When it comes to reeds, there are a lot of options available to play and it can be overwhelming at times. Most beginners play on the Vandoren Traditional (blue box) but there is a wide variety of options available. You should try out different kinds of reeds to find what works best for you.
Known for the wide variety of high quality reeds, Rico by D’Addario has a reed for every type of performer. If you were curious about the qualities that make each reed different from one another, this guide can help you in making your next reed decision! Rico by D’Addario Rico by D’Addario reeds are unfiled and feature a thinner profile and blank. Designed for ease of response, they are ideal for students, revered by educators worldwide, and are a favorite among jazz musicians. D’Addario’s state-of-the-art machinery and reed-making process have resulted in unprecedented consistency in today’s Rico reed. Royal by D’Addario Royal by D’Addario reeds are filed and feature a thinner profile and blank. They are ideal for students and advancing players, and are revered by educators worldwide. Royal reeds offer ease of response and increased clarity in the sound. D’Addario’s state-of-the-art machinery and reed-making process have resulted in unprecedented consistency in today’s Royal reed. Reserve A premium, filed reed that offers a rich, warm tone, a heavy spine that promotes dynamic flexibility, and exceptional tone quality in all registers, a long vamp profile to produce consistency of response, and a traditional tip thickness for ease of articulation. Grand Concert
Rico by D’Addario Rico by D’Addario reeds are unfiled and feature a thinner profile and blank. Designed for ease of response, they are ideal for students, revered by educators worldwide, and are a favorite among jazz musicians. D’Addario’s state-of-the-art machinery and reed-making process have resulted in unprecedented consistency in today’s Rico reed.
One of the questions we frequently receive is “which reed is best for me?” Vandoren has forged a reputation as an elite maker of quality reeds for clarinet and saxophone that work right out of the box. Each type of reed is designed with a specific sound quality in mind. If you were wondering what each reed is designed for, here is a detailed description for each type of reed! “Classical” Reeds Traditional This reed is designed to produce a quality, extremely pure sound due to a very thin reed tip (the area of reed with maximum vibration), balanced by a solid vertebral column (more cane in the area which climbs gradually to the heel). Traditionals feature the thinnest tip with the thickest heart, resulting in crisp articulation with a full, dark sound.
