wondering if my clarinet a wood or plastic for almost three years.

Usaully if it is shiny, it's plastic.

Feel it? and wood doesnt shine well

On most wood clarinets you can see patterns in it if you look closley and wood isn't as shiny.


-Amanda

If you have a friend who plays clarinet and knows if theirs is wooden or plastic, compare the weight- wood clarinets are heavier.

Otherwise, take a close look, and you will probably be able to tell-smooth/shiny=plastic, woodgrain=wood
Watch out for fake woodgrain though, some plastic has that. It's not a particularly good deception usually though.

By the way, selmer isn't necessarily the worst brand. Of all the clarinet's I've played in the past 5 years, (a total of I think 8) the selmer I had last year was my 2nd favorite.

Or you could ask your father how much the clarinet cost. If it seems ridiculously expensive, it's wooden. If it's pretty cheap, it'll be plastic.

check if it is dull. if it is and u can c patterns on it(which u can bearlly tell)its wood. plastic shines...