Top Clarinet Reed Brands for Perfect Play: A Curated List

In the world of music, the quality of your instrument accessories can profoundly impact your performance, and this is particularly true for clarinet reeds. Musicians often spend considerable time finding the perfect reed that complements their playing style, producing a sound that's both beautiful and consistent. There are several well-respected brands that musicians trust to deliver these essential qualities. In the list below, we explore some of the best clarinet reed brands that have consistently earned the admiration of clarinetists worldwide.

Illustration of clarinet reeds

Best brands of clarinet reeds in 2025

Vandoren

Vandoren is a leading brand in the clarinet reed market, renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship and consistent performance. In 2019, their Traditional reeds accounted for 53% of their sales, followed by V12 at 20%, and Rue L'Epic at 19%. Vandoren reeds are available in a wide range of strengths from 1.5 to 5, catering to both students and professional musicians. The V12 line is particularly popular among professionals for its rich sound and powerful response. Vandoren's reeds are known for their durability and high sound quality, making them a preferred choice in the clarinet community. To explore more about their offerings, visit this insightful resource on Vandoren reeds.

Rico

Rico, a subsidiary of D'Addario & Co., is a highly regarded brand in the clarinet reed market, producing high-quality reeds for over 90 years. Known for their affordability and accessibility, Rico reeds are favored by students, educators, and professionals worldwide. The Rico Royal reeds, with their French-filed cut, offer more freedom of response and clarity, especially in the lower register, making them suitable for advancing players. Rico reeds are available in a range of strengths, from 1.5 to 4.0, and are popular for their balanced response and versatility across various musical genres. They are also known for their consistent manufacturing, ensuring reliable performance every time.

D'Addario

D'Addario is renowned as one of the top producers of clarinet reeds, offering a diverse range of products that cater to both student and professional musicians. Their Rico and Reserve brands are particularly popular, with the Reserve Classic reeds featuring a longer vamp and thicker tip for enhanced flexibility and articulation. Since their introduction, Reserve reeds have already outperformed the Grand Concert Select range in sales, despite the latter's longer market presence. D'Addario's proprietary reed-making process, utilizing sophisticated cutting, sanding, and inspection technology, ensures high consistency and quality in each reed. Their Organic Reserve Evolution reeds are the first certified organic reeds, offering unparalleled consistency and tonal warmth.

Legere

Legere is a leading brand for synthetic clarinet reeds, known for their durability and consistency, particularly in varying temperatures and humidity levels. Around 85% of Legere sales are of the Signature series models, which are highly favored by musicians for their stable and smooth sound. Legere reeds are popular among both classical and jazz performers, offering a bright, focused sound. They have been gaining market share steadily, with a notable presence in the synthetic reed market.

Gonzalez

Gonzalez is a highly regarded brand in the production of clarinet reeds, known for its diverse and high-quality offerings. In 2019, their RC model accounted for 39% of their sales, followed by the GD at 30%, and the FOF at 21%, indicating strong market presence and user preference. The Gonzalez FOF reeds, in particular, are popular among professional and advanced players for their rich, dark sound and are available in 1/4 strength sizes. The GD reeds, with their French Filed Cut, offer a vibrant and long-lasting performance, while the RC reeds are praised for their consistency and affordability. Gonzalez reeds are also noted for being slightly more affordable than some other brands, making them a viable option for musicians.

Royal

The Royal brand, part of the Rico/D'Addario stable, is highly regarded for its high-quality clarinet reeds, particularly suited for advancing players. Royal reeds combine the traditional Rico cut with a French file, offering an even response across the registers and more clarity in the sound. They are strong in the 2 and 2.5 upwards strength range, making them a popular choice among educators and players. These reeds feature more cane in the heart, promoting better projection and support, especially in higher registers. Royal reeds are compatible with French-style facing curves on common mouthpieces like the Vandoren 5RV, B40, and B45. For more details, visit the Royal by D'Addario Bb Clarinet Reeds webpage.

La Voz

La Voz is a highly regarded brand for clarinet reeds, particularly favored by jazz musicians for its unique characteristics. These reeds feature a thicker spine, which enhances projection and produces a deeper, darker tone. Part of the D'Addario family, La Voz reeds are known for their unfiled American cut, making them distinct from other brands like Vandoren. They are especially popular in the 1.5 strength zone, appealing to educators and bulk buyers due to their price and performance. For more insights into clarinet reeds from the Rico/D'Addario range, read this detailed article: Reed All About It: Part 2 of 3 - The Clarinet Rico/D'Addario Stable.

Juno

The Vandoren Juno brand is renowned for producing high-quality clarinet reeds, specifically designed for beginners to achieve a beautiful sound from the outset. These reeds are made from the same superior cane and manufactured with the same techniques as other Vandoren models, ensuring consistent quality. Vandoren's unique advantage lies in its ownership of cane fields and generations of agricultural expertise, contributing to the exceptional quality of their reeds. The production process involves over a hundred precision cuts to create the vamp of each reed, ensuring maximum tonal power. This meticulous process has established Vandoren as a leader in the market. For more details, visit the Vandoren Juno clarinet reeds page.

Alexander Reeds

Alexander Reeds is renowned for its high-quality clarinet and saxophone reeds, founded by Tom Alexander in the early 1990s to address the inconsistencies in reeds available on the market. The brand offers several models, including Superial, DC, Classique, and NY, each designed to provide consistent performance and tone. Alexander Reeds are praised for their bright and centered tone, even playability across all registers, and improved lifespan when properly maintained. The Superial reeds, in particular, are favored for their bright and edgy tone, suitable for lead roles in big bands. With a focus on consistency, Alexander Reeds have become a preferred choice among saxophonists and clarinetists worldwide. For more information about their products, visit the Alexander Reeds website.

Marca

Marca is renowned as one of the best producers of clarinet reeds, leveraging 60 years of expertise since its establishment in 1957. The company uses exclusively wild cane from the Var region in France, ensuring high-quality and sustainable production. Marca's meticulous manufacturing process involves hand-cutting and selecting over 200,000 canes annually to guarantee optimal quality. Their reeds are crafted with a combination of skilled craftsmanship and modern technology, making them suitable for both student and professional musicians. Marca has been awarded the French label "Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant" for its commitment to quality and sustainable development. For more information, visit their official website.