Name: Vandoren SR2235 Tenor Sax Reeds — Traditional 3.5 (Box of 5)
Brand: Vandoren
Rating: 4.8 (13 reviews)

Product description

This pack contains five Vandoren Traditional tenor saxophone reeds, nominal strength 3.5. The reeds are made from carefully selected cane and shaped to Vandoren’s Traditional profile to deliver a rich core sound and even response across registers.
These reeds are engineered to be highly flexible, which helps with smooth legato lines as well as crisp staccato and large interval jumps, while maintaining tonal clarity and presence. Vandoren produces Traditional cut reeds for clarinets and saxophones across a full range of strengths to suit many players and styles.
Each reed comes sealed in an individual Flow Pack to protect the cane and retain humidity until opened. Use them the same way as other cane reeds: soak or wet briefly before play as preferred, store in a humidified case if you keep them for extended periods, and rotate reeds to extend lifespan.

Pros

Even response across all registers
Flexible for legato and staccato playing
Individually sealed in Flow Pack for freshness

Cons

Some variability in perceived strength
May feel stiff until broken in
Not as uniform as some boutique cane options

VerdictA long-established choice for many saxophonists, these Traditional reeds produce a warm, full-bodied tone and respond well across registers. They handle wide interval jumps and varied articulations with ease. Expect strong versatility for different musical styles, though users sometimes note strength variation between individual reeds.

Customer reviews

Skylar Rainer 4/5

Quality somewhat inconsistent

Vandoren still delivers a classic tone, but I've noticed variability in strength: some 3.5s feel closer to 3.0, others nearer 4.0, and occasional left/right imbalance. They last, but aren't always more consistent than cheaper brands; for a different tone I prefer boutique options.
Filipe Afonso 5/5

Quality reeds

Highly recommended — I don't bother trying other brands.
Great reeds 5/5

Great reeds

I enjoy these reeds; they outperform many others I've tried. I play aggressively and reeds below a 3 rarely survive more than a few days.
Rosalyn 5/5

Good quality

This is what our high school sax player prefers. Solid build and consistent sound.
Emilio V. 5/5

Tenor reed 3.5

Excellent — Vandoren quality remains reliable and consistent for my needs.
GinaJ 5/5

Recommended by the band director

Our high school band director suggested these for my son and we've used them ever since. They wear well and offer dependable performance.
Ken M 5/5

Good first step for learners

Bought these because I plan to learn sax someday. They're a solid first component while I hunt for an instrument and lessons.
T. Roullier 5/5

Dependable cane reeds

You can count on a Vandoren cane reed. Keep them humidified—I use a small box with a moist sponge and they last for months. Légère synthetics sound different.
alejandro gonzalez 5/5

Reliable and long-lasting

These reeds perform very well and I haven't had issues. Rich sound and with good care they last. Delivery was fast.
harvey good 5/5

Five Stars

I sent these to a friend in Cuba; they are hard to find there so they were much appreciated.
Ted 5/5

Vandoren tenor reeds

Arrived promptly and in perfect condition. I usually use 3.5 for my Bb and C tenors; nicely made and enjoyable to play.
L. Philippe 3/5

Acceptable, nothing special

They're Vandoren, but they felt like a secondary batch — the printing looked different. A bit stiff at first and needed breaking in.
TheMusicDude 5/5

Vandoren — consistently reliable

Vandoren has been my go-to brand for sax reeds; they deliver a pleasing tone. Some sellers mark them up, but this pack is worth choosing over lower-grade alternatives like Rico. It's handy to order strengths above 3 when local stock is limited.