D'Addario Woodwinds Rico Plasticover Alto Sax Reeds, Strength 2.0, 5-pack

I'm relatively new at playing saxophone, so I've been trying different reeds, to see which ones work for me. They say to start with a softer reed. They mean the stiffness of the reed. I've started with 1.5 (much thinner than others, usually they range from 1 to 5 in half steps. There's specific tonal differences but also stiffness/ease of use.I'm going to try the 2's soon. The PlastiCover seems to be a little more stiff then the other 2's that I have ( the just caine reeds) Some times they refer to those ratings as a 'color' - lite/dark.I've settled on Rico's reeds in general. They are priced very reasonable and play well. They come on a 3 pack, also a 10 or 25 pack. They can be considered to be around $5 each, but cheaper with a higher pack.Something that surprised when I got a saxophone is that the reeds most soak before using them! The thicker, the longer they soak.Some players just put them in their mouths for a few minutes, usual while they are getting their sax out of their cases and getting everything ready.I play for enjoyment, I don't play out. I don't think this way is best, so I soak them in a cup of clean water for just a couple minutes.Rico reeds both reasonably priced and good quality.Then I heard about synthetic reads.So, I picked out one and tried it (a very popular French synthetic reed.)These reeds are supposed to last for months, which is some justification for their price ($32-$42 each).I picked out the strength I figured would be best for me. But it played a little stiffer than I thought it would, but the worst part was - the edge tore the very first time I tried it!! My understanding is that is unusual. That doesn't help when you pay that much for a single reed.So I looked around for a variation that might be more affordable for me, and lasted longer.That's when I came across the PlastiCover Reed by D'addario. That's the parent company of Rico, which helped me feel more secure with this purchase. They make things for guitar also, good quality.Happy that I didn't have to pay so much for one reed. That helped even though they are still slightly more expensive then regular reeds.That's because this reed is a hybrid. It's a Rico reed covered in a jet-black plastic. It looks like a rubber coating but either way - I didn't have to soak it in water. It plays right out of the box!I am not the best sax player around...yet it sounded about the same as the regular Rico not-filed reed. It takes a couple minutes for it to sound ready, but so do you ( all of us!).Even better, I've used the first one everyday for a couple weeks and it's still usable.Again, I DON'T pre-soak it, but I'm careful to rinse it in water after each use.So bottom line is: I'm glad they make them and I'm glad to have found them. I say that because I've never seen an advertisement for them, but they are there under either Rico or D'Addario!They even look cool! (I don't, but you can't have everything!)

These are my favorite reeds. The show can go on.

Got this since the local store where we get reeds are out of stock. We get the Juno brand and while that's good, it is pricier. This reed is at par with the Juno brand but better when it comes to price since you'll get more. It's a no brainer!

Suenan bien

Holy Cow! I bought these because the reeds I bought before were too airy. I had some normal reeds that consistently sounded like I was blowing up a balloon whilst playing. I looked up what could be making the noise (I recently switched from Tenor to Alto and never had this issue before) and most people said bad reed. That eventually brought me to plastic reeds which were too expensive for me to "try out". These plasticover reeds are a great mix of quality and price-point. My last reeds wouldn't last very long, but I can already feel that these are going to last well over a month per reed. I play about 3 or 4 times a week for an hour at a time. I can just slap the reed on my mouthpiece without having to soak it, just a quick suck is sufficient. They are far more durable than a normal reed and don't split like many tips have before. Overall, I love these and will purchase more in the future.

It doesn't get any better than this.

I have tried nearly every reed on the market in my twenty year career as a saxophonist, but I always return to my the Plasticovers. I have always found cane reeds to have a stuffy sound and less than desirable responsiveness, and I can't seem to get into the hype of synthetics. These are without a doubt the best reeds I have ever used. My current setup consists of a Yamaha YAS-875EXB with a Beechler Bellite #8 using the stock ligature and size 2.5 Plasticovers, and I absolutely love the bright pop sound that I achieve with this setup. I appreciate that there is little to no break-in time for these reeds and that changes in temperature and climate do not appear to affect them in any way. One thing I will say is that these reeds tend to sound better on metal mouthpieces. I have tried to use them with a Jody Jazz Jet 7, but there's a noticeable "plastic" sound. All in all, these are great reeds and I would most definitely recommend that someone at least give them a try.

Easy to use, plays clearly with my instrument, and lasts decently. It's less of a hassle to use these reeds. They don't require a lot of moisture after the first use, they are easy to get a sound out of, you can play with a looser embouchure, and they don't chip easily. They are a low thickness and you get a rather bright sound. The only wear I've noticed after about one month of use is small pieces of the pastic will peel off. I would say two months per reed is probably maximum usage provided you play your instrument 5 hours a week. Most instructors will tell you not to use a bright sounding reed like these ones in concert band, only use it in marching band. There is another view that I've heard with the opposite claim. A few players will tell you to use these less thicker reeds in concert band because you can play quieter with better tone than the thicker ones, and to use the thicker ones (not these) in marching band because it requires you to use more air and thus play louder. Good reeds for nonprofessional players.