Discover D’Addario Saxophone Reeds

11th November 2025

When it comes to saxophone reeds, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every player has their own sound, setup, and style. As Thom Conroy says, “The right reed on the right mouthpiece is the dream combination.” Finding yours means exploring a few options.

D’Addario offer one of the most complete reed ranges on the market – from student-friendly reeds that make learning easier, to premium organic reeds designed for the world’s top performers.

How a Reed Works

Your reed is the heart of your sound. It’s a thin piece of cane that vibrates against the mouthpiece when you play, turning air into tone. The way it’s cut, shaped, and conditioned makes a huge difference to response and colour.

Over time, reeds can warp, split, or dry out, especially if they’re not rotated or properly stored. Humidity, temperature, and how you handle them can affect how they play. Keeping your reeds in a reed case and giving them a little rest between uses helps extend their life and consistency.

Rico and Royal by D’Addario: The Classic Student Reeds

If you’ve played saxophone for a while, chances are your first reed was a Rico – the famous “orange box” reed. It’s a classic choice for beginners because it’s easy-blowing, consistent, and reliable. You can pop it on your mouthpiece and get a good sound straight away.

Rico reeds are unfiled, giving a touch more depth and control while maintaining that same dependable feel. The Royal version is the next step up – filed, meaning a small amount of material is shaved from the reed’s shoulder to make it more responsive and bright.

Both Rico and Royal reeds are made with digital vamping technology. Each reed is scanned and assessed for quality and consistency, and if it doesn’t meet D’Addario’s standards – it’s rejected. That means every box you open will play as expected.

D’Addario Select Jazz Reeds

Moving into the professional range, D’Addario’s Select Jazz reeds are a go-to for jazz, pop, and contemporary styles. They offer a little more cut and projection, with a longer vamp and a thicker heart for depth and stability.

These reeds are available in both filed and unfiled cuts, as explained above:

Filed reeds have a small amount of material removed, resulting in a brighter, freer-blowing sound.
Unfiled reeds keep more material, giving greater depth and complexity to the tone.

Select Jazz reeds are part of D’Addario’s Organics Range, produced using sustainably grown cane and chemical-free processes. Each reed is carefully quality-checked, and the eco-friendly paper packaging reflects D’Addario’s commitment to sustainability. Keep an eye out – the Organics range is expanding soon!

Image of the box of Select Jazz reeds by D'Addario against an image of a single reed in the paper packaging.

Reserve Reeds: For Classical and Concert Players

For players focused on classical repertoire, exams, or recitals, the Reserve reeds are ideal. They provide warmth, focus, and control, with enough flexibility to handle a wide dynamic range.

Reserve reeds use the same high-quality cane as the Select Jazz series, but they’re cut differently to create a more centred, refined tone. The thicker heart adds stability and helps maintain an even sound across all registers.

Thom recommends matching your reed and mouthpiece where possible – for example, it’s worth trying Reserve reeds with a Reserve mouthpiece, and Select Jazz reeds with a Select Jazz mouthpiece. The design and cut are made to complement each other, giving you the best possible response and tone.

Final Thoughts

Thom encourages players to experiment: try different strengths, cuts, and brands to find what works for you. With D’Addario’s reed range, you can count on consistency from student to professional level, and a reed that meets you where you are in your playing journey.