Yamaha YCL-650II Bb Clarinet
Yamaha YCL-650II Bb Clarinet
Yamaha has quite the hold on the student market, and though that's evolving with some of the newer manufacturers in the school band scene, Yamaha still reigns supreme.
So, most people who select the YCL-650II are coming from the YCL-255 — likely the clarinet they were handed when they first started playing in school.
The YCL-650II is a step-up instrument; though Yamaha calls it "professional," its features and accessories, quality and price all point to it fitting into the category alongside the Royal Global Classical Limited and Uebel Advantage clarinets.
That's not to say the YCL-650II is underwhelming — not at all! It is easy to control and feels good in the hands. Brightness-wise, it sits between the Classical-Limited (darker) and Advantage (maybe a little brighter, but quite similar).
You'll see that the scale runs a bit flat overall, but that it's pretty uniformly flat. This can be managed pretty easily with a shorter barrel (note: this clarinet comes with one barrel only, so you might want to consider an after-market barrel like the CARBEC or Backun! Just grab a 64mm and you'll be in business!)
Resistance: 6/10, Medium
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.
Important note about this clarinet's warranty.
These clarinets are imported directly from overseas, which is why our price is lower than most US dealers — they're bound by Yamaha USA pricing rules; we're not. Go ahead and check.
The tradeoff is that they don't come with a Yamaha USA warranty. So Earspasm provides one directly, with equivalent coverage and the same two-year term. The practical difference: if you have a covered claim, you contact me instead of Yamaha. Honestly, that's probably faster.
NEW!
View & compare detailed tuning, articulation and timbre data for every clarinet we carry.
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65mm barrel
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Pochette style case with fabric case cover
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Adjustable thumb rest
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Swab
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Yamaha 4C mouthpiece & ligature included
FAQ
Short answer: All earspasm instruments come with a 7-day trial. Please read my trial policy before pulling out that credit card.
Medium answer: You have 7 days from the date of receipt to try the clarinet. If you don't like it, that's fine (my feelings aren't hurt!) — just let me know and I will send you a return label. Box it all up and send it back. We keep 5% to cover credit card transaction fees and a (hopefully!) brief round trip back to Miles or John — my technicians — to do a reset on the horn.
Long answer: Read my trial policy :)
EARSPASM MUSIC — LIMITED WARRANTY Yamaha YCL-650II Grenadilla Clarinet
Earspasm Music warrants this instrument against defects in materials and workmanship for two years from the date of original purchase. This warranty applies to the original purchaser only and is not transferable. (BTW, Yamaha's warranty for this clarinet is one year. Just sayin'.)
What we cover
If something goes wrong due to a manufacturing defect or workmanship failure under normal use, we'll fix it. All warranty service is handled directly through Earspasm Music — you deal with Michael, not a call center.
Wood cracks
Grenadilla is a natural material and most clarinet cracks are caused by environmental stress — dryness, temperature shock, inadequate warm-up — rather than manufacturing defects. We can't always tell the difference by looking, and we won't pretend otherwise. What we will do is make an honest, experienced assessment when you bring the instrument in, tell you what we think caused it, and tell you what we can do about it. If there's genuine doubt, we'll err toward you.
Cracks we determine to be manufacturing defects will be repaired under warranty. If the same joint cracks a second time following a prior warranty repair, we will replace that joint.
What we don't cover
- Damage from accidents, drops, misuse, or neglect
- Normal wear: pads, corks, key plating, springs
- Damage caused by repair or adjustment performed by anyone other than Earspasm's technician
- Instruments with altered, removed, or defaced serial numbers
- Any instrument purchased secondhand
How to use this warranty
Contact us directly at earspasm.com. You ship to us (your cost); if the repair qualifies under this warranty, we cover return shipping within the US.
Earspasm Music's liability is limited to repair or replacement of the affected component at our discretion. We are not responsible for incidental or consequential damages including lost performance opportunities.
Inspect the package before you sign off at delivery! If there are any issues resulting from shipping, we have taken out an insurance policy to cover damage (and loss). But we need you to document this damage or we can't do anything to help. Please read my trial policy for how to handle this issue, should it arise.
Not if you live in the Continental US! Because I want you to find the right instrument for you, and doing so online is harder than doing so in-person, I will cover the return shipping. Please read my trial policy for trial and return rules.
Yes. You can add your shipping address when checking out to see what the shipping costs will be before taking the plunge. Note that VAT and Customs Duties are not included in this cost.
Contact me to set up an appointment, and let's do it!
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