See the C 

I own Tom's Lyric C clarinet, and it is a DREAM to play! At the time I ordered it, I was going to play the opera Barber of Seville, which has a ton of difficult C parts, and I got my horn just in time! All of the other pro clarinetists in Central FL have borrowed this horn to try, and they ALL liked it. It blows more like an Eb clarinet than a Bb, but has more body to the sound. Tom's instrument is so even in scale and in tune with itself. (pt 1)

I've been playing this wonderful instrument for seven years now in my group of folk-musicians here in Sweden. I had been playing a top-of-the-line Bb wooden clarinet but its tonality was simply not as good in my setting of a mix of string and voice. And this is the strong point of the C-clarinet: it mixes well with the human voice. I pointed this out to Tom straight away and it seems to be confirmed by the usage in opera settings. Looking forward to further developments!! (Maybe a new design of the C# key for those of us with large/stiffening little fingers.)

I still play. Just meant I don't play concerts or perform any longer.......or at least haven't in quite a while. I still play the clarinet almost every day in testing instruments and mouthpieces. I also still occasionally play in a clarinet quartet at local nursing homes.

Thanks, Elise. I didn't even know there was going to be a recording--I just thought it was a faculty recital for the students, and I really wanted them to hear the C clarinet--most had never heard one before. I was surprised a few months later that a recording came in the mail. It was kind of nice to have it. It was the last thing I recorded in concert--and I'm done playing.

I've always been adverse to the C clarinet. I thought there wasn't a point since I could transpose on sight easily from C to Bb. It wasn't until I was in Orchestra Hall playing the Alpine Symphony that I realized the amazing color it brings to section. If one wants to take their musicianship to a higher level, the C clarinet is not a copout, it's a door to a whole new musical experience.

I play a couple of C clarinets of other makes in contra dance bands. Much of that music is Irish/Celtic/Appalachian fiddle tunes; fast, notey, and in bad keys for Bb clarinets like concert G, D, and A, because folk fiddlers love their open strings. If I played it on a Bb, I'd also need an A, or learn to play flute. With a C-clarinet I can play everything in the genre on one instrument, and when I get tired of it, I can switch to my C-melody sax. Without my C clarinet, I wouldn't be playing this music.

I just started learning the clarinet and honestly, I love the idea of the C clarinet. There's a lot of music that is only available in standard pitch. I'm very fond of Japanese music from the late Meiji through early Showa periods. The work of Rentaro Taki are irresistible. I would also like to see an affordable hard rubber tarogato in C. Maybe you could do that next.

Yes. Some C clarinets in the past had acoustical designs that required a special mouthpiece, but my C is designed to use the same mouthpiece as is used on the Bb. This has also been true of the basset horn. The small bore basset in F Selmer made actually used the Bb mouthpiece. But the large bore, pioneered by Leblanc, had its own unique mouthpiece.

This instrument is way too underrated

this guy was my 6th grade math teacher

Tom - another good reason to have a C clarinet is if you're playing jazz- lead sheets, the Real Book, and other concert-pitch parts are commonly used. It would be great to just look over the shoulder of the guitar player or keyboardist and read their part. I'm thinking of getting a 'C' for this reason. Additionally, I double on flute, and I don't want to have to carry around two sets of books and other music.

(pt 3) Tom mentions using the C clarinet to cover oboe parts; two years ago, I was asked to cover the oboe book at the last minute for "The Pirates of Penzance" at the Gettysburg leg of the International G&S Festival, and it was a breeze on the C clarinet! There were some nasty keys and passages that would have been a nightmare on the Bb, which I did not have time to transpose for, anyway. btw, Tom, you sound great on that Mozart! :-)

They're wonderful fun to play--and easier to play than either the Bb or the A. Air goes through it as you phrase music like a knife goes through a block of cheese. We do have a no interest payment plan. You might call Ted and see if you and him cannot find some terms you would feel comfortable with and allow you to own one sooner than later.

I feel the same way about a C Melody saxophone

@tl358 Yes, our C clarinet takes a standard Bb mouthpiece. Nothing special or out of the ordinary is required.

If your interested in any of the products and services that Tom offers through his company, Ridenour Clarinet Products, please feel free to contact us via Telephone or email. Contact information can be found in the “About” section of my youtube channel frontpage.

All of our clarinets include a five day trial period (if you need an extra day or two all you have to do is let us know and it's never a problem). We offer financing plans on all of our instruments so if your interested in getting one of our clarinets for trial give us a call toll free at 1-888-AKUSTIK.

4:00 ... and not always commonly played well... (looks down, takes a breath) like the oboe ... and so forth... LOL

Would a Bb mouthpiece work on your C horns?

Within the next 8 months or less. I wont be getting a C clarinet. But an A Clarinet with a separate basset joint. I'm excited but I'm also unsure if I would be able to send it back within a small time should it not be the horn I'm looking for.

(pt 2) I have very little adjustment time when I switch over to play this horn. And the price is unbelievable; I had been pricing C clarinets from other manufacturers, and they were ridiculous. I cannot recommend the Lyrique C clarinet more highly.

4:44 Wouldn't that be a reason why Bb clarinetists double on A clarinet or bass clarinet?

Need to make a C clarinet with A low D! Then I wouldn't need a Bb!

I recently found a ridenour clarinet mouthpiece. It is clear plastic with a metal cover with a hole in the top. Is this a good mouthpiece?

Give us a call toll free at 1-888-AKUSTIK and we will see what we can do to help you out.

@avarmadillo We offer a variety of financing plans in order to make our clarinets as affordable as possible. If your interested give us a call at 1-888- AKUSTIK and we would be more than happy to talk about what we can do for you to make our clarinets as affordable as possible.

Really? You're not playing any more? Or not playing in public?

Thanks Tom!! I have wanted a C clarinet since I found out how much transposing the Bb Clarinet is. This is a great video, as you are a great master craftsman of Clarinets. Would be nice to play a G and have it as a G and not an F. - Vernon@Duduk.us

Nope. No more. Too much else to do.

As soon as I can afford a third instrument I'm getting one! Tired of transposing here.