Uebel Zenit Bb/A Clarinet - Mopane with Gold Keys

The Zenit is one of two top-of-the-line clarinets that Uebel makes, along with the Uebel Vision, which was introduced in 2025.

For those on the fence between this and the new Vision, I'd say this: when people play the Zenit they say "Whoa, it's dark but it's also really clear!" (Or something to that effect, I'm just there smiling and nodding.) And, when they play the Vision they say "Whoa, it's so clean and easy to play!" Most folks agree the Vision is a brighter Zenit.

The Mopane version crushed my expectations. I could easily hear this instrument in a concerto setting, but I could also see it equally comfortable in a jazz or klezmer setting (which is why Giora Feidman plays it)—or just about anything else. It's never edgy, and with the four barrels that come with the clarinet you can really tune your tone to the needs of the moment. I love this instrument. Against the grenadilla version: grenadilla projects more, mopane refuses to pick a lane and somehow does both. I wrote a whole article on the woods if you want to go down that hole.

One notable feature of the Zenit model is its redesigned bore and tone holes, which allow for improved intonation and better response across registers. And now, the Zenit comes with an automatic low F, low E vent that corrects the pitch of these chalumeau notes while not affecting the clarion B and C. It's a feat of engineering that is kind of a combination between the Backun Essence and Lumière, and the Selmer Muse. It's actually awesome, because it's automatic, like the Backun clarinets, and corrects BOTH the low F and low E, like the Muse. Thank you Uebel!

Note, the A clarinet can also be used with the Basset Clarinet extension. Just remove the bottom joint, attach the extension, and you've got a Basset Clarinet! What is a Basset Clarinet? If you don't know, you probably don't need one, but in short, it's an A clarinet that goes down to low C. This is what Mozart originally wrote his Clarinet Concerto for. Pretty cool, huh?

How it plays

Full disclosure: I haven't run this one through the acoustic analysis yet. The grenadilla Zenit has a dashboard on its page — same bore, same keywork, different wood — so that's the closest thing I can point you at while I get the mopane recorded. )I'm not going to quote you numbers I didn't measure on this instrument!)

What I can tell you from playing it: the sound is fluid and even, and it never gets edgy no matter how hard you lean on it.

Resistance: 5/10, Medium

Right in the middle. Response feels very fluid and easy, but there's enough back-pressure that you're not holding the sound together all by yourself.

In general, more resistance in a clarinet design usually keeps the louder dynamic ranges from spreading; the clarinet "holds its core" and focus, but will provide a smaller dynamic range (on both ends, loud and soft) and smaller color palette. A less resistant clarinet typically provides a much wider tonal palette to choose from, but will require more control from the player to control pitch and sound consistency.

When listening for how a clarinet responds to added air pressure and embouchure control, listen to the Weber example (wide dynamic range and color range), then the Berlioz excerpt (wide dynamic range, but narrow color range), and finally the Gershwin excerpt (narrow dynamic range and narrow color range). You will hear how these clarinets respond — for better or worse! — to my input as a clarinet player.

Details

The details are evident everywhere: the inlay, the metal filigree on the tenon rings...and the CASE. Yes, this, too, comes with the leather case cover by an Italian fashion company that rhymes with "Nada." Inside that leather cover is a cute pochette case. The A clarinet comes in a double case that has both the cover and a larger pochette.