Jupiter JCL700NA Student Bb clarinet review

If you are a music student in the market for an outstanding student clarinet, this is the one for you. It is incredibly versatile and has excellent build quality.

For most students, the subject of getting a clarinet is both exciting and dreadful altogether. Most do not want to spend a lot of money on a clarinet just to find out later that it wasn’t the right one. This was definitely the case for me when I was trying to get my first clarinet. I didn’t know what brand to buy from or which type of clarinet I should get. Luckily for me, I had my great uncle who guided me on what to look out for. However, if you don’t come from a musical family like mine, this article will help you through this phase in your musical journey.

The Jupiter JCL700NA is among the best entry-level clarinets that you can find on the market. It combines many features that make it easy to learn the instrument. Let’s just say you will enjoy every aspect of it.

Jupiter JCL700NA student Bb clarinet overview

The Jupiter JCL700NA combines exquisite design features and a unique production process that allows for high-quality products to roll out in the factory. The body of the clarinet is made of ABS resin which is a form of plastic that is a durable alternative to wood. This makes the clarinet’s body to be rigid enough to withstand all the abuse it might get from the rigorous playing of a student. However, the body does not sacrifice tonal quality. ABS resin mimics wood perfectly, giving the clarinet a unique resonance that allows the clarinet to produce a warm tone that is quite similar to that which is produced by a wooden clarinet.

The bore chamber of the clarinet gives it a unique resonance coupled with a high-quality mouthpiece; the clarinet offers a wide range of tones which make, which as a musician, gives me an upper hand since I can progress steadily in my musical skills.

This clarinet also boasts an impressive set of keys that allow any student to play all the notes with ease and confidence. The keys are nickel-plated, which enables them to have the same shiny look as the high-end professional-level clarinets. The keys are also very responsive to the student’s movements allowing them to hone their skills. However, these keys require frequent maintenance to maintain an exquisite look and optimum function.

The bore and barrel chamber allows the clarinet to produce a warm well-rounded tone that attests to its build quality. This, coupled with the student’s skills, allows them to grow confidently into professional level clarinet players.

However, if the cost of buying the clarinet is an issue, this isn’t probably the best option for you. The clarinet comes with an impressive price tag compared to other student clarinets in the market. This, coupled with more maintenance needed, makes it undesirable for most students.

What we liked

• It has a high build quality.
• It produces a warm well-rounded tone.
• It has durable keys.
• It has excellent responsiveness when played.

What we didn’t like

• It is expensive to purchase.
• It needs more maintenance.

 

View price here

 

Jupiter JCL700NA student Bb clarinet specifications

Clarinet model	Jupiter JCL 700NA
Instrument key	Bb (b-flat)
Body material	Matte ABS resin
Key material	Nickel-plated
Style	Traditional French
Level	Student
Barrel	65 mm
Key features	Unique resonance Excellent responsiveness Protective case

Jupiter JCL700NA student Bb clarinet features

Design and Build

The Jupiter JCL 700NA combines numerous high-end features that allow it to perform exquisitely well, producing a warm well-rounded tone. This comes from its specially designed body; it has a standard bore diameter, which enables the clarinets to produce a wide range of tones with the Bb key to which the clarinet is keyed. The Jupiter JCL 700NA body is made from a high-end resin, ABS resin, which is well-known for its properties to mimic the sound of a wooden clarinet.

The ABS resin allows the instrument to be more resistant to the rigorous playing that students tend to have. Also, unlike wood, resin does not crack when subjected to extreme changes in environmental conditions. The clarinet also comes with a newly adjustable thumb rest, and this allows the musicians to hold the instrument comfortably while playing.

The clarinet also has a high-quality key mechanism; the keys are nickel-plated, which makes it both durable and well suited for students. The keys, once polished, give the clarinet an exquisite look, just like the professional instruments. However, nickel-plated keys are susceptible to stains; hence they require frequent polishing. These keys can also rust very easily; therefore, it is essential that the musician carries out servicing frequently to ensure that the keys function correctly and maintain their responsiveness.

The offset trill keys allow the musician to play trills with ease and also alleviate the accumulation of excess moisture from the musician’s breath in the instrument hence ensuring optimum performance. The clarinet has undercut tonal holes that allow it to have a better seal when the musician covers the holes. This contributes primarily to the quality of sound the clarinet produces.

The Jupiter JCL700NA comes with a standard 65mm barrel. As many musicians know, the quality and length of the barrel play a considerable role in the sound quality that the clarinet produces. The barrel on this clarinet is made of good quality material, and with a lot of attention, this makes the sound resonate perfectly to produce the correct tone.

Speed and performance

The Jupiter JCL700NA performs amazingly well compared to most other clarinets in its classification. Its remarkable performance allows the student to hone their skills when playing the instrument. As discussed earlier in this article, the clarinet combines numerous features that will enable the student to have a good experience when playing the instrument and come up with exquisite pieces of music that many audiences would desire.

Generally, the Jupiter JCL 700NA clarinet has many high-end features incorporated into its design which make it the perfect instrument for a beginner. Like its highly responsive key mechanism, which allows the students to play faster and better, which will be required of them once they grow into professional musicians.

The barrel and bore diameter allow the vibrations to resonate well within the instrument producing a warm sound that is characteristic of all professional clarinets. This facilitates the students to get excellent practice as they aim to become better musicians.

Connection and user-friendliness

Since the Jupiter JCL700NA is a student level clarinet, it comes with several features that make it easy to play. It comes with an adjustable thumb rest which allows the musician to play the instrument comfortably in various different settings. This also allows the clarinet to be customized to specific musicians.

The clarinet comes in sections, and assembling the clarinet has been made very simple, unlike most other clarinets. The clarinet’s case is relatively compact, which allows it to be carried easily by the student to practice sessions.

The clarinet has also been made of very durable materials that would easily withstand the rigorous nature of the student’s playing style. The matte finish of the clarinet’s body makes it resistant to scratches. The nickel-plated keys make them very resistant to bending as well, unlike silver which bends easily when subjected to pressure. All these features make it very well suited to beginners.

Are there alternatives to the Jupiter JCL 700NA student Bb clarinet?

Yes, there are alternatives to the Jupiter JCL 700NA clarinet. There are various clarinets from different brands in the market with prices that are much cheaper than the one we have discussed. The quality of these alternatives may vary significantly from the Jupiter JCL 700NA clarinet. The best quality alternatives would be; Jean Paul USA CL-30 student clarinet, Mendini by Cecilio Bb clarinet, the SKT purple ABS student clarinet, and the SLADE Bb student clarinet.

Features of alternative students Bb clarinets

Clarinet model	Jean-Paul USA CL-30 student clarinet	Mendini by Cecillio Bb clarinet	SKY purple ABS student clarinet	SLADE Bb student clarinet
Instrument key	Bb	Bb	Bb	Bb
Body material	ABS resin	Ebonite	ABS resin	Bakelite
Key material	Nickel-plated	Nickel-plated	Nickel-plated	Nickel-plated
Style	USA	Traditional French	German	Antique
Level	Student	Student or beginner	Student	Student and beginners
Barrel	Comes with one barrel	Comes with two barrels of standard size	Comes with on barrel of standard size	Comes with one barrel of standard size
Key features	Made of ABS resin which makes it durable	Made of ebonite which mimics the features of wood perfectly	Made of ABS resin which makes it durable	Made of Bakelite
Price	Check price here	Check price here	Check price here	Check price here

Verdict; so should I buy the Jupiter JCL 700NA clarinet?

Yes, I would highly recommend this clarinet to any aspiring clarinet student. The clarinet has several impressive features that make it best suited for a beginner. The ABS resin used to make its body mimics the wooden clarinets perfectly, giving the clarinet a warm well-rounded tone. This, accompanied by the clarinet’s versatile nature, would make the Jupiter JCL 700NA clarinet perfect for a student.

FAQs

Is the Jupiter JCL 700NA clarinet best for beginners?

Yes, it is; this is because the clarinet boasts a variety of features that make it durable and versatile.

How long does the Jupiter JCL 700NA clarinet last?

If taken care of, the clarinet can last a lifetime since it is made from a very durable material. However, the keys should be maintained every so often to ensure they work properly.