Our Clarinets
A week trial is available for all clarinets, please see details in T’s & C’s at bottom of page.
Returns policy in section 8
All clarinets set up and tested by Leslie Craven
Hard Rubber or Wood?
Our LC Craven Sonoro and Ridenour hard rubber clarinets offer professional sound quality and setup at a more affordable price compared to wooden clarinets. They are also impervious to cracking and are very stable in different climate conditions, such as low humidity, dry air, or high temperatures, which can harm wooden clarinets.
Peace of mind and great value
When you buy from The Clarinet Company you get peace of mind that Leslie Craven, a top player in UK for many years has checked and set up the clarinet to meet his demanding standards. Each clarinet is hand finished by Les and he tunes them to a higher specification than any clarinet in this price range and many “main stream brand” excessively expensive clarinets.
The hard rubber material provides a warm, consistent sound and is lighter to hold, making it easier to produce sound, especially in the higher register.
Best of Both Sound Worlds
For those who still prefer the depth of sound from a wooden clarinet, our hard rubber clarinets can be customised quite inexpensively with a wooden barrel and bell to achieve a similar sound. We have several designs of barrel and bell and each has a different sound profile to suit your personal taste.
Build Quality
The keywork on Craven Sonoro clarinets is strong and durable but flexible enough to adjust and angle the keys for comfortable hand positioning. The clarinets are available in Nickel or Silver plating, treated to last longer and reduce the risk of allergic reactions. They have anchored posts usually found on more expensive clarinets. Made of natural hard rubber, a sustainable material called ebonite, they are very durable and stable, outlasting wooden clarinets. Unlike wood, which can be affected by climate and has a limited professional lifespan, these clarinets won't deteriorate, warp, or become unstable in tuning.
Best Value and Service
We whole heartedly believe our clarinets offer the best value for money with the personal service of a bespoke instrument tailored to your requirements at a fraction of the cost of off-the-shelf impersonal brands that are not giving any back up service or customer support. Whatever your requirements and should anything go wrong (hopefully not and unlikely) we, ( me personally and Ashley Brand ) will be at your service to deal with your every musical need.
The SM-W Clarinet
Our SM-W wooden clarinet is of the highest quality at a fraction of the cost of other brands. The wood is certified from sustainable sources in Mozambique and is of the highest quality available. Should a crack occur, we offer personalised assistance and guarantee to replace the affected parts or the entire clarinet if necessary.
How do they sound?
Our clarinets blend and tune well, producing a great sound. Click on the play button to listen to a short clip of hard rubber clarinets in action to hear how good they sound.
Robert Watson, a friend of our founder Leslie Craven (who helped design the SMERf reed system) and fine amateur player invited Les to record with him on a CD project recorded at Wyastone, Nimbus studios, Monmouth. Extract from the Magic Flute - Mozart: Robert Watson (1st clarinet) Ridenour Lyrique 576b and Les Craven (2nd Clarinet) on Craven SM SONORO Bb. Both with Silverstein Ambipoly Polymer reeds , Silverstein ligatures (Leslie on a Hexa Titanium, Robert on Hexa gold and both on Craven Sonoro mouthpieces.
Not sure our clarinets are right for you? Have a free week’s no obligation trial
We understand that you may be hesitant as a clarinet is a huge investment and that you may feel more comfortable to go for a more well-known brand that has greater market exposue and that has a famous name. Our clarinets are beginning to make a name for themselves not only in UK but in the USA and also in Europe as our brand begins to become better known and trusted by some top players. Feel free to contact us and we will reassure you by providing you with the best quality clarinet at the most affordable price within your budget with superior customer service with a no obligation trial for one week.
But, you don’t just have to take our word for it. Click HERE for a full review of our SM2 B Flat Clarinet in CASS Magazine by the respected clarinettist Alistair Penman or visit our Customer Reviews page.
