Detail 01
Strength 4
Hard. More resistance and control, more air required. Wrong for anyone still building embouchure endurance.
Product detailSKU #1274034480390
RicoPlasticover Bb Clarinet Reeds Strength 4 Box of 5
1/2
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
Plastic-coated cane Bb clarinet reeds in hard strength 4, five per box. For experienced players who want resistance and weather stability.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Advanced players with a developed embouchure wanting a firmer reed
- Outdoor and marching work where cane reeds normally go unstable
- Players on open mouthpieces who find softer reeds close up
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Beginners — strength 4 is too stiff to produce a sound reliably
- Anyone on a wide-tip mouthpiece, where a 4 becomes unplayable
- Saxophone players; this is a Bb clarinet cut
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Plasticover coating
Sealed cane holds its response as humidity and temperature change, instead of going soft or waterlogged.
Detail 03
Bb clarinet cut
Profile and length match a Bb clarinet mouthpiece. Bass and Eb clarinets take different reeds.
Detail 04
Coated surface
Pushes the tone brighter and more cutting than bare cane, which is useful outdoors and obvious indoors.
Detail 05
Box of 5
Rotate through all five rather than playing one until it dies — each lasts noticeably longer.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Reeds only. Mouthpiece and ligature not included.
- 02If you currently play a 2 or 2.5, jumping to a 4 will not work.
- 03Reed strength interacts with mouthpiece tip opening — check yours before ordering.
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Is strength 4 too hard for me?
If you are not already comfortable on a 3.5, yes. Strength 4 demands steady air support and a settled embouchure, and it will feel stuffy otherwise.
02How do Plasticover reeds differ from regular cane?
Same cane underneath, sealed with a plastic coating. They stay consistent in changing weather and sound brighter and edgier than uncoated cane.
03Do these work on a bass clarinet?
No. These are cut for Bb soprano clarinet. Bass clarinet takes a larger reed.
04Do coated reeds still need soaking?
Yes, wet the reed before playing. The coating stabilizes it against humidity swings but the reed still needs moisture to seal against the mouthpiece.
