🎵 BACKUN Protégé Bb Clarinet — Your Ticket into the World of Professional Playing
The BACKUN Protégé Bb Clarinet is your foot in the door to professional clarinets. Designed as the ideal instrument for college admission or the perfect teaching companion, the Protégé combines the very best of BACKUN: undercut tone holes for impeccable intonation, the legendary New Traditional barrel and Backun Bell, and a professional-grade finish and setup. Available in two wood options — grenadilla or cocobolo — with silver or gold key plating, the Protégé delivers an impressive list of features at an even more impressive price.
🎶 Sound Characteristics
The Protégé is a clarinet with a dark, full-bodied sound that impresses even experienced musicians. Undercut tone holes and the legendary New Traditional barrel form the characteristic BACKUN voice: warm, flexible, and with impeccable intonation.
✔️ Dark, full-bodied sound — naturally-aged grenadilla (or cocobolo) with professional finishing delivers a deep, rich timbre characteristic of top-tier BACKUN instruments
✔️ Undercut tone holes — the key difference from the Beta: undercutting improves ventilation, increases the effective diameter of tone holes, and yields impeccable intonation with improved response across the entire range
✔️ New Traditional barrel — one of BACKUN's earliest innovations: an exotic wood barrel with integrated wooden rings (no metal!) delivering heightened response, even articulation, and rich tone
✔️ Backun Bell — provides a bigger sound and improves response, especially in the low register. The absence of metal rings eliminates rattling and unwanted buzzing
🔧 Construction and Materials
The BACKUN Protégé stands apart from the Beta and Alpha Plus with an advanced degree of finishing and setup designed for accomplished players. Every instrument receives professional preparation before shipping.
✔️ Premium unstained grenadilla or cocobolo — two exotic wood options. Grenadilla delivers a classic dark tone; cocobolo offers a warmer, sweeter character. Both come from the same stock as BACKUN's custom models
✔️ Professional-level finishing and setup — the advanced degree of finishing and setup for accomplished players is what sets the Protégé apart from all junior models in the range
✔️ Drop-forged and hardened keywork with triple-strike plating — available in silver or gold, applied using the triple-strike method for maximum durability and aesthetics
✔️ Poly-cylindrical bore — delivers even intonation and balanced tone with optimal projection
✔️ Custom leather pads — black leather pads for water resistance, durability, and soft tonal attack
⚙️ Mechanics and Ergonomics
✔️ Adjustable thumb rest with neck strap ring — provides personalised comfort during extended performances and rehearsals
✔️ Traditional flat springs — reliable key action for precise control
✔️ Removable left-hand Eb key — optional for added convenience
✔️ Metal-ring-free barrel and bell — the New Traditional and Backun Bell feature integrated wooden rings instead of metal ones, eliminating rattle risk and unnecessary repair costs
📊 Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
| Key | Bb |
| Level | Professional (Step-up / Performance) |
| System | Boehm (French), 17 keys |
| Body | Premium unstained grenadilla or cocobolo |
| Tone Holes | Undercut |
| Bore | Poly-cylindrical |
| Keywork | Drop-forged and hardened, triple-strike plating (silver or gold) |
| Springs | Traditional flat |
| Pads | Custom black leather (water-resistant) |
| Thumb Rest | Adjustable + neck strap ring |
| Removable Left-Hand Eb Key | Optional |
| Barrel | New Traditional 65mm (integrated wooden rings) |
| Bell | Backun Bell (integrated wooden rings) |
| Weight | ≈ 741 g |
| Mouthpiece | ❌ Not included |
| Manufacturing | 🇨🇦 Backun Musical Services, Canada |
📦 Included
✔️ New Traditional 65mm Barrel
✔️ Backun Bell
✔️ Backun Backpack Case
✔️ Cleaning swab
✔️ Cork grease
✔️ Backun Warranty
⚠️ Mouthpiece not included — this allows musicians to choose a mouthpiece that suits their preferences and playing style
🎯 Who Is the BACKUN Protégé For
✔️ College / conservatory admission — the Protégé is designed as the ideal instrument for auditions and study at a professional level
✔️ Music educators — a reliable working instrument with professional sound and durable construction for daily use
✔️ Advanced musicians — your entry into the world of professional BACKUN clarinets with undercut tone holes and the New Traditional barrel
✔️ Orchestral and chamber musicians — dark, full-bodied sound with excellent projection and impeccable intonation
✔️ Those seeking the best value in the professional segment — serious professional clarinet characteristics at an accessible price
🏆 Comparison within the BACKUN Range
| Feature | BACKUN Beta | BACKUN Protégé | BACKUN Q Series |
| Level | Intermediate | Professional | Professional+ |
| Tone Holes | Standard | Undercut | Undercut + Overcut |
| Barrel | Beta | New Traditional | New Traditional |
| Key Plating | Nickel / Silver | Silver / Gold | Silver / Gold |
| Wood Choice | Grenadilla | Grenadilla or Cocobolo | Grenadilla or Cocobolo |
| Inline Trill Keys | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Carbon Fibre Ring | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Mouthpiece Included | ✔️ Protégé Kit | ❌ Not included | ❌ Not included |
| Weight | 743 g | 741 g | 744 g |
🏭 About BACKUN Musical Services
🇨🇦 BACKUN Musical Services is a Canadian premium clarinet manufacturer based in Burnaby, British Columbia. Founder Morrie Backun started with a small woodwind repair shop. He was once asked to overhaul a clarinet with a missing barrel, so he crafted a new one from exotic cocobolo wood — thus creating the very first Backun barrel. Today BACKUN is a recognised leader in the clarinet world, inspiring players of all levels. The Protégé series embodies the brand's philosophy: professional quality should not be out of reach.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How does the Protégé differ from the Beta?
The Protégé is a step from intermediate to professional level. Key differences: undercut tone holes for impeccable intonation, the New Traditional barrel with integrated wooden rings instead of the standard Beta barrel, professional-level finishing and setup, the choice between silver and gold plating, and between grenadilla and cocobolo wood.
What are undercut tone holes?
Undercutting is a technique where the inner edge of the tone hole is bevelled at an angle. This improves ventilation, increases the effective diameter of the hole, and improves intonation on problematic notes. Undercut tone holes are a hallmark of professional-level clarinets.
What is special about the New Traditional barrel?
The New Traditional is one of BACKUN's earliest and most celebrated innovations. Unlike standard barrels with metal rings, the New Traditional features integrated wooden rings. This eliminates metal rattling, improves response, evens out articulation, and enriches the tone.
Why is a mouthpiece not included?
At a professional level, mouthpiece selection is a highly personal decision that depends on the musician's embouchure, playing style, and reed preferences. BACKUN deliberately omits the mouthpiece so players can choose the optimal option for themselves.
Grenadilla or cocobolo — which wood to choose?
Grenadilla delivers a classic dark, focused tone with excellent projection — the choice for orchestral and classical playing. Cocobolo offers a slightly warmer, sweeter, more "woody" character with a softer attack — the choice for chamber music and those seeking a unique voice.
Is the Protégé suitable for auditions?
Yes, the Protégé is designed precisely for this purpose. BACKUN positions it as the ideal instrument for college or conservatory admission. Undercut tone holes ensure impeccable intonation, while the New Traditional barrel and Backun Bell deliver a professional sound.
Is the Protégé compatible with MoBa and Lumière barrels?
Yes, the Protégé is fully compatible with all BACKUN barrels and bells. You can replace the New Traditional with a MoBa or Lumière for further fine-tuning of the sound.
What is the difference between silver and gold plating?
The sound is identical. Silver offers a classic look and excellent contrast with the dark wood. Gold is a striking aesthetic choice that may also slightly alter the tactile feel. Both options feature triple-strike plating for maximum durability.
🚚 Shipping and Payment
✅ Free shipping across Ukraine from 4000 UAH
🚚 Nova Poshta — 1-3 days across Ukraine
💳 Pay in installments — Monobank, PrivatBank
✅ Official warranty from BACKUN
🇨🇦 Made in Canada — BACKUN instruments
SoundsGood — your trusted partner in the world of musical instruments. Shipping across all of Ukraine: Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and more.
🎵 Order the BACKUN Protégé Bb Clarinet at SoundsGood — your ticket into the world of professional playing! 🎶
