Klarinet Archive - Posting 000422.txt from 2002/12

From: "Keith" <100012.1302@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Switching to Legere
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 08:55:50 -0500

Rebecca

I usually get Legere reeds online from Brook Mays Music. They are very
efficient company to deal with.

As others have remarked they may not be QUITE as good as the very best
cane reeds ... i.e. the reed that you find once in 25 times! In the
dryness of Colorado, where a cane reed will dry out while playing it, I
find them far superior, and at the very least they make a totally
reliable backup.

They are extremely consistent out of the box, but in any case they can
be softened by a short heat treatment (1 second in boiling water softens
about a quarter grade). This also seems to stablise them very well. They
do soften a little (less than quarter grade) during the first hour or so
of playing if not heat treated. I usually keep two reeds going, one a
little softer for domestic playing and one harder for the orchestra. I'm
an amateur, playing a few hours a week, and they last for months.

On the bass clarinet, on which cane reeds are much more inconsistent,
the Legere is in my view a clear winner. On the soprano, I haven't
decided whether to go back to cane when I return to live in sea-level
and humid England in February.

And as Mark says, Guy is alsways improving them. Eb Legeres have just
come out and work well.

Keith Bowen

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Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2002 21:53:14 +0000
From: "Rebecca Brennan" <rjbrennan1221@-----.com>
Subject: Re: [kl] Switching to L=E9g=E8re
Message-ID: <F70PFKhpwYbzQXlCjB90000b8d5@-----.com>

I was at Marshall University for an all-state prep workshop and the
clarinet=20
teacher had a legere reed. I'm getting some for christmas! I would have=20
never guessed she was playing on this strange clear reed if I wouldn't
have=20
seen it!

Where would be the best place to buy them?

-Rebecca

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