Vandoren Saxophone Reeds: Jazz Variety Pack Review
I recently stumbled upon this Vandoren Saxophone Reed variety pack on Amazon.
I'm surprised to see that a variety pack like this is both available and only costs $20.
One of the reeds being a V16, which is one of my favorite reeds.
If I was starting out playing the sax, having exposure to these other reeds would give me a lot of experience very early on. This is incredibly useful for any saxophone beginner.
It's interesting that each of these reeds are 3 strength reeds. However, even on the chart on the back of the package shows 3 strength reeds have varying strengths.
If you're a beginner to intermediate sax player, 3 strength saxophone reeds are the preferred strength to develop your embouchure.
It's easy to tell the difference between the reeds because they etch a small logo onto the inside of the cane.
The V16 Reed
The V16 is my absolute favorite reed that goes well with my V16 mouthpiece.
It creates a deep harmonically rich sound with plenty of attack! It's the thickest of all the Vandoren cuts and the V16 helps you deliver a deep colorful sound with authority.
I couldn't agree more with the above statement. Playing the V16 mouthpiece in combination with this reed plays an important role in my opinion.
I love the V16 reed because it's full of a rich sounding tonal character, but may be more difficult for beginners to play on.
The Java Green Vandoren Reed
This reed produces a bright sound with immediate response to help draw each note the attention it deserves.
It's perfect for helping you stand out in a busy musical environment.
So, there's less depth, but you're going to cut past a lot of the other saxophone players. This will help you compete against other loud sax players.
Although, it might not sound as deep and rich as the V16 reed.
The Java reeds will help you cut past other sax players in the room with their sound projection and clarity.
The Java Red Vandoren Reed
The Java Red provides more flexibility and tonal body for incredible projection and extremely precise attacks.
It's the first file cut reed by Vandoren to produce a full rich centered sound. It's possible to see how this reed is cut differently when looking at the cane itself.
So, think articulation, marcato, staccato, and precision attacks through quick passages.
The Java reeds will help you cut past other sax players in the room with their sound projection and clarity.
The ZZ Jazz Vandoren Reed
The ZZ Jazz gives you the best of both worlds.
It has phenomenal depth of tone and immediate response. At the same time, its free-blowing design makes it remarkably easy to play.
So, this reed is closer in quality to a V16, except that it's easier to play on for beginners. This is why it may actually be the best choice for beginners out there to first play on, then work your way up to the V16 reed.
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