Yamaha YCL-255 Student Clarinet

Yamaha YCL-255 Student Clarinet is the Bb clarinet most Gold Coast school programs start their students on, and there is a good reason for that. It is light, it is tough, it plays in tune, and every part of it is designed around a young player who is still learning to hold the instrument comfortably. The body is ABS resin with nickel-plated keys, so it takes a year of school bags in its stride.

ABS resin body with no bell ring

The YCL-255 is made from ABS resin, which does not crack, swell or need oiling the way grenadilla does. Yamaha has also dropped the metal ring from the bell, taking weight off the end of the instrument without making it fragile. Less weight means less strain on a beginner's right thumb and a more relaxed posture.

Adjustable thumb rest with strap ring

The thumb rest moves to suit the size of the player's hand, so a small student and a tall one can both set the clarinet up to sit naturally. The strap ring on it lets you clip on a neck strap, which teachers often recommend for younger players while their hands develop.

65mm barrel, Boehm system in Bb

The YCL-255 uses the standard Boehm key system in Bb, so fingerings transfer straight to any clarinet a student picks up later. The 65mm barrel gives the player the normal amount of pull for tuning to the band, and the nickel-plated keys stay smooth under the fingers.

Tapered undercut tone holes and the 4C mouthpiece

The tone holes are straight with a tapered undercut, which helps each note speak cleanly and keeps the scale even from the low register up through the clarion. A Yamaha 4C mouthpiece is supplied, a sensible starting point that a student can stay on for years.

Specifications