No two clarinets play exactly alike, even if they’re from the same production line, same model, same year. It’s essential to feel the differences before you invest.
RMS ships two clarinets of your chosen model, each hand-selected and fully optimized in our workshop, so you can make your selection with the same care a symphony musician would.
When families order a clarinet from a big-box retailer, they receive whichever instrument happens to ship. If the clarinet is not responsive, mechanisms not adjusted properly or intonation is significantly off, there’s no easy fix.
A trial exists to prevent that entire scenario. Two instruments, played side by side, give you the option of choosing the best that fits you.
We hand-select strong candidates at the factory, optimize them in our workshop, and ship them to your door. Five days of comparison in your own acoustical environment tells you everything you need to know.
Browse and request
Find your model in our shop and submit a Request a Trial form. We will follow up with information for your trial deposit and help you schedule a trial window that works with your calendar.
Compare both instruments
Two hand-selected, fully optimized clarinets of your chosen model arrive at your door via insured UPS. Play them under real conditions: lessons, rehearsals, solo practice. Five days should give you enough time to hear the differences.
Keep your favorite
Let us know which clarinet you're keeping. We can provide a discounted, fully insured return label for the other instrument, and you can then drop the package off at any UPS Store. Your deposit applies to the clarinet you chose.
Before we ship, we collect a deposit equal to the price of the most expensive instrument in your trial, plus one-way shipping via insured UPS Ground or 2nd day air. Deposits can be made by credit card, financing through our lending partners, or wire transfer. The deposit applies to your purchase price once you make your selection.
Trials run five days from delivery. Schedule your trial around your lesson or rehearsal calendar so you can evaluate both instruments under real playing conditions.
In the unlikely event both instruments are returned, your deposit is refunded less the cost of return shipping and a 3% restocking fee. This is rare—most players identify a clear preference within the first few sessions. All sales are final after selection.
We welcome in-person trial appointments at our Atlanta-area studio. Since each appointment is tailored to the specific instruments you’re interested in, we ask that all visits are scheduled in advance.
Most models in our inventory are trial-eligible, including the Buffet R13, Festival, Tradition, Gala, and Backun Q Series, among others. Student and intermediate models—like the Backun Alpha Plus and Buffet E12F—are available as buy-now instruments and ship directly, fully prepared and ready to play. Trials are reserved for models where players benefit most from a side-by-side comparison. Each product page in our shop indicates whether a model is available for trial or direct purchase.
Your deposit can be paid by credit card, wire transfer, or through one of our financing partners—Synchrony Bank or United Midwest Savings Bank. If you finance, the deposit loan covers the trial period. Once you select your clarinet, the financing applies to your purchase. If both instruments are returned, the loan is canceled with no separate loan fee and shipping/re-stocking fees can be paid via credit card link. You can find financing applications on our financing page.
You can contact us to request another day or two if you need more time for your trial. If it is possible to accommodate the request, we will.
