Most clarinetists start on a Bb clarinet and keep playing it for years. But orchestral parts are written for both Bb and A clarinets, and big bands and klezmer groups use the higher and lower family members too. That's where the best gifts for clarinet players are. Every pick comes from our rankings, with tonight's Thomann price.
Gifts for clarinet players under $400
Superlux PRA-383D, $66
A budget cardioid condenser clip-on microphone with an XLR output, for playing a clarinet through a PA. #4 of 12 microphones for clarinets.
Startone SCL-17EB Eb-Clarinet, $279
A plastic Eb clarinet, the small, bright member of the family used in bands, at a price that makes it an easy second instrument. #3 of 7 eb clarinets (boehm).
Rumberger WP-1X, $357
A miniature pickup that sits inside the mouthpiece, so the player can move freely on stage. The mouthpiece has to be drilled to fit it. #2 of 12 microphones for clarinets.
Audio-Technica ATM350U, $379
A cardioid condenser microphone with a universal clip-on mount, the highest-ranked clarinet microphone we track: #1 of 12 microphones for clarinets.
Bigger gifts for clarinet players
Thomann CL-17C C-Clarinet, $637
A Boehm C clarinet in leadwood, for folk music and parts written in C. #3 of 23 other clarinets (boehm).
Thomann CL-18A A-Clarinet, $950
An A clarinet in grenadilla wood with two barrels and a silver-plated mechanism: the second clarinet every orchestral player needs. #17 of 17 A clarinets (boehm).
Thomann BCL-1000 Bass Clarinet, $1,677
A plastic Bb bass clarinet down to low C, with a case and mouthpiece, for a player who wants the deep end of the family. #5 of 23 other clarinets (boehm).
Questions
What is a good gift for a clarinet player?
For an orchestral player, an A clarinet like the Thomann CL-18A ($950). For a band player, a clip-on mic.
Why do clarinetists need an A clarinet?
Much orchestral music is written for clarinet in A. Playing those parts on a Bb clarinet means transposing on the fly and awkward fingerings.
How we picked. Every product comes from an AudioFu ranking, scored on demand, price, specs and brand; specs from Thomann's product data. Prices are converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate and updated every night, as are the ranks.
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Denis Kataev runs AudioFu. Every night the site records the prices of more than 38,000 instruments and studio tools at Thomann, and he writes about what those numbers show: what got cheaper, what just arrived, and which discounts are real.
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