In designing the Thomann GCL-416 Bb junior clarinet, our in-house instrument makers have taken a very special approach. The focus is entirely, and very genuinely, on nurturing young children's musical talent, and the aim is to provide kids – and their supremely supportive parents, of course – with an instrument tailored to the specific needs of smaller, younger children. To that end, the Junior Bb Clarinet features a child-friendly, simplified key mechanism with only 16 keys – clarinets usally have between 18 and 22 keys. The adjustable thumb rest allows the instrument to "grow" with its owner, at least in ergonomic terms. Put simply, this is a well-designed clarinet in every way, one that will in no way hinder the progress of young musicians in learning their instrument the "right way" – both from their own perspective and from that of their parents and teachers.
The Thomann GCL-416 Junior Clarinet is made entirely from natural, untreated grenadilla wood, so there's absolutely no difference in the quality of the materials used here compared to "adult" instruments. Another big plus when it comes to this clarinet is the comprehensive set of accessories it ships with, which allows players to get started with no further ado. Alongside the clarinet itself, the GCL-416 comes with two barrels and a whole raft of brand-name parts: A mouthpiece made in Germany by ESM, a GF ligature, and a thumb cushion from BG France, as well as cleaning tools like a swab and a microfibre polishing cloth. The accessory set is rounded out with bite pads, cork grease, and a luxury lightweight case with practical backpack-style carrying straps.
The Thomann GCL-416 junior Bb clarinet is aimed squarely at young musicians. Every aspect of its design – from its dimensions to the accessories it comes with – is tailor-made for smaller and less-experienced clarinettists. Both in its size and its capabilities, it's specifically intended not to overwhelm even the most ambitious or easily discouraged kids, and it is well-suited to all children from the age of around six or seven. The GCL-416 has also proven popular and effective in music schools and ensembles, where it gives motivated young players access to a really high-quality, attractive, and reliable instrument. Equally, parents who want to encourage their children's love of music early on will find a lot to like about this model. When it comes to ensuring that enthusiastic young learners aren't disappointed, and that time isn't wasted waiting years for hands and fingers to grow into a full-sized instrument, the Thomann GCL-416 junior Bb clarinet is a genuine solution.
Thomann-brand instruments, which are exclusively built by renowned manufacturers, now constitute a large part of Thomann's product range alongside numerous big-name brands. With unbeatable price-performance ratios, Thomann wind instruments are the obvious first choice for students and beginners – and others too. The technical features and uncompromising sound quality they offer are usually reserved for much more expensive instruments found in the professional market segment.
Clarinets use fundamentally different systems, which primarily means the mechanism or keywork – musicians commonly distinguish between the German system and the French system, the latter also being known as the Boehm system (yes, the French system has a German-sounding name!). The biggest difference lies in the so-called forked fingerings on the German clarinet, which some beginners find a bit tricky at first, although even young players usually get to grips with it pretty quickly. The sound of the two systems also differs: The clarinet with German fingering is known for its pleasant, warm tone, which is especially favoured in the German-speaking world and the Alpine region in general. This characteristic sound results from the instrument's slightly narrower bore, as well as the fact that the German-style mouthpiece has a longer facing.