 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2026-04-04 09:46
I’ve been following a series of developments over the past few days that, taken together, feel like a real-time case study in how the clarinet market is evolving—particularly around Chinese-manufactured (often called “stencil”) instruments, dealer-branded lines, and premium manufacturers.
It started with Michael Lowenstern’s April Fool’s video on “faux bass clarinets.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39YSs39OgjU
While humorous on the surface, the underlying message was clear: many dealer-branded bass clarinets appear to share common factory origins, with limited original R&D, and are marketed under different names with varying claims of uniqueness. He contrasted that model with companies like Backun and Royal Global that have invested heavily in design and development.
Shortly after, Clarinets by Copeland announced they are no longer an authorized Backun dealer. In follow-up comments, they referenced being “extremely disappointed” in a video from a Backun representative and stated they would be working with partners aligned with their values. Their broader messaging emphasizes affordability, accessibility, and making instruments “play really well, regardless of brand.”
https://www.facebook.com/ClarinetsByCopeland/posts/
Lisa’s Clarinet Shop then posted a direct response pushing back on the video’s implications.
Their position, in summary:
- Chinese manufacturing is not inherently low quality—some factories are excellent.
- Dealer collaboration with factories can lead to meaningful product development over time.
- Royal Global itself was developed through outsourced manufacturing, per Lisa's Clarinet Shop
- Lower-cost instruments expand the market and make bass clarinet more accessible.
- The critique of “faux” instruments may be as much about protecting premium market share as it is about educating consumers.
https://fb.watch/GgnGgOtpWU/
What I find interesting is how this highlights a few underlying tensions:
R&D vs. Iteration:
Where do we draw the line between true instrument development and iterative improvement on existing factory designs?
Brand vs. Setup/Refinement:
Is the primary source of value the manufacturer’s design, or the dealer’s setup, selection, and adjustments?
Accessibility vs. Innovation:
Lower-cost instruments clearly expand access—but what impact does that have on long-term investment in new designs?
Positioning Shifts:
Dealers historically carried premium brands alongside their own lines. What does it mean when a dealer steps away from a premium brand and leans fully into their own model?
I’m not trying to take a side here—just laying out what’s been said and how it fits together. It seems like the market is actively debating what constitutes value, legitimacy, and transparency in instrument making and selling.
Curious how others here see it:
Is Lowenstern’s critique fair, overstated, or missing something?
Where do you personally draw the line between “development” and “rebranding”?
How much weight do you give to origin (factory vs. brand vs. dealer) when evaluating an instrument?
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Artist MT36 mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum black ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #3.5 reeds
Brad Behn HR adjustable barrel
ATG System and Cordier Reed Trimmer
Post Edited (2026-04-04 09:53)
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2026-04-04 09:55
Btw, reportedly, Michael Lowenstern will ONLY be reviewing Backun bass clarinets and is an authorized spokesperson? Personally, I think 'spokesperson' and being a Backun Artist are two very distinct things.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Artist MT36 mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum black ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #3.5 reeds
Brad Behn HR adjustable barrel
ATG System and Cordier Reed Trimmer
Post Edited (2026-04-04 09:57)
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2026-04-04 09:57
[please delete]
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Artist MT36 mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum black ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #3.5 reeds
Brad Behn HR adjustable barrel
ATG System and Cordier Reed Trimmer
Post Edited (2026-04-04 10:04)
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2026-04-04 09:58
Attachment: LCS on Lowenstern and Backun.jpg (29k)
Trying again - here's the screenshot:
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Artist MT36 mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum black ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #3.5 reeds
Brad Behn HR adjustable barrel
ATG System and Cordier Reed Trimmer
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Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2026-04-04 12:48
As Mr. Lowenstern himself stated, the number of different makers and models a
has grown immensely. Him "calling out" the competition might just be a PR move, but then again, I find critizising selling rebranded chinese instruments valid.
In fact, I'd absolutely recommend the eb clarinet you can for example get from Thomann for 750€, it's an astonishingly good instrument and even the keywork ist pretty decent, but does need some regulation.
Now if the US retailers of that same instrument were transparent about its origins and their lack of RND, I'd get it. But they do frame it as if it were their own creation. Take the "woodwind boutique" for example. They kicked out Uebel and RZ (a brand I don't fully trust, either) and now sell clearly overpriced stencils, maybe the priciest ones get some special attention.
But take a Max or the Backun Alpha, and you'll see they're superior instruments to that ubiquitous chinese bass (the one with the Yamaha style thumb keys, also sold by Thomann).
But it gets really weird if even that design is now "outdated" and there's now a Selmer...ish copy, as shown in the video. I've aleady spotted an european version from Adams Music.
It is then that I can understand Lowenstern's criticism - they keep pumping out instruments and no one really knows how much RND goes into them. Reselling them for the same price as a Max or Alpha (bass) does make it seem like they're at the same level, but they're not.
As far as I'm concerned, the recent developments have benefitted me. Love my max bass. Love my eefer. But if Royal made their own version, for example without the janky eb lever, or one with a seperate post - it'd probably be even better. There is little justification for a "non genuine" product if it's priced the same as a "brand" one.
Best regards
Christian
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Author: Reed B Chirpin
Date: 2026-04-04 20:24
It's tough to make a blanket claim about instruments since there are absolutely poor-quality instruments coming from China, but now there are also some high-quality instruments coming from China. Even the Backun Alpha bass has "Made in China Assembled in Canada" engraved on it, not to mention Royal Global products coming from a good Chinese factory. Having tried a couple of instruments from someone who uses a Selmer-inspired bass body that's been adjusted and set up properly, I actually would have preferred it over a Max or Alpha bass clarinet. Is it quite as good as a Selmer Privilege? No, but they are close while having their own "feel" and playing qualities altogether, and it's catering to a different market. Key work was very solid as well. I'm sure it's different if you're ordering one of the big box store low C bass clarinets, but a bass coming from a reputable source where a tech is doing adjustments and set up work, it can absolutely be a good horn at this price point. For what it's worth, the Kesslers that Mr. Lowenstern is going to bat for in the video were not very competitive in terms of playability compared to the other affordable low C basses I've tried, in my experience. I know Michael sells them, and being a Backun artist/seller who had a hand in designing the Backun basses that compete with these various models, maybe it's best to take some of these things with a grain of salt.
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Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2026-04-05 00:04
Did you refer to my post? If so, I wouldn't or couldn't possibly claim to know all chinese instruments. I'm just saying that a very common type of instrument - which is sold via different brands - doesn't deserve the *framing* of being something special. It's the literal pig with some lipstick. But a competent pig, I guess.
Sure enough, a Selmer...ish instrument is going to be very good too, if they make it right. No doubt. But again, I'd prefer the instrument to have it's own DNA.
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Author: Reed B Chirpin
Date: 2026-04-05 01:19
Sorry for the miscommunication, Kalashnikirby! I wasn't referring to your post, but rather Mr. Lowenstern's vague claim from the video. I agree with you about the sentiment of slapping a brand on a stock instrument from China. It does seem that some brands do exactly that, but then some others actually make enhancements/adjustments to a model based on a design, and offer much better key work than those "stock" instruments. I'm sure Backun and Royal used some "Selmer-ish" design traits to develop their designs, especially with them implementing the pivot style trill keys and low Eb (rather than low D) thumb key - the Royals doing so recently. I personally like how all of this is helping to make very good bass clarinets accessible to students, amateurs, and the like, besides the brands that are indeed slapping on the logo. My point after seeing the video was that there is a spectrum of Chinese-made instruments in terms of quality these days.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2026-04-05 03:02
The keywork on Backun and Royal Global basses are both largely based on Rene Hagmann's post 1999 Buffet Prestige and more recent Tosca bass design, same with the Uebel Emperior bass which was the first Chinese made pro level bass to copy Buffet's design.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2026-04-05 17:04
@Reed B Chirpin: Much appreciated.
Well yes, Lowenstern doesn't really adress how the instrument he reviews is pretty good after all (and what to make of that fact). It's all morally ambiguous, and now that I think of it, you'd also have to criticise all the other that were "inspired" by Buffet.
The bass we're discussing is for example distributed by "Sunwin Music". There are others that sell these and it's never quite clear who the actual maker is, as you'll also find that ubiquitous eefer listed by Longkou (Jinming), etc.
But at this point, the entanglement of the european/american markets with chinese manufacturing is beyond any scope. When I checked the Sunwin FB page, out of all people I'd have expected, Walter Grimm (large swiss woodwinds store) commented under a mopane bass clarinet.... what? Now I wonder when they start selling their own brand...
Oh, and that one had a wooden bell. Just 10 years we couldn't have dreamed of such instruments, and now the market is getting flooded. Maybe even saturated, because where in this world do we need that many?
The biggest danger for european makers is, that slowly but surely chinese makers will gain their own knowhow and become fully indepent.
Briz horns is a prime example. And it took many years before they were taken seriously, now these horns win competitions.
Which is not to say some competition is bad. But I feel european manufacturing in particular has yet to find a standing where it's not all about high end, and the intermediate instruments suck. Almost nothing that leaves the Buffet Markneukirchen factory is worth looking into. The wood of an E11 is an insult. Better buy a royal max.
(And Hoyer horns are mediocre, and Schreiber bassoons too)
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2026-04-07 01:14
Attachment: Copeland Post 3.png (116k)
Attachment: Copeland Post 2.png (138k)
Attachment: Copeland Post 1.jpg (173k)
Copeland just posted more directly about the video in question.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Artist MT36 mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum black ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #3.5 reeds
Brad Behn HR adjustable barrel
ATG System and Cordier Reed Trimmer
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2026-04-07 01:42
I responded to Copeland with this:
I appreciate you taking the time to address this thoughtfully. There’s definitely a bigger conversation happening here, and I think it’s worth acknowledging a few nuances that often get lost when everything gets grouped together.
Part of the challenge is that when many people hear “Chinese-made instruments,” they don’t think of carefully specified, dealer-supported instruments with quality control—they think of the lowest end of the market.
For better or worse, that perception has been shaped by years of exposure to ultra-cheap, mass-produced instruments—what many repair techs would call “instrument-shaped objects.” In those cases, the issue isn’t geography, it’s lack of design oversight, quality control, and long-term support. However, they are all lumped in under the category of "Chinese-made instruments."
Each time I take my Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet to a technician who isn’t familiar with it, I end up explaining who made it, how it’s constructed, and that it isn’t a knock-off but a deliberately designed hard rubber instrument. Once they actually handle it, any skepticism tends to disappear—and no one has had any trouble working on it.
At the same time, there are also valid concerns around intellectual property and design replication that have contributed to that perception over time. Whether fairly or unfairly, that has influenced how people evaluate anything coming from that manufacturing ecosystem.
Where I think your point is important is in distinguishing between:
- instruments that are simply mass-produced and distributed, and
- instruments that are intentionally specified, refined, and supported by people who are deeply involved in the process.
Those are not the same thing—but they often get labeled the same way.
I do think the burden (and opportunity) for shops and brands working this way is to clearly communicate what makes their instruments different: design choices, acoustic intent, setup standards, and ongoing refinement. That level of transparency helps bridge the gap between perception and reality.
At the end of the day, I think most players just want to understand what they’re getting and why it performs the way it does—and that comes from clear information, not assumptions on either side.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Artist MT36 mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum black ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #3.5 reeds
Brad Behn HR adjustable barrel
ATG System and Cordier Reed Trimmer
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2026-04-07 11:17
Oh dear - they lost me when they brought religion and bilious bible-bashing clap-trap into it.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2026-04-07 17:45
@David H. Kinder: I mostly agree with your more nuanced view. Ridenour is a c9ntroversial person too, but noone doubts that he offers his own designs. And he never made
but...
Oh the irony of claiming strong christian values while importing more or less generic instruments! Rather hypocritical, no? If they were fully transparent about that, I could appreciate their business model. Yes, one could argue that Copeland have some designing influence on their instruments, but I highly doubt that they alter the bore, tone hole placement or undercutting etc.
Compare that to Thomann's approach: An instrument gets the Thomann branding, everybody knows it's a chinese instrument, you get (surprisingly) decent customer service and a 30-day money back warranty (not sure about non-EU countries though) and they do actually have the instruments checked in their own workshop.
The difference being they don't make any grand claims about that. ("We strongly believe a good instrument can be affordable... bla bla", the stuff Lowenstern criticises in his video)
An interesting niche would be to overhaul these instruments completely and sell them as such. I mean not just adjusting/setting them up, but optimizing key heights and changing springs. For example on that eb clarinet with an eb lever, the flat springs are relatively thick and provide too much tension. I changed them and voilà, the side trills and a' are much nicer now. Some tone holes could probably use a bit of a chamfer, but I'm not knowledgeable enough for this stuff.
Post Edited (2026-04-07 17:51)
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2026-04-07 19:54
Attachment: Copeland Basset Bb 2.png (253k)
Attachment: Copeland Basset Bb 1.png (72k)
I haven't done business with Copeland and admittedly, their website has very generic descriptions on their instruments although the craftsmanship appears very nice.
He does showcase his own repair services and innovations (just recently offered a second register key for Bb clarinet), but I'll keep that as a separate category compared to manufacturing instruments.
They are currently designing a Basset Bb. I've never designed anything, but having this kind of CAD (I assume) design for implementation certainly seems to stand out to me. Ridenour showed a similar kind of software when he was first promoting his new Interchangeable Bore Barrel design.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Artist MT36 mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum black ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #3.5 reeds
Brad Behn HR adjustable barrel
ATG System and Cordier Reed Trimmer
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Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2026-04-07 20:23
But then they shouldn't be too concerned by Lowenstern's criticism. Doing own R&D does set apart from others and I can respect that. I will say that there is no discernible features of their bass and eb clarinets that would suggest their own R&D went into these, but they'll have some benefit of the doubt, I guess.
But thanks for pointing that out, David.
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Author: Klarnt
Date: 2026-04-08 04:54
Just throwing in my two cents. It is interesting how the internet has greatly expanded the global Clarinet industry in the past decade. Clearly the market profitability is attractive enough to attract many firms to enter the market, and this includes stencils. The question that caught my attention was what impact do these cheap stencils have on long-term investments or R&D in new designs. Without some sort of quantitative analysis it’s hard to reach any conclusions, but I would like to throw some ideas at the wall and see what sticks.
The Selmer Privileges and Buffet Prestiges of the world do have some behavioral protections from copycats. For starters, they are credible brands that Clarinet professionals trust and recommend to their students and other players. Sometimes Clarinet players appeal to tradition and authority to an insufferable degree, but this is a good thing for the top brands. If a new brand called “Bordeaux” were to pop up tomorrow and was a stencil of the Selmer Privilege, most people would choose the authentic Selmer. In order to compete, Bordeaux would have to lower their price in order to entice some buyers to take a risk on them.
Which leads to my second point, people often use price as a shortcut for judging quality. The top line products are not competing on price, but rather product differentiation. The market segment consists of Clarinet professionals, who are willing to pay an arm-and-a-leg for the best of the best. Research and development is essential for makers to compete in this market segment. Since stencils use older models of established instruments, Selmer and Buffet may actually be incentivized to innovate their top horns in order to justify the price tags in consumer’s minds.
Will Selmer and Buffet make more profits focusing their efforts on price or differentiation competition? It depends on how buyers perceives the value of their instruments and their willingness to pay for improvements.
In theory, I’m optimistic. I think this will be good for consumers at least in the short run. The stencils copying high-end horns will make good designs (although maybe lousy execution) more accessible to students and casuals who don’t want to spend too much money on a horn. On the other hand, it may push the established makers to innovate better Clarinets. As for the long run, we’ll have to wait and see.
As for the other concerns, that’s outside of my wheelbarrow or interest.
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