Material differences for Clarinet and Oboe.
What is the difference between wood and plastic clarinets or oboes?
Most advanced or professional clarinets and oboes are made out of Grenadilla wood. Grenadilla has a beautiful sound that only wood can create. Wood is very sensitive and these instruments need proper care and maintenance to last a long time. Exposing a wood instrument to any extreme climate conditions or temperatures could cause the instrument to crack or split.
Plastic clarinets sound fantastic. We recommend plastic clarinets for students because they are much more durable than wood, and easier to maintain. They can withstand humidity and temperature changes, and will not crack.