Backun Musical Services

Name

Backun Musical Services

Legal name

Backun Musical Services

Website

https://backunmusical.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Musical Instruments - Clarinets

NAICS

Musical Instrument Manufacturing (339992), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140)

SIC

Musical Instruments (3931)

akta.pro primary industry

Musical Instruments (Acoustic & Electric) (MPAIAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio Accessories & Consumables (Cables, Stands, Cases, Strings, Picks, Heads) (MPAIAJAF), Instrument Repair, Maintenance & Luthier Services (CRALAEAF), Online-Only Musical Instrument & Sheet Music Retail (CRALAEAI)

Keywords

• Clarinet manufacturing
• Woodwind instruments
• Clarinet accessories
• Musical instrument making
• Bass clarinet production

Headquarters

HQ city

Burnaby

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Clarinet Sales: Direct sales of handcrafted clarinets ranging from student models (Alpha series starting at $1,835) to professional (Q Series at $4,370) to custom instruments (Lumière at $10,285). Also includes bass clarinets.
2. Accessory Sales: Sales of clarinet accessories including barrels, bells, mouthpieces, reeds, cases, and care kits. Products range from $35 (Wood Care Kit) to $365 (Bass Clarinet Mouthpieces).
3. Laskey Mouthpiece Sales: Sales of Laskey Mouthpieces - a sister brand bringing professional mouthpiece products to brass players, sold alongside Backun clarinet products as part of the Eastman Music Company portfolio.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Backun Musical Services designs, manufactures, and sells professional and student clarinets, bass clarinets, barrels, bells, mouthpieces, and related accessories under its own brand portfolio (Backun, Lumière, Alpha, Essence, MoBa, Protégé, Vocalise). The company sells direct to consumers through its e-commerce site and supports a global dealer network serving orchestral musicians, students, and educators.

Product overview

Backun Musical Services is a family-owned Canadian company based in Vancouver, BC, specializing in handcrafted clarinet products. The product portfolio spans from custom through student models, including clarinets (Lumière, Essence, Q Series, Protégé, Alpha, Alpha Plus), barrels (Fatboy, Essence, Lumière), bells (MoBa, Essence, Lumière), mouthpieces (Vocalise, Signature Series including Kohán and Hawkins), reeds, cases, and accessories. The company also represents Laskey Mouthpieces for brass players. Products are manufactured in North America, primarily in Canada, using materials including grenadilla wood, cocobolo wood, carbon fibre, and proprietary synthetic blends. The company operates as part of Eastman Music Company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alpha: Student clarinet line with synthetic bodies, available in Bb and A configurations
• Lumière
• MoBa
• Protégé
• Vocalise
• Essence
• Laskey

Products and services

• Lumière Bb Clarinet Flagship custom professional Bb clarinet aimed at elite orchestral players and soloists, handcrafted in the Backun workshop.
• Essence Collection Clarinet Newly introduced clarinet model from the Essence collection, a performance-grade wooden clarinet line for advancing and professional players.
• Alpha A Clarinet Student/intermediate-level clarinet in the Alpha line, designed for developing players seeking Backun craftsmanship at an accessible price.
• Alpha Plus A Clarinet Enhanced Alpha A clarinet variant with upgraded features for advancing students and intermediate players.
• Protégé Bb Clarinet
• Vocalise Clarinet Mouthpiece Hard-rubber clarinet mouthpiece in Backun's signature line, aimed at orchestral clarinetists seeking refined tone and response.
• Kohán Signature Bb Mouthpiece Artist signature Bb clarinet mouthpiece developed with principal clarinetist Kohán, targeted at professional orchestral players.
• Hawkins Signature Bass Clarinet Mouthpiece Artist signature bass clarinet mouthpiece developed with orchestral bass clarinetist Hawkins, designed for professional players.
• Fatboy Barrels Premium wooden clarinet barrels sold as aftermarket performance upgrades that influence intonation and tonal color.
• MoBa Bells Aftermarket wooden clarinet bells from the MoBa line, designed to retrofit existing clarinets for tonal customization.
• Légère European Cut Bb Clarinet Reeds Synthetic cane-replacement European cut Bb clarinet reeds distributed through Backun, suitable for professional and student clarinetists.
• Backpack Clarinet Case Backpack-style protective carrying case for clarinet, designed for portability for students, professional musicians, and travelers.
• Backun Wood Care Kit Maintenance kit for wooden clarinet bodies, including products needed to clean and condition grenadilla or other hardwood instruments.
• Anthony McGill Signature Bb Mouthpiece Artist signature Bb clarinet mouthpiece developed with Anthony McGill, principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic, targeted at professional orchestral clarinetists.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14-day test drive return policy allows customers to try products risk-free
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Eastman Music CompanycoreOthersParent company of Backun Musical Services. As part of Eastman Music Company, Backun serves dealers, artist educators, and end-users on a global scale. Eastman is a major music instrument company that owns multiple instrument brands.
• Laskey MouthpiecescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister brand under the Backun/Eastman umbrella bringing professional mouthpiece products to brass players. The Brand Ambassador role represents both Backun and Laskey brands. Together they offer complete product lines for woodwind and brass players built with the same standard of care.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vandoren: French manufacturer of clarinet reeds, mouthpieces, and accessories — direct competitor to Backun's Vocalise mouthpiece line and the dominant reed/accessory brand among professional clarinetists. Materially comparable as a clarinet accessory specialist targeting the same pros.
• Buffet Crampon: Historic French manufacturer of professional clarinets (E13, R13, Divine), the dominant global premium clarinet brand. Directly competes with Backun's Lumière, Essence, and Q Series at the professional and intermediate tiers, serving the same orchestral and serious student segments.
• Légère Reeds: Canadian synthetic reed manufacturer whose European Cut reeds are sold through Backun's store. Trades adjacent to Backun's mouthpiece/accessory ecosystem and competes for the same professional clarinetists' discretionary spending.
• Selmer Paris (Henri Selmer Paris): Legendary French clarinet manufacturer (and full woodwind line) whose signature Reference 54, Privilege, and Recital clarinets are the benchmark against which Backun's Lumière and Essence compete directly. Closest analog on acoustic French-style professional design.

Emerging players

• Marigaux: French oboe and clarinet manufacturer serving professional and intermediate players; smaller and more niche than Buffet or Selmer but comparable in handcrafted European professional design philosophy to Backun's Lumière offering.
• Ridenour (Ridenour Musical Products): Small US clarinet and barrel/mouthpiece manufacturer focused on intermediate/professional clarinets with proprietary bore designs. Closest emerging niche competitor to Backun's Q Series and Lumière lines in the North American handmade clarinet market.

Broad incumbents

• Yamaha (Yamaha Corporation): Japanese instrument conglomerate producing clarinets (YCL-CSG, YCL-650) at student through professional levels, with massive global distribution and music education brand pull. Competes with Backun's Alpha, Protégé, and Q Series across all tiers and price points.
• Jupiter Band Instruments (KHS America): Mid-market student and intermediate band instrument manufacturer (Jupiter, Azumi, XO) competing with Backun's Alpha and Protégé student lines in school band programs and music retail.
• D'Addario Woodwinds (Rico): Major global reed and woodwind accessory manufacturer (Rico, Reserve, Vandoren-acquired parent). Overlaps with Backun's reed/barrel/accessory business and competes with Légère (sold via Backun) in the synthetic reed space.

Others

• Backun Musical Services is part of Eastman Music Company; see also: Buffet Crampon (the historic French parent company group): Note: this is a duplicate/ placeholder intended only to be used if a second-tier parent-peer is needed.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/backunmusical
• Facebookfacebook.com/backunmusical

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Backun Musical Services