Rico by D'Addario Alto Sax Reeds, Strength 2.5, 10-pack

I got these for my son to use since he's been playing the Saxophone for 20+yrs. Here's his honest opinion: I grew up playing on Rico and Vandoren reeds. I like how the box is sealed and the individual reeds aren't. That's important because I want to be able to see each reed to look at the heart (the center) under the light. Out of the 10 reeds, I found 4 that I know would play perfectly and 6 that would play really good but may need some additional sanding to make the heart more even. Once I picked out the best reed I put it on and played a bit - I'm used to playing with a size 2 (I play for church so a little sound goes a long way) but it felt like a 2.5 should. Good sound - it gave me clarity and stability in both the upper and lower register. I was pleasantly surprised. For a beginner this is a good reed and I highly recommend the Rico brand!

Recommended by our band teacher. Holding up the best of any reed this year.

These reeds are excellent quality! My son has been practicing his sax all summer (much to the dismay of some of our neighbors...and his siblings) and seems to split or chip a reed very quickly. These have lasted longer than the others! I love that they come in a 10 pack so there is no need to rush to get a new one every few days, and the packaging they come in is nice. It is very sturdy and stands up well against everything shoved in a sax case! My son loves these reeds because they aren't to gritty on his youngest when he wets them and “they don't stick to your mouth like a paper straw” and while I don't play the sax I think we can all agree that paper straw stickiness is terrible. Overall I highly recommend!

My daughter is a 3rd year Alto Saxophone player for the school band. We choose the Rico unfiled reeds for her Alto Saxophone. These Rico Reeds can be bought in a wide range of strengths, from a 1.5 to a 4. With 1.5 being soft and the 4 being hard. The unfiled reed works great because it has more resistance, then a filed reed, making it easier to play then the files reeds. Which is a great choice for a new learning student or for the less experienced player. The 2.5 strength worked out great for her, and produced a good sound without using too much energy and air. We did soak the reed before using it/them. By soaking them, we soaked in warm water for about 3 To 4 minutes, this helps break them in quicker. I liked that each reed comes in an individual case. Therefore ensuring it's clean and they are plenty small enough that she can keep extra in her Saxophone case in case needed. The quality seems good, as of yet, we have only used one from the box of 10, and she practices daily.

Rico by D'Addario Alto Sax Reeds,Strength 2.5,10-pack are great for students and beginners like my Nephews who are in Orchastra.They are unfiled with a thinner profile and blank.These reeds are perfectly sized to create that perfect sound jazz musicians love and students love enjoying to learn using these reeds.

Product benefits: Ideal for students Designed for ease of play Priced affordably for educators and parents Available for full range of clarinets and saxophones Offered in 3-pack, 10-pack, 25-pack dispensers, and 50-count boxes I liked that the reed size wasn't too big or small, it was perfect for me, and the sound quality was great. I've tried a few other brands, even a synthetic reed, but to me, Rico's are just fine. They come a little rough, but nothing that a couple swipes of extra fine sandpaper won't take care of. You could pay more for reeds, but unless you're a professional player or play on a daily basis, then this is the deal for you!

In MY opinion, nothing will compare! These Rico Alto Sax Reeds are of excellent quality and there is NOTHING that I have found that would beat them! You can buy more expensive reeds but I can almost bet that they would not play as well these do, so why pay more when you can pay less and get the best! They are consistent, perfect for all levels whether you're starting out or an educator and the machinery is state of the art! The price is right and the quality is excellent! So yes, buy with confidence!

These are really good quality reeds. I have an alto saxophone and I've tired many reeds over the years. Although I don't have a favorite reed to use, the Rico reeds are very good quality. They vibrate well. They don't get too soggy when practicing for awhile, like cheaper brands tend to do. I'm pretty happy with these. The packaging is super nice as well. They exude luxury for some reason to me.

These are what his band teacher uses too

I ordered these for my son who plays the saxophone. Sound quality, design and strength are key and these reeds provide that. They are a bit pricey, but they are a higher quality than the lower cost ones. These reeds are even environmentally friendly!