If you are a beginner or an intermediate student and want a decent enough clarinet that is not too costly but has a lovely tone, then the Yamaha 26ii clarinet is your best option. The clarinet can take you through grades 1 to 7; hence very popular for beginners.
Recently, my siblings and I wanted to try something new, and we settled on playing musical instruments. After trying out the piano, we decided to take onto the clarinet and needed an instrument that won’t declare us broke yet standard enough to serve us. We were unable to select the best clarinet for beginners as the market had a variety of clarinets readily available. We did extensive research and sort advice from our uncle, who is a guru in musical instruments. He advised us to get a Yamaha 26ii clarinet as he noted it is easier to learn and best for beginners. Well, let’s just say that is the best decision we made in regards to our new journey of playing musical instruments.
Yamaha 26ii Clarinet Breakdown and Review
- Made of ABS resin body hence durable.
- Yamaha 26ii clarinet is resistant to moisture.
The Yamaha 26ii clarinet is a lightweight and versatile instrument that produces a lovely tone once played hence its popularity and love. This explains why it attracts beginners and even intermediate students. Playing the Yamaha 26ii clarinet is easier compared to other clarinets and does not require much expertise. The clarinet design combines durable Valentino pads and a tough ABS resin body with enhanced flexibility and focused tone.
The body of the Yamaha 26ii clarinet is exceptionally durable as it is made of ABS resin. Maintaining it is very easy, and it is resistant to moisture. Consequently, upon purchasing the product via eBay, it came with a lightweight case that was so durable hence offering the clarinet more protection. You can also get a rubber thump protector when purchasing the clarinet, which makes playing it more comfortable.
Our most likable features of the product are by no doubt its affordability and low maintenance. Despite the clarinet being among the most affordable in the market, it is still of good quality hence allowing you to access a clarinet easily without sacrificing musical beauty.
Furthermore, the clarinet can hold different types and sizes of mouthpieces and barrels. It is important to note that the Yamaha 26ii clarinet is supplied with a 4c mouthpiece and a 64.5mm barrel, ideal features for beginners. Being resistant to moisture allows the clarinet to be responsive and produce quality sound.
What we disliked the most about the clarinet is that it always produces sharp notes regardless of if we produced a good tone or not. However, after extensive research and inquiries, we realized that the barrel that comes with the instrument is too short, and a replacement is needed. The Yamaha 26ii comes with a 64.5mm barrel, the standard length supplied with the clarinet.
What we liked
- Requires low to no maintenance
- Affordable and exceptionally durable
- A lightweight, durable case that offers the clarinet more protection
What we did not like
- Produces a sharp note with the 6C mouthpiece and 64.5mm barrel
Yamaha 26ii Clarinet Specifications
| Model | Yamaha 26ii clarinet |
| Key | Bb |
| Body material | ABS resin |
| Key material/ finish | Nickel/silver |
| Key system | Boehm |
| Series/range | Standard |
| Mouthpiece | Normal 4C mouthpiece |
| Bore size | 14.70mm |
| Level | Beginner/ intermediate |
| Key features | Stainless steel springs which are corrosion-free, durable, lightweight case, 65mm barrel, and adjustable thumb rest. |
Yamaha 26ii clarinet features
Design and Build
Just as mentioned above, the Yamaha 26ii clarinet is made of the ABS resin body, which has a gloss finish hence making it very hard to wear and easy to maintain. Furthermore, the clarinet has a nickel-plated finishing that makes it exceptionally durable and gives it a low-maintained feature. The hard metal which the Yamaha is made of prevents it from deformation and breakage, which can alter the response of the instrument over time.
Like most Yamaha products, the Yamaha 26ii clarinet also has stainless steel springs which are corrosion free hence very responsive. The clarinet also holds the 65mm barrel that promotes a quick response and a focus that has a consistent intonation.
Consequently, the Yamaha 26ii comes with Valentino pads which are very durable. The pads are also less sensitive to temperature changes and are easier to repair compared to other pads. This makes the Yamaha 26ii clarinet the best choice as it greatly reduces upkeep costs.
Speed and performance
The Yamaha 26ii clarinet offers good services to beginners and intermediate students, basically, students ranging from grade 1 to 7. If you are advanced in playing clarinets, you might find the speed and performance of the Yamaha 26ii quite slow and not up to your standards. For beginners, the Yamaha 26ii clarinet will enhance the quality of the sound and is also easy to play.
However, to get maximum instrument performance, you might have to adjust the mouthpiece and barrel. The instrument comes with a 4C mouthpiece and a barrel of a standard length of 64.5mm that might be too short hence producing sharp sounds. Despite these few shortcomings, the performance of the instrument is great for beginners but might be low for advanced artists.
Connect and user-friendliness
The Yamaha 26ii is very simple to use and easy to fix and connect. Connecting and installing the Yamaha 26ii is very straightforward hence it is something you can do for yourself. However, the main issue comes when the clarinet produces sharp sounds despite you having good tones. In such a case, it is important to take your clarinet to be checked by a guru.
The reason might be the size of the mouthpiece or the barrel. However, in general, the Yamaha 26ii clarinet is very simple to operate and play, hence why it is suitable for beginners. Furthermore, the mouthpiece and the thumb rest are easily adjustable on the clarinet; hence you can make it comfortable.
Who is it best suited for?
The Yamaha 26ii clarinet is best suited for beginner artists. Intermediate students can also benefit from the instrument due to its quality and ability to enhance sound. Furthermore, for someone who is acquiring a clarinet for the first time and does not know how to maintain one, the Yamaha 26ii will be the best purchase as it requires low maintenance. The clarinet is also affordable and hence will suit best someone who wants to own a clarinet while considering cost as a major factor.
Are there alternatives to the Yamaha 26ii clarinet?
Yes, there are alternatives to the Yamaha 26ii clarinets. The musical instrument industry has different varieties of products easily available in the market; hence one has a variety of options to choose from. When selecting a clarinet, price should be not only a factor but also the durability and the sound that the clarinet produces. Instead of the Yamaha 26ii clarinet, you can use the following products; Yamaha 26, Yamaha 255s clarinet, and Eastar B flat clarinet. These products and also suitable for beginner to intermediate levels.
Features of alternative clarinets
| Model | Yamaha 26 clarinet | Yamaha 255S clarinet | Eastar B Flat Clarinet |
| Key | Bb | Bb | B flat |
| Body material | ABS Resin | Matt ABS Resin | ABS Bakelite |
| key material/ finish | Nickel/Silver | Nickel/Silver | Nickel plated |
| Key system | Boehm | Boehm, six rings, 17 keys | Boehm |
| Series/range | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Mouthpiece | Standard 4C mouthpiece | 4C beginner mouthpiece | Normal 4C mouthpiece |
| Bore size | 14.70mm | molded | Null |
| Level | Beginner/ intermediate | Beginner | Beginner/intermediate |
| Key features | The Thumb rest and mouthpiece are easily adjustable and low-maintenance. | Comes with a Yamaha accessory park which includes; cloth and grease, and the cleaner comes with a protective and practical case, has a unique bore design, and gives a superior tone. | Comes with two mouthpiece connectors, 2 barrels, smooth key playability, fast key response, and stable vibration. |
Verdict: so should I buy the Yamaha 26ii clarinet?
Yes, if you are a beginner or even an intermediate, you should definitely purchase the Yamaha 26ii clarinet. The clarinet is suitable for beginners as it is easy to operate and offers great quality sound. Furthermore, the clarinet requires low maintenance and is very affordable. I would recommend the Yamaha 26ii clarinet to anyone who wants to kick start their journey of playing clarinets. It is very user-friendly and offers great service. Consequently, the mouthpiece and barrel that comes with the Yamaha 26ii clarinet are easily replaceable hence you can adjust the instruments to meet your preference.
FAQs
Is Yamaha the best clarinet brand?
Yes, Yamaha is a popular clarinet brand loved by many due to its excellent quality, design, and build. It has a variety of clarinets ranging from beginners to professional clarinets.
Which mouthpiece should I buy for my Yamaha 26ii clarinet?
The Yamaha 26ii clarinet comes with a standard 4C mouthpiece. However, the clarinet can hold different sizes of mouthpieces, including the 6C mouthpiece.
Apart from Yamaha 26ii, which other clarinets are best for beginners?
Other clarinets that perfectly fit beginners include; Yamaha 255S, Jupiter 700Q-S, Buffet Prodige Bb Clarinet, Montreux Student Clarinet, and the Nuvo Clarineo C Clarinet.
Charlotte Moore
Charlotte Moore is a Clarinetist by profession and has over time offered lessons on how to play the clarinet among other musical instruments. And while a majority of clarinet players are well versed with the process of settling with a good clarinet among other accompanying features. There is little information about clarinets. The reason why Charlotte prepared comprehensive experts touching on the various facets of the clarinet. The consolidated information will offer more insight on everything clarinets including the best stand to use, and the best plastic clarinet that you can invest in, among other information. Charlotte Moore is a devoted mother of two and a professional clarinet player.