I've use Mitchell Lurie for about 25+ years, and they are still my favorite. I just feel like I get my best sound from them.

Well my first reed ever was a Rico reed, but that one came with my clarinet. My band instructor requires that we use Vandoren reeds so I can't tell which is better, BUT my regular Vandoren 3 reeds sound wonderful.

I play on a rico royal 3 1/2 and they are amazing! they are much easyer to produce a great sound and I would reccoment them to anybody from beginner to advanced. x

i usually play on vandorens but if there isn't a preformance coming up.. but ricos can be good if you buy up a reed size and spend a little time with sandpaper..

I mostly use Rico but I have Vandorens 2. I can't tell a difference. I have used Rico more tho...

My band director makes us use Vandorens. Vandoren reeds are stronger so its like playing on a reed that is half a strenght more than what it actually is. I like Rico reeds better because it seems like Rico reeds last longer and the quality of the sound is much better.

Look people, I'm as advanced as a person can get and I love Rico Reeds. They work best with the top of the line Vito clarinets, I don't know why.

Anyone who says that they like Vandoren is probably not very good or hasn't tried a Rico Reed yet. When people are young and bad at playing the clarinet they choose Rico. They get a little older and realize that Vandorens are the way to go. BUT, when you get really really good you come back to the realization that you were right from the beginning and go back to Rico Reeds.

Look, most of the professionals that I know play Rico. They may say that they play Vandorens because they want to look cool, but they have in their heart of hearts a secret.

They are in love with Rico Reeds.

I've been playing all my life with Vandoren, only played once or twice with Ricco, so I can't make a fair judgement of this brand. Nevertheless I think that ultimately the choice of reed brand is a matter of personal taste. Every player has is own idea of the sound they want to attain, some attain it by using Vandoren others with Ricco or other brands. More importantly than the actual reed brand, I think that clarinet players should focus on the part of "working and customizing" reeds. Instead of putting aside a reed just because it didn't play well "out-of-the-box", grab some sandpaper and ultimately the reed cutter, and start working on it, you might win back some reeds, if not for public performing at least for practice.

ive never liked Vandoren... Ive used Zonda since about 7th grade and im going to be a performance major in college coming this fall and ive never had problems with Zonda. Every time i go back to Vandoren there is no dependability with them. You never know if youre going to have one good one or 5 good ones or none with Vandoren. I think its all personal preference. Its hard to compare with other people because everyone is different.

Vandoren 56 Rue Lepic reeds are in my opinion the best. They last awhile longer than Rico, and I've noticed that Ricos produce a more airy sound with my mouthpiece. There is a possibility the Vandoren mouthpiece facing doesn't work as well with a Rico reed.