Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet review

Whether you are an intermediate, beginner, or professional, finding a suitable clarinet is such a difficult task. If you are an intermediate, your search is over, as the Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet will serve you best.

The Yamaha YCL-450 is complicated for beginners but works perfectly for intermediates or clarinet masters. When I started teaching myself how to play the clarinet, I did not do extensive research and thus ended up buying the Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet. Despite spending a lot of time practicing, it was difficult for me to navigate the instrument. Producing the right sound and hitting high and low notes became a problem too. I sorted advice from a professional and was advised to buy another clarinet and keep the Yamaha YCL-450 for future use. Two years later, I spent most of my time with my Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet as I enjoy playing it.

Yamaha YCL-450 Breakdown and Review

1. The body, bell and barrel of the Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet are made of grenadilla wood.
2. The clarinet is very flexible, and the sound projection is of high quality.

The Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet is a unique model of Yamaha clarinets as it combines patented technology and the use of Duet to increase the durability of the product without sacrificing its appearance. The clarinet is made of grenadilla wood which perfectly complements the nickel-plated keys.

The device has several attractive features making it very common among intermediate clarinet students. What I liked most about this clarinet is that the sound project by the lower register is of high quality due to the unique shape of the bell.

Furthermore, the barrel of the Yamaha YCL-450 has been redesigned to improve the intonation, flexibility, and response of the instrument. The high-end design features incorporated in this product, combined with patented technology, make this clarinet very durable and consistent in sound. Furthermore, the combination of ABS resin and grenadilla wood makes the instrument less prone to cracking.

What we liked

• Produces a rich and warm sound
• Lower register projects high-quality sound
• The instrument is highly flexible and offers a timely response
• Very durable

What we did not like

• Quite complicated and difficult for beginners
• Though this product is affordable, it is more expensive than its substitute clarinets of the intermediate level.

 

View price here

 

Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet specifications

Model	Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet
Key	Bb
Body material	ABS Resin/Grenadilla wood
Key material/ finish	Nickel/silver
Series/ range	Standard
Mouthpiece	Yamaha 4C mouthpiece
Level	Intermediate
Barrel	65 mm barrel
Key features	The clarinet’s body is made from grenadilla wood, produces a rich and warm sound, a hard rubber mouthpiece, and comes with a YAC-1315 case.

Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet features

Design and Build

The design and build of the Yamaha YCL-450 are top-notch. Starting with the external design of the instrument, the instrument looks noble as the nickel-plated keys and mechanics complement the unstained grenadilla wood perfectly. The workmanship of the instruments is a true reflection of Yamaha’s high-end features.

The thumb holder of the Yamaha YCL-450 comes with a sturdy ring for hooking in a carrier which is key for protecting the thumb. The instrument also comes with a compartment that you can use to store enough accessories. The shoulder strap and back straps are as well as included.

The design of the bell shape of the Yamaha YCL-450 is unique hence allowing a better projection of sound, especially in the lower register. The barrel that comes with this product is also redesigned to enable it to produce a more professional sound.

Furthermore, the Yamaha YCL-450 model uses pivot screws that allow for easier adjustment of the instrument. This product has a new vent tube that helps with playing in the second register. This makes it easier for younger players to navigate the instrument before developing breath support.

Speed and performance

The performance of the Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet is great and with timely response and quality intonation. Furthermore, the clarinet is highly flexible, and its barrel has been redesigned to improve the intonation and response of the instrument. This makes it easy for intermediate players to easily produce quality sound as the barrel greatly aids in the projection. However, the intonation and the sound of the instrument are perfect; it can be enhanced by purchasing a high-quality mouthpiece.

Consequently, the instrument is designed with high-end features to enable the player to meet their tone and sound preferences when playing it. The uniquely designed barrel and bell improve the response of the registers. These features also contribute to the exceptional tones one can hit when playing the instrument, as they allow the player to produce a rich, warm sound. Lastly, most intermediate players find the projection produced by this product to be consistent throughout the high and low registers.

Connection and user-friendliness

If you are an intermediate or a clarinet master, connecting and using the Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet is pretty straightforward. The Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet is highly flexible and comes with adjustable straps and thumb rest hence making playing the instrument very comfortable and easy.

The process of assembling the instrument, like connecting the mouthpiece to the clarinet, and adjusting the straps and thumb rest, is quite straightforward and can be done at home with no professional assistant. Consequently, this instrument is constructed and designed to withstand harsh conditions and frequent usage; hence very durable and strong.

The Yamaha YCL-450 can, however, be a bit technical for beginners to navigate and produce quality sounds and intonations. However, with guidance and enough practice, you should be able to master how to play this clarinet model in a few weeks. Intermediates find this instrument very user-friendly as it is complicated enough to be tackled by progressing clarinet students.

Who is it best suited for?

The Yamaha YCL-450 works best for intermediates. This is because the product is designed to deliver quality sound projection and intonation for progressing clarinet players. When purchasing a clarinet, there are several factors that you need to consider. Apart from the quality of the instrument, the level of your mastery of the instrument will determine the clarinet that suits you best. The features of Yamaha YCL-450 have been designed to help progressing players produce quality sounds and intonation without straining. The instrument does not fit beginner clarinet players as they will find it a bit difficult to play. Furthermore, if you plan to play the clarinet for a long time, then I would recommend this product as it is exceptionally durable. And when considering the cost of this instrument, it is affordable but a bit expensive compared to other intermediate clarinets. This clarinet is, however, among the best options in the market as its quality will match its price.

Are there alternatives to the Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet?

Yes, the music instrument market has a wide variety of clarinets for intermediate clarinet players. Most of these clarinets are of high quality and would serve the same purpose as the Yamaha YCL-450 Clarinet. Yamaha YCL-450 alternatives include; Buffet Crampon E11 Bb intermediate wood clarinet, Cecilio 3Series CT-380 Bb Clarinet, and the Selmer CL211 Intermediate Bb Clarinet.

Features of alternative clarinets

Model	Buffet Crampon E11 Bb intermediate wood clarinet	Cecilio 3Series CT-380 Bb Clarinet	Selmer CL211 Intermediate Bb Clarinet
Key	Bb	Bb	Bb
Body material	Wood	Rosewood	Grenadilla wood
Key material/finish	Silver plated keys	Silver plated keys	No added resin
Series/range	Standard	Standard	Standard
Mouthpiece	4C mouthpiece	4C mouthpiece	Can hold different mouthpiece sizes
Level	Intermediate	Intermediate	Intermediate
Barrel	Can hold barrels of different lengths	Two different-sized barrels	65mm barrel length
Key features	Responsiveness and intonation are accurate, very affordable, and have stainless steel springs.	Less expensive, Italian pads and inline trill keys.	Smaller tone holes, adjustable thumb rest, smaller bore size perfect for younger players, and warm, full tone.
Availability	Check Price Here	Check Price Here	Check Price Here

Verdict: So, should you buy a Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet?

If you are an intermediate clarinet player, I would definitely advise you to purchase the Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet mode. The product is of high quality and will serve you for a very long time hence a worthy investment. Furthermore, the appearance and performance of the product are great due to its high-end features incorporated in the manufacturing of the instrument. The innovative construction and design of the instrument make it suitable to play indoors or outdoors while still maintaining an excellent sound.

FAQs

Can the Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet hold different sizes of the mouthpiece?

Yes, the Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet can hold different mouthpiece sizes. You can improve the sound quality produced by Yamaha YCL-450 by replacing the original mouthpiece with one of high quality and of a different size.

Is the Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet of high quality?

Yes, Yamaha is among the best brands in the market. Its instruments garner consistent positive reviews. This is not an exception with the Yamaha YCL-450 clarinet.