Reeds are important for any saxophone player. These reeds affect the resistance and the tone of your alto saxophone. In addition to this, without these reeds, your performance could also be affected depending on the product that you are going to choose. If you are serious in your music and in improving your talent, you should only resort to the best alto saxophone reeds.Because of the surge of players in need of alto saxophone reeds, it could be difficult for you to find the ideal product to suit your taste. On this article, we are going to identify ten of the best alto saxophone reeds in the market. In addition to this, we will list down the characteristics which each of the products possesses. This way, you will be able to narrow down your options.

What to Look for in Alto Saxophone Reeds

Identifying the different characteristics which the best alto saxophone reeds have should be the first thing to do as a player. This way, you would be able to choose the perfect reed that would be able to suit your needs and your style. At the same time, your instrument would not be tarnished too. The following are two of the features that you should look for when picking the best alto saxophone reeds.

Compatibility with the Mouthpiece

One of the first things that you have to consider when picking the ideal reed is whether it is compatible with the alto saxophone mouthpiece or not. Hence, you should be familiar with your mouthpiece. The reason behind this is that, your reed cannot play to its full potential if it does not fit well with your mouthpiece. You should note that harder reeds would work better with mouthpieces with narrow tip openings. On the other hand, softer reeds would work better with mouthpieces with a wider tip opening.

Reed Strength

As a saxophone player, you may also want to note of the strength of the reed. Reed strength refers to the softness or hardness of the reed. This typically associated with the density of the reed. As the number of the strength increases, the reed hardness increases as well. You should note that there is no standard strength to be used. The choice for the hardness or softness of the reed would vary depending on your preference as a player.

The features which were mentioned above are just some of the key features that you should take into consideration when picking the best alto saxophone reeds. It is worth noting that the end choice will still be dependent on your preference as the player.

All Alto Saxophone Reeds

1. Vandoren SR213 Alto Sax Traditional Reeds

The first product on our list is the Vandoren SR213 Alto Sax Traditional Reeds. These are traditional reeds which are known for their excellent response, allowing a pianissimo attack even when playing the highest notes. This set of reeds is flexible, allowing the staccato or legato execution of large intervals while maintaining the richness of the tone. This richness gives body and clarity to the sound. Such reed has a strength of three. It comes in a box of ten.

Vandoren SR213 Alto Sax Traditional Reeds - Best Alto Saxophone Reeds

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2. Rico by D’Addario RJA1025 Alto Sax Reeds

The Rico by D’Addario RJA1025 Alto Sax Reeds would also be a great choice for you. These reeds are designed with a thinner vamp cut, making it easier to play. In addition to this, these alto saxophone reeds have a strength of 2.5, but these are also available in other strengths which range from 1.5 to 4.0. It comes in a pack of ten reeds. They have been priced affordably for educators and students alike.

Rico by D’Addario RJA1025 Alto Sax Reeds - Best Alto Saxophone Reeds

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3. Vandoren SRMIXA25 Alto Sax Jazz Reed

The Vandoren SRMIXA25 Alto Sax Jazz Reed has its own distinct characteristics which are worth sampling. Every reed has been sealed in a flow pack to ensure freshness. This set is a convenient way for alto saxophone players to try all of the jazz reed cuts of Vandoren. This way, they will be able to discover the reed that suits them the best. The product is available in strength 2.5. However, it is also available in others strengths such as 2, 3, and 3.5.

Vandoren SRMIXA25 Alto Sax Jazz Reed - Best Alto Saxophone Reeds

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4. Artisan Alto Saxophone Reeds

The Artisan Alto Saxophone Reeds are versatile alto saxophone reeds which would work perfectly for beginners to advanced players. This is brought about by their dynamic flexibility and excellent tone. Because of their versatility, these reeds are suitable with high performance and are designed for a wide variety of playing situations. The tone which these reeds produce is warm, bright, and full. This would make it suitable for novice, advancing students, and professional players to use. Aside from its features as mentioned earlier, these reeds are also noted for their durability and excellent response.

Artisan Alto Saxophone Reeds - Best Alto Saxophone Reeds

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5. Rico La Voz Alto Sax Reeds

Our next product would be the Rico La Voz Alto Sax Reeds. These are alto saxophone reeds which feature a strong spine, providing more resistance. These reeds also have a medium hard strength. Although they are available in strengths which range from soft to hard. They also have an unfiled cut. These characteristics could affect the playability of these reeds. When you buy such product, it would come in a box of ten reeds.

Rico La Voz Alto Sax Reeds - Best Alto Saxophone Reeds

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6. Fibracell FCASP2.5 Synthetic Reed for Alto Saxophone

The Fibracell FCASP2.5 Synthetic Reed for Alto Saxophone features brilliant overtones. This characteristic allows the player to produce a full, vibrant, and resonant tone. It has a quick response capability for better articulation. In addition to this, this product also features excellent pitch stability and intonation in all ranges. This alto saxophone reed has the same woody tone as the cane reeds. However, this specific reed is noted for having a better sound projection. Take note that this has a 2.5 strength.

Fibracell FCASP2.5 Synthetic Reed for Alto Saxophone - Best Alto Saxophone Reeds

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7. Vandoren SR613 Alto Sax Reeds

The Vandoren SR613 Alto Sax Reeds are characterized with a thick heel with a longer palette. This is used for vibration. Such reeds are capable of producing deep and rich sound with the body to the attack because of the thicker tip, resulting in more durable reeds. Every reed has been sealed in a flow pack to ensure freshness. When you buy such product, it would be available in a box of ten reed.

Vandoren SR613 Alto Sax Reeds - Best Alto Saxophone Reeds

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8. Bravo! Synthetic Reeds for Salto Saxophone – Model BR-AS20

The Bravo! Synthetic Reeds for Salto Saxophone – Model BR-AS20 would also be a good choice for you. This product consists of five premium synthetic reeds which are non-toxic. The reeds are noted for being resistant to tip cracking and humidity. They also have a significantly longer reed life compared to cane reeds. These reeds could come in different strengths, which range from 1.5 to 4.0. It comes with individual reed cases which click together for a secured storage.

Bravo! Synthetic Reeds for Salto Saxophone – Model BR-AS20 - Best Alto Saxophone Reeds

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9. Flying Goose Alto Saxophone Reeds

The Flying Goose Alto Saxophone Reeds feature a design with thin vamp cut, making them easier to play with. These reeds are able to deliver freedom of response, giving clarity to the tonal quality and making the soft attacks easier. These come in strengths which range from 1.5 to 3. Whichever you choose, when you buy the product, they would come in a box of ten reeds.

Flying Goose Alto Saxophone Reeds - Best Alto Saxophone Reeds

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10. Fibracell FCASP3.5 Synthetic Reed for Alto Saxophone

The last product on our list is the Fibracell FCASP3.5 Synthetic Reed for Alto Saxophone. These features brilliant overtones. This characteristic allows the player to produce a full, vibrant, and resonant tone. It has a quick response capability for better articulation. In addition to this, this product also features excellent pitch stability and intonation in all ranges. This alto saxophone reed has the same woody tone as the cane reeds. However, this specific reed is noted for having a better sound projection. Take note that this has a 3.5 strength.

Fibracell FCASP3.5 Synthetic Reed for Alto Saxophone - Best Alto Saxophone Reeds

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Conclusion

Having your alto saxophone is not enough, especially if you want to advance your skills further. Hence, you should provide yourself with the right tools and equipment to back your skill up. This would include choosing the best alto saxophone reeds carefully. You should be aware of the different characteristics of the products so that you will be able to determine the right reed that would suit your preference.