Detail 01
Strength 4
Stiff cane. Takes real air support to start the reed, and quiet subtones get harder before they get easier.
Product detailSKU #1274228081201
VandorenBaritone Saxophone Reeds Strength 4 Box of 5
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
Hard baritone sax reeds, five to a box. For established players with settled embouchures who want resistance and control, not beginners.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Experienced bari players who blow through softer reeds
- Loud sections where you need the horn to stay focused
- Players on closer-tip mouthpieces who want more back-pressure
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- First-year players — strength 4 will simply not speak
- Doublers coming from alto or tenor without bari-specific chops
- Anyone on a wide-open jazz mouthpiece; the combination fights you
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
Box of 5
Standard bari count. Larger reeds cost more per piece, so around eleven dollars each rather than the four you pay for alto.
Detail 03
Baritone cut
Longer and wider than tenor or alto reeds. It will not seat on any smaller saxophone mouthpiece.
Detail 04
Cane construction
Each reed in the box plays slightly differently. Expect to sort them and keep the best two or three in rotation.
Detail 05
Reed strength versus tip opening
Harder reeds generally pair with narrower tip openings. A wide-tip mouthpiece plus a 4 can be unplayably resistant.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Wet the reed thoroughly before playing; dry cane cracks and warps.
- 02No ligature, mouthpiece or reed case included.
- 03If you play 3.5 now, buy one box before committing to the strength.
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01How long does a baritone reed last?
It depends on hours played and how well you rotate. Alternating three or four reeds and drying them flat after each session stretches every box considerably.
02Can I use these on a tenor sax?
No. Baritone reeds are cut larger in every dimension and will overhang the tenor mouthpiece table and tip.
03Is strength 4 too hard for me?
If you currently play 3 or below, yes. Move up half a step at a time so your embouchure adjusts instead of clamping.
04Why are there only five reeds in the box?
Baritone reeds are far larger than alto or tenor reeds, so boxes are packed in fives rather than tens.
