10 Best Clarinet Mouthpieces for Intermediate Student and Professionals

The mouthpieces that are included with instruments are often subpar and the clarinet is not an exception. This is why the experts at Windy Sounds took the time to find the best clarinet mouthpieces so you can easily find the one that will help you to achieve the best possible sound on your instrument.

Our Top Recommended Clarinet Mouthpieces

10 Best Clarinet Mouthpieces on the Market Today:

1. Selmer Golden Tone Clarinet Mouthpiece

Selmer is a trusted brand name in the band instrument industry and the Golden Tone is a clarinet mouthpiece that holds up to this reputation.

It’s the best clarinet mouthpiece for intermediate musicians but would be an appropriate upgrade for devoted beginners as well. For less than $20, this is an incredible way to elevate your clarinet’s sound quality.

Selmer Golden Tone Features

• produces crisp, high-quality sound that’s comparable to much pricier mouthpieces
• appropriate for beginner and intermediate musicians alike
• hard plastic construction

Expert Opinions of Selmer Golden Tone

Experts are loving this affordable mouthpiece.

Between sound quality improving immediately and the fact that the Selmer Golden Tone is made to last through the intermediate years, there’s no going wrong with this clarinet mouthpiece.

2. J&D Hite H111 Premiere Clarinet Mouthpiece

Premiere by Hite is one of the most commonly used beginner mouthpieces. Band instructors often suggest this step-up mouthpiece for students as it comes at an affordable price of less than $25 and is a major improvement to clarinet stock mouthpieces.

Features of J&D Hite H111 Premiere

• easy to play
• made from hard plastic
• designed to have sound reminiscent of hard rubber construction mouthpieces

Expert Opinions of J&D Hite H111 Premiere

This is one of the best step-up clarinet mouthpieces for beginners because it’s designed to be one of the easiest to play. Premiere by Hite is one of the most highly recommended clarinet mouthpieces for students by band directors.

3. Yamaha 4C Clarinet Mouthpiece

Yamaha 4C is the student mouthpiece of the aspiring clarinetist’s dreams. The trusted brand name will leave any band instructor smiling as it’s one of the most consistently good choices in the world of band instruments. The 4C costs less than $30 and is backed by the beloved Yamaha quality.

Yamaha 4C Features

• consistently good sound and perfect fit across all Bb clarinets
• made from high quality phenol resin
• advertised as student mouthpiece but is also appropriate for intermediate clarinetists

Expert Opinions of Yamaha 4C

Yamaha 4C is a mouthpiece that experts love to see clarinet students using. It’s arguably the most consistent clarinet mouthpieces for beginners and is a great introduction to the favorite brand of many band instructors. The 4C will last from the student to early intermediate years of performing on clarinet.

4. Vandoren CM308 B45 Traditional Mouthpiece

Vandoren CM308 B45 Traditional is a mouthpiece made to be versatile for performing all styles of music. It’s a sturdy clarinet mouthpiece that’s considered appropriate for student and intermediate musicians that use 2.5 or thicker reeds. At a cost of under $100, this is the best choice for the student clarinetist devoted to the practice.

Vandoren CM308 B45 Traditional Unique Features

• hard plastic construction
• designed by Bernard Van Doren himself
• medium long facing shape with traditional beak

Expert Opinions of Vandoren CM308 B45 Traditional

The Vandoren CM308 B45 Traditional is the best choice for the student who is devoted to continuing in music. It’ll be a long-lasting mouthpiece that should last through the college years and possibly beyond. Clarinet professors often swear by Vandoren mouthpieces.

5. Clark W Fobes Debut Clarinet Mouthpiece

Clark W Fobes Debut is one of the best value mouthpieces for student clarinetists. For under $30, this clarinet mouthpiece will last through the college band years. It’s designed to promote healthy air support in students and still hold up beautifully for experienced musicians.

Clark W Fobes Debut Unique Features

• acyllic construction
• promotes good embouchure and air support
• student clarinet mouthpiece with professional specs
• long-lasting for student to intermediate musicians

Expert Opinions of Clark W Fobes Debut

Many experts are impressed with the Clark W Fobes Debut clarinet mouthpiece.

This is the best clarinet mouthpiece professionals are switching out their pricier mouthpieces for. Professionals are comparing the quality with Vandoren mouthpieces that typically cost two to three times

more than the Debut.

6. American Plating 2332K Clarinet Mouthpiece

American Plating 2332K is a step-up clarinet mouthpiece that costs less than $20. It’ll improve sound quality from the stock mouthpiece and is one of the few clarinet mouthpieces that’s made in the USA. This is a steal at less than $20 since it also includes a ligature and mouthpiece cap to keep the mouthpiece safe.

American Plating 2332K Unique Features

• includes mouthpiece cap and ligature
• step-up mouthpiece for beginners

Expert Opinions of American Plating 2332K

There isn’t really anything special about this clarinet mouthpiece. Experts may not even recommend this for the earliest of beginners as the quality isn’t that much better than a stock mouthpiece. If this mouthpiece is chosen, an instructor will likely ask for it to be upgraded pretty early.

7. Bundy BP201 Clarinet Mouthpiece

Bundy BP201 is a replacement stock mouthpiece that’s easy for students to play on. It’s an above-average stock mouthpiece that costs $25 so many beginners with cheap instruments find this to be a suitable step-up mouthpiece.

Bundy BP201 Unique Features

• hard plastic construction
• affordable step-up mouthpiece
• same stock mouthpiece that’s included with Bundy 1400 & 1401 clarinets

Expert Opinions of Bundy BP201

Bundy BP201 is above-average in terms of stock mouthpieces.

It may not be one that an expert would recommend but it’s not bad either. This clarinet mouthpiece is about equal to getting a cheap step-up mouthpiece.

8. D’Addario Reserve X5 Clarinet Mouthpiece

D’Addario Reserve X5 has remained one of the most highly recommended clarinet mouthpieces for the past century which is why this may cost a little over $100. It’s one of the few clarinet mouthpieces that hold onto the more vintage hard rubber construction. This beautifully crafted mouthpiece is ideal for all clarinetists from beginner to professional musicians.

D’Addario Reserve X5 Unique Features

• appropriate for clarinetists of all skill levels
• hard rubber construction
• amazing sound quality and response

Expert Opinions of D’Addario Reserve X5

A D’Addario Reserve clarinet mouthpiece is a longterm investment in the hobby.

It’s made to last for as long as you choose to play and there’s no need to worry about shattering this pricier mouthpiece due to the hard rubber construction.

This is a great choice for the devoted clarinetist no matter where you are in your journey at the time as it will save you from the constant mouthpiece upgrades that are usually needed as skill level advances.

9. Leblanc Vito II 2533P2V

Leblanc Vito 2533P2V is a quality student clarinet mouthpiece. For less than $40, this is an appropriate step-up mouthpiece for beginners to help produce a richer tone on the clarinet.

Leblanc Vito II 2533P2V Unique Features

• easy to play
• Face tip opening helps promote proper embouchure

Expert Opinions of Leblanc Vito II 2533P2V

Experts aren’t blown away with the Leblanc Vito II 2533P2V but they aren’t opposed to it either. It’s easy for beginners to play but there are higher quality mouthpieces available for lower prices.

10. Rico Smart Pak Clarinet Mouthpiece

The Rico Smart Pak is arguably the best choice for the aspiring clarinetist. It comes with a mouthpiece, ligature, mouthpiece cap, 2 reeds, cork grease, mouthpiece saver, and reed guard. This step-up mouthpiece gives you everything that’s needed to start with good habits and help your reeds last longer.

Rico Smart Pak Unique Features

• comes with all the necessary mouthpiece accessories and more
• quality step-up clarinet mouthpiece

Expert Opinions of Rico Smart Pak

Rico’s Smart Pak is an amazing value for the earliest of beginners in the clarinet world.

It comes with a quality step-up mouthpiece and accessories that many of the others may not get into good habits with. This may require early upgrading but owning these accessories alone is worth this price.

Considerations Before Purchasing A Clarinet Mouthpiece

There are many things to consider before choosing the best clarinet mouthpiece for your needs. More advanced players may need to consider things like facing and tip opening while these aren’t things that beginners can think about before getting more practice in. Beginners need to consider the sound quality they need and what they can afford.

Stock mouthpieces aren’t suitable for producing quality sound on the clarinet so it’s important to find a step-up mouthpiece or better before performing. It often makes practicing easier which is a great motivation.

Time To Buy

Now that you know what you need about the best clarinet mouthpieces, it’s time to pick the best one for you. The experts at Windy Sounds love the D’Addario Reserve because it’s designed to last you for life. It consistently produces quality sound that’s easy for all musicians to produce.

If the price tag of a D’Addario isn’t within the budget of a beginner, the Clark W Fobes Debut is a great alternative. It’ll last through the intermediate years and won’t need to be upgraded for quite a while. It’s an affordable clarinet mouthpiece that produces sound quality comparable to much more expensive alternatives.

All 10 of these mouthpieces are great choices so consider what you need the most before picking your new clarinet mouthpiece. The best choice for you is the one that fits all of your needs as a clarinetist