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Re: Yamaha YCL-650 II vs. original YCL-650

Author: Howard
Date: 2023-11-28 04:37

Sultan,

I will be playing this instrument for the next two weeks or so and so far, after testing twelve clarinets, I have found this one and I think I love it. I need to show it to my teacher this Thursday to get his approval. I have a Selmer CT and a Selmer Series 9 both in great shape but the tone of both is dark and I wanted a different sound. This seems to be that sound.

As an aside, I wanted to love a Selmer. To have it be magic but it just did not work.

No, I do not think there is anything that differentiates it from the older 650 but I am not sure.

Two keys on the left hand stack are make longer/larger. This is is great for me and I do not think you will protest either.

Weight is 5.7 pounds. My Selmers are 7 pounds. I feel the difference. The wood is absolutely gorgeous. It looks and feels like art. It does not look like something you actually play. I keep looking at it. I kept stating at it for the longest time one day and suddenly realized that it is finished in silver. It is, once again, gorgeous.

Someone sweat the details here. I need one or to minor adjustments and I am good to go. The pads feel good. The craftsman ship is simply amazing. Why so cheap? I think,, and I might be wrong, but I think the major part of the bore is machined and this cuts labor cost. On the other hand, there is a lot of hand work here including undercut tone holes. I think that from a value perspective, this is so aggressive in pricing. About 2,300 USD. You get so much for so little.

As for sound, I can't really tell you how it sounds. It seems to do the things I want it to do. I lean towards American Songbook and a touch of jazz. I love the sound. It has a type of a core that I can sharpen or listen based on what I am playing. There is a sweetness to it.

One thing for sure. Yamaha is here to make masterpieces. The French need to follow.

I hope this helps.

Post Edited (2023-11-28 04:51)

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