The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word REEDED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
R
E
E
D
E
D
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "as clarinet and saxophone" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case as clarinet and saxophone = reeded.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does REEDED mean?
REEDED adjective- Covered with reeds; reedy.
- Formed with channels and ridges like reeds, as the edge of a coin.
- To thatch.
- To mill or mint with reeding.