Best Bb Clarinets (German) for Specialized Performance 2026
Perfect bb clarinets (german) for specialized-performance - easy to play and learn on
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.9/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Oscar Adler & Co. 320 Bb-Clarinet
Traditional Sound
German Orchestras
European Tradition
Key Feature:
• Distinctive German clarinet sound
✓ PROS
- • Preferred in Germanic musical traditions
- • Traditional European fingering system
✗ CONS
- • Repair services extremely limited
- • Difficult to find qualified teachers
Oscar Adler & Co. 320 Bb-ClarinetBb ClarinetGerman system20 Keys6 Rings4 Trills on the upper jointFork B and Fork...
⭐
4.9/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 175106
$2,858
#2
⭐
4.6/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Yamaha YCL-857 II Clarinet
by
Yamaha
Classical Performance
German Orchestras
European Tradition
Key Feature:
• Traditional European fingering system
✓ PROS
- • Different acoustic properties
- • Unique tonal qualities
✗ CONS
- • Very limited market and availability
- • Not interchangeable with Boehm system
Yamaha YCL-857 IIBb ClarinetCustom seriesHandmade soloist modelGerman system27 Keys5 RingsOehler systemE / F bell...
⭐
4.6/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 153646
$6,588
#3
⭐
4.6/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
F.A. Uebel 638 Bb-Clarinet Mopane
by
F.A. Uebel
Traditional Sound
Classical Performance
Specialized Performance
Key Feature:
• Unique tonal qualities
✓ PROS
- • Different acoustic properties
- • Distinctive German clarinet sound
✗ CONS
- • Very expensive specialty instruments
- • Not interchangeable with Boehm system
F.A. Uebel 638 Bb-Clarinet MopaneBb ClarinetMopane wood (Colophospermum mopane)24 Keys5 RingsBell mechanism with deep...
⭐
4.6/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 470645
$5,828
#4
⭐
4.5/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Martin Foag Bb- Metallklarinette 174T B/G
by
Martin Foag
German Orchestras
Traditional Sound
European Tradition
Key Feature:
• Traditional European fingering system
✓ PROS
- • Unique tonal qualities
- • Different acoustic properties
✗ CONS
- • Not interchangeable with Boehm system
- • Very expensive specialty instruments
Martin Foag Bb- Metallklarinette 174T B/GBb Metal ClarinetModel 174T B/GGerman system17 Keys4 RingsBody made from...
⭐
4.5/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 453766
$3,684
#5
⭐
4.6/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Schreiber D-27 Bb-Clarinet Austria
by
Schreiber
Specialized Performance
Traditional Sound
German Orchestras
Key Feature:
• Different acoustic properties
✓ PROS
- • Unique tonal qualities
- • Different acoustic properties
✗ CONS
- • Not interchangeable with Boehm system
- • Very limited market and availability
Schreiber D-27 Bb-Clarinet Austria - NEWBb ClarinetThe new generation 2.0Austrian modelGerman fingering systemAdvanced...
⭐
4.6/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 279179
$2,088
#6
⭐
4.8/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
F.A. Uebel 621AU Bb-Clarinet "Austria"
by
F.A. Uebel
European Tradition
German Orchestras
Specialized Performance
Key Feature:
• Distinctive German clarinet sound
✓ PROS
- • Preferred in Germanic musical traditions
- • Distinctive German clarinet sound
✗ CONS
- • Difficult to find qualified teachers
- • Not interchangeable with Boehm system
F.A. Uebel 621AU Bb-Clarinet "Austria"Bb ClarinetAustrian modelMade of grenadilla wood (Dalbergia...
⭐
4.8/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 261151
$1,868
#7
⭐
5.0/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Thomann GCL-422 MKII Bb-Clarinet Set
by
Thomann
Specialized Performance
Traditional Sound
German Orchestras
Key Feature:
• Distinctive German clarinet sound
✓ PROS
- • Unique tonal qualities
- • Different acoustic properties
✗ CONS
- • Difficult to find qualified teachers
- • Not interchangeable with Boehm system
Thomann GCL-422 MKII Bb-Clarinet Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Thomann GCL-422 MKII Bb-Clarinet*Bb Clarinet*Improved...
⭐
5.0/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 523014
$1,222
#8
⭐
4.8/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Thomann GCL-422 MKII Bb-Clarinet
by
Thomann
European Tradition
Traditional Sound
Specialized Performance
Key Feature:
• Different acoustic properties
✓ PROS
- • Different acoustic properties
- • Distinctive German clarinet sound
✗ CONS
- • Repair services extremely limited
- • Very limited market and availability
Thomann GCL-422 MKII Bb-ClarinetBb ClarinetImproved modelGerman fingering22 keysSix ringsMade entirely from natural...
⭐
4.8/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 309242
$1,154
#9
⭐
4.7/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Yamaha YCL-657-24 II Clarinet
by
Yamaha
German Orchestras
European Tradition
Specialized Performance
Key Feature:
• Different acoustic properties
✓ PROS
- • Preferred in Germanic musical traditions
- • Traditional European fingering system
✗ CONS
- • Not interchangeable with Boehm system
- • Very limited market and availability
Yamaha YCL 657-24 IIBb ClarinetGerman fingeringMade of grenadilla wood (Dalbergia melanoxylon)Oehler System24 keys5...
⭐
4.7/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 100462
$3,958
#10
⭐
4.6/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
F.A. Uebel 638 Bb-Clarinet
by
F.A. Uebel
European Tradition
Traditional Sound
Specialized Performance
Key Feature:
• Traditional European fingering system
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive German clarinet sound
- • Different acoustic properties
✗ CONS
- • Repair services extremely limited
- • Very expensive specialty instruments
F.A. Uebel 638 Bb-ClarinetBb ClarinetGrenadilla wood25 Keys5 Rings1 Finger plate on the lower part (Oehler mechanism)4...
⭐
4.6/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 470640
$4,388
#11
⭐
4.5/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Martin Foag Bb- Metal Clarinet 174T B/S
by
Martin Foag
Classical Performance
Specialized Performance
Traditional Sound
Key Feature:
• Preferred in Germanic musical traditions
✓ PROS
- • Different acoustic properties
- • Distinctive German clarinet sound
✗ CONS
- • Very expensive specialty instruments
- • Very limited market and availability
Martin Foag Bb- Metallklarinette 174T B/SBb Metal ClarinetModel 174T B/GGerman system17 Keys4 RingsBody made from...
⭐
4.5/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 453767
$3,684
#12
⭐
4.7/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
F.A. Uebel 622 Bb-Clarinet
by
F.A. Uebel
Specialized Performance
German Orchestras
Traditional Sound
Key Feature:
• Preferred in Germanic musical traditions
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive German clarinet sound
- • Different acoustic properties
✗ CONS
- • Difficult to find qualified teachers
- • Very expensive specialty instruments
F.A. Uebel 622 Bb-ClarinetBb ClarinetGrenadillaGerman fingering22 Keys6 Rings4 Trill keysForked Bb and -F...
⭐
4.7/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 145469
$2,198
#13
⭐
4.7/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Oscar Adler & Co. S 25 B Bb-Clarinet
German Orchestras
European Tradition
Traditional Sound
Key Feature:
• Distinctive German clarinet sound
✓ PROS
- • Preferred in Germanic musical traditions
- • Different acoustic properties
✗ CONS
- • Very expensive specialty instruments
- • Repair services extremely limited
Oscar Adler & Co. S 25 B Bb-ClarinetBb ClarinetProfessional Oehler clarinetWarmfull and centred toneVery balanced...
⭐
4.7/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 326797
$7,918
#14
⭐
4.9/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Yamaha YCL-457II-22 Clarinet
by
Yamaha
German Orchestras
Specialized Performance
Classical Performance
Key Feature:
• Different acoustic properties
✓ PROS
- • Traditional European fingering system
- • Different acoustic properties
✗ CONS
- • Very limited market and availability
- • Very expensive specialty instruments
Yamaha YCL-457II-22Bb ClarinetGerman fingeringBlackwood body22 Keys6 RingsBarrel: 56 mmDuodecim connectionIncreased...
⭐
4.9/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 323121
$1,648
#15
⭐
4.4/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Schreiber D-45 Virtuoso Bb-Clarinet
by
Schreiber
Traditional Sound
Specialized Performance
German Orchestras
Key Feature:
• Different acoustic properties
✓ PROS
- • Traditional European fingering system
- • Unique tonal qualities
✗ CONS
- • Difficult to find qualified teachers
- • Not interchangeable with Boehm system
Schreiber D-45 Virtuoso Bb-ClarinetBb ClarinetThe new generation 2.0German systemAdvanced tone hole...
⭐
4.4/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 246801
$2,748
How to Choose the Best Bb Clarinets (German)
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced bb clarinets (german) typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
