D'Addario Organic Reserve Evolution Bb Clarinet Reeds

Note: These are priced per reed. One of 'em. (Not a box. Though you're welcome to buy 10 of them, and I may just throw in the box for free)

Rico reeds are what I started on. Back in the 70s, they were the big orange box of ree—wait a minute. They're STILL the big orange box of reeds that band directors reach into when a 6th grader walks in with a shredded popsicle stick of a reed that's in a coma.

And then, like all the "serious players," I moved to Vandoren and didn't much look back. Well, not true — I was intrigued by Rico Royal reeds, because, you know, Clarinet Geek Kid = Must Play Anything New Before Friends Do. But I didn't like them. Back to Vandoren.

But recently I've been... reed curious. And since I'd literally never tried one, I reached out to D'Addario, had a nice conversation with them, and they sent over a box of each reed line. I didn't have high expectations — I still have nightmares about orange boxes.

But DAYUM. I really liked them.

The Reserve is closest to the Vandoren Traditional — thinner blank, familiar profile. Fair warning: these run a touch harder than Vandoren. A Reserve 3 plays more like a Vandoren 3.15 (if that existed), so you will probably spend a little time with some sandpaper or reed knife. But just a touch. They come out of the box a little stuffy, but give them some time and a little work with a polishing cloth (you DO have one of our reed polishing cloths, do you not?) and they open up nicely. Consistency box-to-box is solid — no duds so far.

If you've been a Vandoren Traditional player your whole life and you're feeling reed curious yourself, this is your entry point.