Vandoren SR813 Alto Saxophone V21 Reeds Strength 3; Box of 10

Right after i graduated High School, Van Doren released the V21 reed for classical. I’m returning to the sax after a 10 year hiatus, and have been dialing in my sound concept.I loved the homogenous tone and the depth of color of the V12, but also liked the response and flexibility of the Traditionals. This reed is a fantasy come to life, and they definitely do not disappoint! They are the best of both worlds, extremely consistent and I am over the moon in love with them. 5 stars!

These reeds were recommended by our school, and my kids keep ordering them again and again. The quality is excellent, and they provide a great sound. Highly recommended for any alto sax player!

Most of these reeds are good right out of the box. Good response, clear tone. I’ve been using them for years.

smelly after 1 use

I was hesitant to switch from the good ol' Blue Box, but I sure am glad that I did. These reeds are the most consistent that I've found and provide the exact response and tone characteristics that I look for in classical playing. I have also tried D'Addario Reserve but in my experience those have much shorter life spans and start to sound tired after as little as a few days of use. The V21 box may be more expensive than other reeds, but right out of the box, with no modifications, they give me exactly what I want for weeks and let me focus on the music when I play. The low register is warm and full, the mid-range is clear with minimal fuzz, and even altissimo pops right out with ease. These reeds are fantastic for both an ensemble and a solo setting, and I would encourage anybody frustrated by their current reed situation to give these a shot.

My daughter loves these reeds. She in a more advanced high school student. She uses these reeds for concert season and Rico’s for marching season when tone isn’t as important. These are NOT good reeds for beginners.

I'm not going to go over many types of reeds and what their purposes are, because most likely if you are reading this review you are already familiar with reeds. But I can say I have tried multiple types of reeds, and this seems to be the perfect one. Most work out of the box playable and they are fantastic. Go down a half size from vandoren blue boxes. Thats what I have done for soprano and alto, and you should be fine. IF you feel you are struggling with reeds, go with the V21s

Muuuch fuller and darker tone than blue box or daddario Reeds. A bit thicker than other reeds of the same strength. I normally play 3.5 or 3+ ,I took 3 in v21 and they sound amazing.