Klarinet Archive - Posting 000447.txt from 2002/11

From: Franco Barbanera <barba@-----.it>
Subj: Re: [kl] My problem with legere reeds. A general one?
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 23:54:36 -0500

Alan J. Nussbaum wrote:
> Dear Franco and others,
>
> I too have found that Legere reeds (at least 3.5, 3.75, and 4) play
> extremely flat on a number of chalumeau and throat notes (the worst on
> my R-13 being middle C, which is horrendous with these reeds). To make
> matters worse, the problem persists over a whole range of mouthpieces
> (including, but not limited to, my Fobes 4L, my Blayman R, and my
> Gregory Smith Chedeville 1+--all terrific mouthpieces with cane reeds
> [at least for me]). And since I don't consider it reasonable to buy yet
> another mouthpiece for no other reason than that it might allow me to
> play on a plastic reed (as convenient as that might be), I have simply
> concluded that these reeds are just not for me--and that's without even
> considering the fact that in my experience the Legeres have a tendency
> to warp (!) badly, bending away from the facing so markedly that the
> teeter-totter along the length of the table can actually be felt
> manually. Maybe I'm doing something wrong--and, if so, I would very
> much appreciate the advice of those who have had success with these
> reeds. But that's my two cents' worth on what I've experienced up to now.
>

It is always nice when one does not feel lonely in this world... :-)

cordially
Franco

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