Rico Royal RRO10ECL Eb/C Clarinet

Advantages: Cheap
Disadvantages: Don't produce the Best tone in the World

...in the Clarinet Reed field, and they are Vandoren and Rico. This review is about Rico Reeds, but it's hard to talk about them without giving some comparison with the main competitor, since your basic purchasing decision will be between these two brands. Here's what Vandoren say about their standard B flat Clarinet Reeds: "The most widely played Reeds in the professional world." And here's what Rico claim about their most similar product: "The world's most popular Reed." One thing you may be able to deduce from this is that Vandoren Reeds are better and also more expensive. They produce a better tone for professionals, who are more picky about these things than amateurs. However, there are many more amateurs piping away in their bedrooms on a Sunday afternoon than there are professionals, and they tend to choose Rico, so they can't be all bad... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Bright tone, looks nice, good case
Disadvantages: Doesn't come cheap...

..., and the clarinet is hand finished for that little extra quality. Also, the ends of the main joints are metal capped - this is more than just for show, as it helps prevent the wood splitting. There is also an auxilliary Eb key (or low G# if you prefer to call it thus), which I have to say is far more useful than I first thought it would be - it's remarkable how many composers put in fingerings that would otherwise be very awkward! Be aware though, it sticks out a bit so if you're not careful it can be broken (my friend learnt this the hard way). For your money you get a nice leather case with combination locks, usually (unless the music shop has nicked them) a couple of half-decent reeds, the bog-standard buffet cleaner (I recommend their 'deluxe' cleaner, well worth its weight in gold), and most importantly of all, a Buffet pencil. Call me sad if you... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: extremely playable and very cheap
Disadvantages: horribly underrated

...all the quality (ok, most of the quality) of van doren's and only half as expensive. they may not be the best reed out there, but they're still a very good quality product. Plus, while they're playability and durability are high, the price is low. you can get two rico reeds cheaper than two van doren reeds, and each rico will last as long as any other high-quality reed out there. the name does not hold the prestige of van doren's, in fact it invokes an opposite response when asked what type of reed you play on, but i would never switch from my ricos. when you play a lot, you're more likely to break your reed, and when that happens you don't want it to be an expensive reed that only just got broken in; you'd rather it was something cheap, with the potential to last as long as that same expensive product. i know over here... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful