Which brands make Vienna cut clarinet reeds?

Pilgerstorfer (Windhaag, Austria) offers the widest Austrian-cut range — Vienna, Solist, Concerto, Sonata, Exquisit and the newer premium Morré Austrian Cut — with models matched to specific facing types. Peter Leuthner (PL class, Vienna) makes the Wiener Schnitt Standard and Wiener Schnitt Professional in a strength scale that runs well past 6. Steuer (Germany) makes the Vienna Cut / White Line 'Wien I', cut after the Ernst Ottensamer model. Vandoren offers the Black Master Traditional, the standard Black Master and the V21 Austrian. AW Woodwinds (Germany) makes the 211 Vienna Cut, with the earlier 201 still found at dealers.

How do I choose the right strength for a Viennese mouthpiece?

Two rules cover most of it. A more open tip wants a softer reed and a closed tip wants a harder one. A short facing wants a softer reed and a long facing wants a harder one. Since Viennese facings are closed with long curves, they generally take noticeably stronger reeds than a comparable Boehm setup — a Vienna cut 5 is not a French 5. If you know your tip opening in hundredths of a millimetre, use it: AW's Vienna cut is specified for 0.78–0.84 mm and Pilgerstorfer Solist for shorter 0 facings up to roughly 0.80 mm. Strength numbering is not comparable across brands, so cross-check with a strength comparison chart and order adjacent strengths in your first box.

Can I use a German reed on a Viennese mouthpiece?

Generally no. Boehm, German and Vienna mouthpieces and reed cuts are three separate systems, and combining across them does not work well. A German reed on a Viennese facing will be too narrow for the table and too thin at the tip, while a Vienna cut on a Boehm mouthpiece will feel unresponsive and overhang the rails. Also avoid judging a cut by a single reed: cane varies within every box, and a Vienna cut takes longer to break in than a thinner French reed, so give a new model two or three sessions before deciding.

Which Pilgerstorfer model fits my facing?

Vienna is the core Viennese model, aimed at Austrian '0' facings, particularly the shorter ones. Solist is also a Viennese model for shorter 0 facings up to roughly 0.80 mm tip opening, but with a longer vamp than Vienna. Concerto is for narrow, long facings and is the most flexible-feeling of the group; it is also recommended for the very open Viennese facings from Gleichweit, Maxton, ESM and Hammerschmidt. Sonata is for long, somewhat more open and wider facings, with a chamber-music character. Exquisit has a moderate heart and a wide strength range, making it the most versatile choice if you are unsure.

Vienna Cut Clarinet Reeds - what is the difference?

by ReedFinder Team on Sep 03, 2026

Vienna Cut
Reeds
Buying Guide

Vienna cut reeds (Wiener Schnitt, Austrian cut) are a distinct family, not a variation on German reeds — how the cut is built, who makes one today, and how to match a box to your facing.

ANATOMY

What makes a reed a Vienna cut?

The Viennese sound concept starts with a wider bore — around 15.4 mm, against 14.6-15 mm on a German clarinet and 14.6–14.8 mm on a Boehm. That wider bore calls for a wider mouthpiece, and a wider mouthpiece calls for a wider reed.

Austrian mouthpiece facings then take it further: a narrower tip opening and a longer facing curve than German or Boehm facings, which demands a correspondingly thicker reed.

The result is the depth and darker colour associated with the Austrian style, along with the resistance needed to control a closed, long facing.

Manufacturers

MAKER #1

Pilgerstorfer

Widely used reeds in Austria.

Available models include: Vienna, Solist, Concerto, Sonata, Exquisit as well as the newer line, Morré Austrian Cut

Picking the brand is not enough here — the model within the family is what has to match your facing length and tip opening.

MAKER #2

Peter Leuthner

Two Austrian models made in Vienna — Wiener Schnitt Standard and Wiener Schnitt Professional — in a strength scale that runs past 6.

Widely stocked in Austria and a common default in Viennese conservatories and among professional players, which makes it the reed most Austrian players have already tried by the time they start looking for alternatives.

AW Woodwinds

2026 NEW DEVELOPMENT

AW Woodwinds

The 211 Vienna Cut is made for Viennese and Austrian mouthpieces, with a fine tip over a strong core, a dark full tone and even response across the registers. Available from strength 2 to 4+.

211 is the newest viennese type reed. The development was also helped by Stephan Mörth, Solo-Clarinetist of DSO Berlin.

2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4+

AW Woodwinds: 211 - Vienna Clarinet

from €38.90

Shop the 211 Vienna Cut

Free shipping in Austria

Clarinet Reed Survey

SURVEY 257 RESPONDENTS

From beginners to professionals, every clarinetist knows the reed is both essential and unpredictable. This small piece of cane (or polymer) can inspire great artistry—or endless frustration. To understand how players manage this relationship, we surveyed over 250 clarinetists worldwide. Their responses reveal key preferences, challenges, and habits in the quest for the perfect sound. Let’s explore the data.

Vienna cut reeds (Wiener Schnitt, Austrian cut) are a distinct family, not a variation on German reeds — how the cut is built, who makes one today, and how to match a box to your facing.

What makes a reed a Vienna cut?

Pilgerstorfer

Peter Leuthner

AW Woodwinds

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