🎵 BACKUN Alpha Plus Bb Clarinet — Real Grenadilla Wood for the First Steps to First Chair
The BACKUN Alpha Plus Bb Clarinet is a wooden student clarinet that blurs the line between educational and professional instruments. Its body is crafted from premium, unstained exotic grenadilla with integrated wooden tone holes, delivering a rich, warm sound from the very first notes. The Alpha Plus barrel and bell feature Lumière-styled metal rings — a design borrowed from BACKUN's flagship series, emphasising the kinship with professional models. From the first chair of the school orchestra to the concert stage — the Alpha Plus is made for those who take music seriously.
🎶 Sound Characteristics
Grenadilla (Dalbergia melanoxylon) is the legendary African hardwood from which the world's finest clarinets have been crafted for centuries. The BACKUN Alpha Plus uses aged, unstained grenadilla that reveals the natural warmth and depth of tone unique to this exceptional wood.
✔️ Rich, warm timbre — natural grenadilla delivers a deep, full sound with natural overtones unachievable with synthetic materials
✔️ Integrated wooden tone holes — cut directly into the wooden body without plastic inserts, preserving the acoustic integrity of the wood throughout
✔️ Balanced blowing resistance — the poly-cylindrical bore provides comfortable resistance that encourages developing proper air support, yet is free enough for advancing players
✔️ Soft note attack — custom leather pads provide a softer tonal attack compared to synthetic pads, adding elegance to the sound
🔧 Construction and Materials
The Alpha Plus is the next level up from the synthetic Alpha, designed for musicians ready for a real wooden clarinet. BACKUN employs advanced machining and finishing techniques to ensure consistent quality in every instrument.
✔️ Premium unstained grenadilla body — aged wood retains its natural colour and texture, demonstrating the quality of craftsmanship and the manufacturer's confidence in the material
✔️ Drop-forged and hardened keywork with triple-strike nickel plating — mechanism crafted through drop forging for maximum strength and durability even under intensive student use
✔️ Alpha Plus 65mm barrel with Lumière-styled metal rings — design borrowed from BACKUN's flagship series, providing enhanced sound projection and professional-level aesthetics
✔️ Alpha Plus bell with Lumière-styled metal rings — harmoniously complements the barrel, creating a unified visual and acoustic ensemble
✔️ 100% compatibility with BACKUN accessories — unlike the synthetic Alpha, the Alpha Plus is fully compatible with all BACKUN barrels (Lumière, Protégé, etc.) without any fitting adjustments
⚙️ Mechanics and Ergonomics
The Alpha Plus mechanics combine professional quality with ergonomic design created for the comfort of both beginners and advancing musicians:
✔️ Adjustable thumb rest with neck strap ring — adapts to hands of all sizes for comfortable extended playing
✔️ Traditional flat springs — provide reliable and predictable key action
✔️ Removable left-hand Eb key (optional) — available in the silver-plated version for added convenience
✔️ Water-resistant leather pads — custom black leather pads ensure durability and a soft tonal attack
✔️ Ergonomic key placement — optimised for ideal finger positioning and the development of good playing habits
📊 Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
| Key | Bb |
| System | Boehm (French), 17 keys |
| Body | Premium unstained exotic grenadilla |
| Tone Holes | Integrated wooden |
| Bore | Poly-cylindrical |
| Keywork | Drop-forged and hardened, triple-strike nickel plating |
| Springs | Traditional flat |
| Pads | Custom black leather (water-resistant) |
| Barrel | Alpha Plus 65mm with Lumière-styled metal rings |
| Bell | Alpha Plus with Lumière-styled metal rings |
| Thumb Rest | Adjustable + neck strap ring |
| Removable Left-Hand Eb Key | Optional (silver version only) |
| BACKUN Barrel Compatibility | ✔️ 100% compatible |
| Manufacturing | 🇨🇦 Backun Musical Services, Canada |
📦 Included
✔️ Alpha Plus 65mm Barrel with Lumière-styled metal rings
✔️ Alpha Plus Bell with Lumière-styled metal rings
✔️ Backun Hardshell or Backpack Case
✔️ Protégé Mouthpiece Kit (Backun Protégé mouthpiece, Rovner Dark ligature, cap, Légère Signature reed 2.25)
✔️ Cleaning swab
✔️ Cork grease
✔️ Backun Warranty
🎯 Who Is the BACKUN Alpha Plus For
✔️ Students ready for a real wooden clarinet — a natural step up from synthetic models to grenadilla, unlocking the full potential of the sound
✔️ Advancing musicians — balanced resistance and free-blowing response allow growing with the instrument from beginner to advanced player
✔️ School and youth orchestra members — professional sound quality that doesn't get lost in the ensemble and ensures precise intonation
✔️ Parents looking for a long-term investment — quality grenadilla and full compatibility with BACKUN accessories means the instrument grows with the musician
✔️ Educators recommending instruments to students — the BACKUN Alpha Plus is playable right out of the box and requires no expensive initial setup
🏆 Comparison: BACKUN Alpha Plus vs Alpha vs Competitors
| Feature | BACKUN Alpha Plus | BACKUN Alpha | Yamaha YCL-255 | Buffet Prodige |
| Body Material | 🌳 Grenadilla | Proprietary synthetic | ABS plastic | ABS plastic |
| Tone Holes | Wooden | Synthetic | Plastic | Plastic |
| Pads | Leather (water-resistant) | Valentino | Standard | Standard |
| Barrel Rings | Lumière-style | Ringless | Standard | Standard |
| BACKUN Barrel Compatibility | ✔️ 100% | ⚠️ Limited | ❌ | ❌ |
| Mouthpiece Included | ✔️ Protégé Kit | ✔️ Protégé Kit | ✔️ 4C | ✔️ Prodige |
| Reed Included | ✔️ Légère Signature | — | — | — |
🏭 About BACKUN Musical Services
🇨🇦 BACKUN Musical Services is a Canadian premium clarinet manufacturer based in Burnaby, British Columbia. The company was founded by Morrie Backun, who started with a small woodwind repair shop and created the first BACKUN barrel from exotic cocobolo wood. Today, BACKUN is a recognised leader in the clarinet world. The Alpha Plus series embodies the company's philosophy: every student deserves an instrument made from genuine grenadilla, crafted to professional standards.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How does the Alpha Plus differ from the synthetic Alpha?
The Alpha Plus features a premium unstained grenadilla body instead of synthetic material. This provides a deeper, warmer sound with natural wood overtones. Additionally, the Alpha Plus comes with leather pads (instead of Valentino), a barrel and bell with Lumière-styled rings, and full compatibility with all BACKUN barrels.
Why is grenadilla considered the best material for clarinets?
Grenadilla (Dalbergia melanoxylon) is a dense African hardwood with unique acoustic properties. It provides a rich, warm timbre with complex overtones and excellent resonance across the entire range. The world's finest clarinets have been made from this wood for centuries.
Does a wooden clarinet require special care?
Yes, a wooden clarinet requires more attention than a synthetic one. Always swab the bore after playing, avoid sudden temperature changes, store in a case, and periodically oil the bore. BACKUN uses aged grenadilla, which reduces the risk of cracking.
Can BACKUN Lumière barrels be used with the Alpha Plus?
Yes! Unlike the synthetic Alpha, the Alpha Plus is fully compatible with all BACKUN barrels — Lumière, Protégé, MoBa, and others. This makes the Alpha Plus an excellent platform for future upgrades: the barrel can even be transferred to your next clarinet.
Why is the wood unstained?
Unstained grenadilla demonstrates BACKUN's confidence in the wood quality and craftsmanship. The natural colour showcases the genuine texture and quality of the material. The absence of stain also means the wood breathes more naturally, positively affecting acoustic properties.
What's included in the Protégé Mouthpiece Kit?
The kit includes a newly designed BACKUN Protégé mouthpiece, Rovner Dark ligature with cap, and a Légère Signature Series synthetic reed (strength 2.25). It's a complete setup for playing straight out of the box without needing additional accessories.
What level is the Alpha Plus suitable for?
The Alpha Plus is designed for beginners through intermediate players. The balanced bore provides enough resistance to encourage developing proper air support, yet is free enough for more experienced performers. The instrument grows with the student.
How do leather pads differ from synthetic ones?
The Alpha Plus leather pads provide a softer tonal attack and more natural playing feel compared to synthetic Valentino pads. They are also water-resistant, ensuring long service life. Leather pads are the standard on professional clarinets.
🚚 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
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