 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: stagehand
Date: 2005-09-19 23:00
I have a sax player that has a great sound on cane reeds who is now playing on a cheep fiberglass reed. Is sound is overall terrible now. Every once in a while he makes a great sound, but there is no rhyme or reason to his sound. What can I do to help him? He is willing to try anything.
Thanks,
Sara
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2005-09-19 23:09
stagehand wrote:
> He is willing to try anything.
Cane reeds again? I don't understand the point ...
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Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2005-09-20 00:49
Yeah, I love how the synthetic reeds don't need wetting so that I can move from instrument to instrument. However, I've tried them (Legere, Fibracell, and Plasticover) and found that I can't really recommend them for soprano or alto sax. They seem to work just fine on tenor and bari sax and because I'm a rookie clarinetist, there too.
What kind of reed is this fellow using?
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
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Author: stagehand
Date: 2005-09-20 20:37
There is no name on the reads the other director bought for him. They are incuraged not to play with the cane reeds on the field. The reeds only cost $9.
Thanks,
Sara
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-09-20 23:11
IMO, I say ;ust go back to playing the cane reeds on the field. I don't know what the "risks" are, aside from possible chipping of the reed, and drying out of the reed. But both are avoidable. Be careful when you're mouthpiece is away from the mouth, and make sure to soak it whenever it IS in your mouth.
For the cost of TWO synthetic reeds (at the nine dollars you mention), he can ;ust about have a box of twenty reeds. Which will sound better (as you yourself said). I say go back to cane. Regardless of the "suggestions" mentioned to him.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2005-09-20 23:32
>>>>
For the cost of TWO synthetic reeds (at the nine dollars you mention), he can just about have a box of twenty reeds.
<<<<
Hmmm. You must be living in clarinetist's heaven. A ten-pack of reeds cost at least USD 20 here.
Isn't it pervert (in some way) that I could order at wwbw and still be cheaper (shipping and VAT considered) than buying round the corner? How do these shops survive?
--
Ben
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-09-21 03:57
I know a few players (of sax and/or clarinet) who use synthetic reeds all the time -- they think they sound pretty good on them --- but they don't, to my ear. I still think the place for synthetic reeds is as backups, or for doublers who can't keep multiple reeds wet and ready during shows, etc. Generally, cane sounds and responds better in my experience.
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2005-09-22 14:11
David,
I had nothing but terrible experiences whenever I tried a synthetic reed in the past. After only a couple of notes I'd be so disgusted by how it sounded that the plastic reed went sailing into the trash can! I've also gotten on my friends' cases when they used a Fibercell and had a noticably buzzy sound. All of that changed after giving Legere reeds a try. I found them to be different from any of the other synthetic reeds that I tried and pitched. However, having said that, it took me a period of time to become adjusted to Legere.
I experimented with the different types of Legere reeds, in various strengths, on all of my clarinet and saxophone mouthpieces. I settled on a #3 Quebec cut clarinet reed on my Morgan RM28 mouthpiece. I'm extremely happy with the results that I'm getting with this set up. However, I had a more difficult time becoming comfortable with Legere on saxophone. My usual set up is a Morgan 3C mouthpiece on my 1934 Buescher New Aristocrat tenor. For me, Legere doesn't have the rich tonal qualities that I'm used to with a good Alexander Classique reed on my 3C. Frankly, I could not get Legere to work for me on that mouthpiece. However, I found that I got better results using a more open mouthpiece. I'm currently using a #2.5 regular cut (not the Studio version) Legere on a 20-year old Bilger-Morgan large chamber mouthpiece in a 6 (.090) facing. I'm very picky about my sound and I can tell you that I'm happy with this set up.
The first time that I played a big band gig using Legere on both clarinet and tenor none of my buddies in the sax section or the rest of the band realized that anything was different about my sound. For all they knew, I was using my tried & true cane. I found that to be pretty amazing.
Best Regards, Roger
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-09-22 14:47
I did a concert playing 1st clarinet containing the Mozart and Strauss 13 wind instrument ensembles back at college using a Bari plastic reed, a Vandoren A1 crystal, all held together with a Luyben transparent lig.
I should have used a transparent perspex B12 as well!
Has to be said, my clarinet teacher thought I sounded great at the concert (which he was conducting), but he didn't realise until after the concert exactly what my setup was and didn't like the idea - though he didn't have any complaints with regard to the tone quality.
I have used both the Bari plastic and Codera Harry Hartman Carbon Toptone Fiberreed on alto sax, but it does start to sound flabby after about an hour, so it's back to the Vandoren Javas.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-09-22 14:52
Roger, I don't disagree with you --- but in my own limited experience, the guys who play synthetics (often these are Legeres, with Bari reeds being popular too) seem to believe they sound fine --- but to me they don't sound good --- that's just my perception.
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2005-09-22 17:10
The Legere web site has several sound clips and you're asked to see if you can tell a difference between the passages played on a Legere reed and the ones played on a cane reed. I could hear a difference between them. The sound of the cane reed sounded better to my ears on the staccato passage. However, I preferred the sound of the Legere reed on the legato passage. In that example, Legere had a beautifully dark, full-bodied sound that appeals to me.
Yes, there is always the issue of how close the sound that we hear as players is to the sound that an audience hears.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-09-22 17:56
I'm waiting for them to develop a decent synthetic oboe or cor anglais reed, and hope this will be the answer, or as near as possible.
Fibercane double reeds are cack, so let's hope Legere get it right.
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Author: klarisa
Date: 2005-09-23 13:56
I tried a legere on my altosax and it was about the worst experience i ever had with trying out a new set up.
I listended to the soundclips on the legere website and found that the Brahms excerpt played with the legere reed was played with much more vibrato and musical freedom than the other excerpt. So i found it impossible to compare them.
Don't think i wil try an artificial reed in the nearby future...but never say never again....so
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