Clarinet
Yamaha YCL-CSVR
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The Yamaha YCL-CSVR is a professional-grade Custom-series Bb/A grenadilla clarinet developed with a clearly focused goal: a beautiful, consistent Custom instrument at a more accessible price than the very top tier, praised by players for free-blowing response and intonation that stands up directly against far pricier French competitors.
About the Yamaha YCL-CSVR
The CSVR uses Yamaha's Boehm fingering system with 17 keys and 6 rings, built around a grenadilla wood body chosen for its dense grain and moisture resistance. A custom 65mm barrel targets a clean, focused tone, while tapered tone holes that are hand-undercut are tuned for optimal intonation across the range. The bell is also grenadilla, fitted with a pressure-fitted solid nickel silver ring, and the silver-plated nickel silver keys carry a notably thick plating that supports richer expressive range, particularly when played at louder dynamics. Pads are Lucien deluxe double-skin construction, chosen for both their tonal richness and a buzz-free feel in play. An adjustable thumb rest, a 4CM mouthpiece and a case come included as standard.
Where to buy
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Source: https://reverb.com/item/99661889-yamaha-ycl-csvr-custom-bb-clarinet-2010s-black
Sound character of the Yamaha YCL-CSVR
Dense grenadilla construction and a custom 65mm barrel deliver a warm, resonant and exceptionally present tone, with rich expressive range that holds up particularly well at louder dynamics without losing its focus.
What owners of the Yamaha YCL-CSVR say
Feedback across dealers and players is overwhelmingly positive, with the most striking praise comparing the CSVR favorably against the much pricier Buffet R13 - players describe it as fluid, flexible and remarkably in tune with a big, warm, sweet sound, framing it as outperforming that French benchmark at a fraction of the cost. Customer reviews reinforce this with consistent mentions of excellent build quality and an even tone across the full range. No significant criticisms turned up in the sources checked.
Playability & handling of the Yamaha YCL-CSVR
Yamaha developed the CSVR around a clearly focused concept: crafting a Custom clarinet with beautiful sound and consistent quality at a genuinely affordable price, carefully refined to give players what reviewers describe as unrivalled freedom of expression. Several design changes specifically target the dynamic range players wanted - rich expressive capability and exceptional tonal presence whether played softly or at full volume. Reviewers rate it among the most free-blowing clarinets available and note it performs well at ClarinetFest, the major clarinet industry event. One widely quoted player review calls the instrument fluid, flexible, remarkably in tune, with a big, fat, sweet sound - and goes as far as judging it superior to a Buffet R13 at roughly half the price, a comparison that echoes the value positioning Yamaha has used for its professional clarinets for decades. Customer feedback consistently backs this up, citing excellent quality and an even, consistent tone across the entire range.
Recommended accessories & strings for the Yamaha YCL-CSVR
The included 4CM mouthpiece and case cover immediate playability without extra purchases, though serious players may eventually experiment with a different mouthpiece to fine-tune their sound. As a wooden clarinet, regular oiling and a careful break-in period help protect the grenadilla body from cracking.
Technical data for the Yamaha YCL-CSVR
| Key | Bb/A |
|---|---|
| System | Boehm, 17 keys, 6 rings |
| Body | Grenadilla wood |
| Bell | Grenadilla with solid nickel silver ring |
| Keys | Silver-plated nickel silver, thick plating |
| Barrel | 65mm |
| Tone holes | Tapered, hand-undercut |
| Pads | Lucien deluxe double-skin |
| Mouthpiece | 4CM included |
| Case | Included |
Price history for the Yamaha YCL-CSVR
Cheapest seen: – · Most expensive seen: –
Cheapest seen
Most expensive seen
The history of the Yamaha YCL-CSVR
Part of Yamaha's Custom V series of professional clarinets, the CSVR targets advanced players who want Yamaha's engineering-driven ergonomic refinements alongside a deliberately darker tonal profile.
About Yamaha as a manufacturer
Yamaha entered the wind instrument business in 1966 with the YTR-1 trumpet, adding clarinets to its lineup over the following few years, with the Custom-series YCL-81 and YCL-85 launching in 1974 and the professional YCL-62 following later that decade - a model already positioned as a serious, more affordable alternative to the Buffet R13. The CSVR carries that same strategy forward into Yamaha's modern Custom line: a clearly stated goal of matching top-tier sound and consistency at a price that undercuts the very highest end, continuing a value proposition Yamaha has built its clarinet reputation on for decades.