Best RZ Clarinets Bb Clarinets (Boehm) 2026
Alright, so you're looking at a Bb Boehm clarinet? Good choice, it's the workhorse for a lot of us. But wading through the options can be overwhelming. Rz Clarinets have been quietly building a reputation for solid, reliable instruments that don't break the bank, and offer a surprisingly sweet tone - especially once you dial them in. Let's break down what makes these things tick and whether one might be right for you.
Last updated: September 2, 2026
RZ Clarinets Solo D Bb-Clarinet 18/6
- • Sturdy grenadilla wood resists cracking risks
- • German register system offers precise control
- • Silver and gold plating ensures smooth action
- • Two barrel options provide versatile sizing
- • No mouthpiece included in the box
- • Weight is not listed in the specs
- • Ornaments may add weight or cost
RZ Clarinets Allegro D Bb-Clarinet 18/6
- • Uses rare unstained grenadilla wood for body
- • Includes two different barrel sizes for fit
- • Features adjustable thumb rest for comfort
- • Silver-plated keys with gold-plated posts
- • Mouthpiece is not included in the box
- • No weight information is provided in text
- • Finish type is not explicitly described
RZ Clarinets Solo Bb-Clarinet 18/6
- • Exceptional grenadilla wood resonance delivers a rich, dark tone.
- • 18 keys/6 rings offer extended technical capabilities and ergonomics.
- • Gold-plated posts minimize corrosion and ensure smooth key action.
- • RZ patent cracking system provides peace of mind for a valuable investment.
- • The weight will be noticeable for players accustomed to lighter instruments.
- • Premium-priced, representing a significant investment for most players.
- • Lack of mouthpiece limits immediate playability; requires separate purchase.
RZ Clarinets Capriccio Bb-Clarinet 18/6
- • Exceptional grenadilla tone with surprising warmth and projection.
- • 18 keys/6 rings offer enhanced ergonomics and technical agility.
- • Silver-plated keys provide smooth action and responsive feel.
- • Included barrels allow for subtle tuning adjustments and tonal flexibility.
- • The unstained finish shows every fingerprint and requires diligent care.
- • Premium-priced, representing a significant investment for most players.
- • While versatile, may lack the extreme low register depth of some top-tier models.
RZ Clarinets Bohema Bb-Clarinet 17/6
- • Exceptional grenadilla tone with surprising warmth for unstained wood.
- • 17 keys/6 rings offer enhanced technical agility and comfortable ergonomics.
- • Silver-plated keys provide smooth action and a bright, responsive feel.
- • Includes two barrels for easy intonation adjustment across different climates.
- • Unstained finish may require more careful maintenance to prevent stickiness.
- • Premium-priced, representing a significant investment for many players.
- • Lack of mouthpiece limits immediate playability; requires separate purchase.
RZ Clarinets Bohema Bb-Clarinet 18/6
- • Excellent grenadilla wood provides warm, resonant tone.
- • 18 keys/6 rings offer enhanced technical agility and intonation.
- • Silver-plated keys ensure smooth action and durability.
- • Included barrels allow for subtle tuning adjustments across registers.
- • Unstained finish may not appeal to players preferring a lacquered look.
- • Premium-priced, representing a significant investment for many musicians.
- • Lack of mouthpiece necessitates an additional purchase for immediate playability.
RZ Clarinets Allegro Bb-Clarinet 18/6
- • Grenadilla wood provides a warm, resonant, and complex tone.
- • 18 keys/6 rings offer enhanced technical agility and intonation.
- • Silver-plated keys ensure smooth action and a bright, responsive feel.
- • Included barrels allow for easy fine-tuning of pitch and timbre.
- • Grenadilla can be susceptible to cracking with significant humidity changes.
- • Professional-level instrument demands a skilled player to fully realize its potential.
- • Lack of mouthpiece requires an additional investment for a suitable setup.
RZ Clarinets Allegro Bb-Clarinet 17/6
- • Grenadilla wood provides a warm, resonant, and complex tone.
- • 17 keys and 6 rings offer enhanced technical agility and comfortable fingering.
- • Silver-plated keys ensure smooth action and responsiveness for years.
- • Includes two barrels for subtle intonation adjustments across registers.
- • Grenadilla can be susceptible to cracking with improper care and humidity fluctuations.
- • Professional-level clarinet requires dedicated practice and maintenance to realize its potential.
- • Lacks a mouthpiece, necessitating a separate, often premium, purchase.
RZ Clarinets Conservatory Bb-Clarinet 18/6
- • Grenadilla wood provides a warm, resonant, and focused tone.
- • 18 keys/6 rings offer improved ergonomics and extended range.
- • Silver-plated keys ensure smooth action and durability.
- • Includes two barrels for fine-tuning response and intonation.
- • Grenadilla can be susceptible to cracking with improper care.
- • Silver plating requires regular polishing to prevent tarnish.
- • The included case, while functional, may lack premium protection.
RZ Clarinets Conservatory Bb-Clarinet 17/6
- • Grenadilla wood provides a warm, resonant, and focused tone.
- • 17 keys and 6 rings offer improved ergonomics and technical facility.
- • Silver-plated keys ensure smooth action and responsiveness for years.
- • Includes two barrels for fine-tuning pitch and response characteristics.
- • Grenadilla can be susceptible to cracking with improper care and humidity fluctuations.
- • Silver plating requires regular polishing to prevent tarnish and maintain appearance.
- • The included case, while functional, may not offer the ultimate protection for touring professionals.
RZ Clarinets Andante Bb-Clarinet 17/6
- • Grenadilla wood body delivers a warm, resonant tone characteristic of higher-end instruments.
- • 17 keys and 6 rings offer improved ergonomics and comfortable fingerings for varied playing.
- • Silver-plated keys provide smooth action and a bright aesthetic, resisting tarnish better than raw nickel.
- • Included barrels allow for slight intonation adjustments to suit different climates and playing styles.
- • The student mouthpiece, while adequate, won't inspire advanced players to fully explore tonal possibilities.
- • Grenadilla wood, while beautiful, can be susceptible to cracking with improper care and humidity fluctuations.
- • The silver-plated finish, while durable, will eventually require polishing to maintain its appearance.
RZ Clarinets Base Bb-Clarinet 18/6
- • Durable ABS plastic resists damage, ideal for students.
- • RZ bore design convincingly emulates grenadilla's warmth.
- • Includes multiple barrels for tuning flexibility and experimentation.
- • Silver-plated keys offer smooth action and resist tarnish.
- • ABS plastic lacks the tonal complexity of wood clarinets.
- • Student mouthpiece is functional but will likely be upgraded soon.
- • Keywork, while smooth, may feel slightly less refined than higher-end models.
RZ Clarinets MR Largo Bb-Clarinet 17/6
- • ABS plastic offers excellent durability for student use.
- • RZ bore design aims for a warmer, wood-like tonal character.
- • Includes two barrels for slight intonation adjustment flexibility.
- • Silver-plated keys provide a smoother action and visual appeal.
- • ABS plastic inherently lacks the complex tonal nuances of grenadilla wood.
- • Beginner mouthpiece may limit advanced players' tonal expression.
- • Plastic construction can feel less resonant compared to wood instruments.
- • Limited key configuration restricts advanced technical passages.
Bb Clarinets (Boehm) by the numbers
Measured across all 83 models in this category, so «wide», «short» or «expensive» mean something you can check.
How to Choose the Best Bb Clarinets (Boehm)
Tone
Rz clarinets tend to have a warmer, more focused sound than some of the brighter, more aggressive competitors. It's not a dark, muddy tone, mind you, but it's got a lovely sustain and a pleasing, almost vocal quality that really shines in lyrical passages. It's a tone that blends well, which is a huge plus for gigging.
Action & Response
The action on Rz instruments is generally quite good right out of the box - not requiring a ton of adjustment. They respond well to a lighter touch, giving you good dynamic control, which is crucial for nailing those subtle nuances in jazz or classical playing. The voicing is clean, not overly stuffy.
Build Quality
You're not getting a Selmer Reference here, but Rz consistently uses decent materials and solid construction. The keywork feels reasonably robust, and the pads seem to hold up well under regular use. It's a solid, reliable build - not flashy, but dependable.
Intonation
Like any clarinet, intonation can be a bit finicky. Rz clarinets are generally pretty good, but they do require a bit of careful tuning and potentially some minor adjustments to the keys to get perfectly spot-on, especially in the higher registers. This is where a good tech can really make a difference.
Value
This is the big one. Rz offers a compelling price-to-performance ratio. You're getting a usable, well-sounding clarinet without needing to take out a second mortgage. It's a sweet spot for students, gigging musicians on a budget, or anyone who wants a reliable instrument without the premium price tag.
Buying Guide
Look, these aren't hand-crafted masterpieces, so don't expect perfection. The finish might not be flawless, and the silver-plating isn't as thick as you'd find on higher-end horns. But for the price, you're getting a clarinet that will gig reliably and sound good. A good tech for a basic setup is a worthwhile investment to really dial in the intonation and action.
How This List Is Built
We don't play these instruments — we're a catalog, not a review desk, and we'd rather say so than pretend otherwise. This page covers 13 of 83 bb clarinets (boehm) from the Thomann catalogue, which is the largest single source of specification data in this category: 13 in detail, the rest listed with their specifications.
Position is computed, not curated. We parse the manufacturer's own description into actual values — nut width, scale, fret count, fingerboard radius, size, alloy — and rank on them: how many specifications a model has published, how many of them are measurable numbers, and how precisely it meets this page's criterion. A product image adds a little. Price is not a ranking signal: it tells you nothing about whether a neck fits your hand. The same inputs always produce the same order, so nothing here is shuffled to look fresh.
What this list is good for: narrowing a category down to a shortlist by spec and budget. What it isn't: a substitute for hearing an instrument. Before you buy, read hands-on reviews and, where you can, play it. Full methodology.
