 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: YCL-450
Date: 2006-06-20 00:56
Hello again all, I just got a Legre reed and the only thing I can say is wow! what a great reed. Of course I have only been playing a few months so what do I know. But to me this is better than any other reed I have ever tried. And beleive me I have tried a lot of brands. I may never go back to wood reeds again unless somthing changes as I gain playing experience. Anyway I just had to share my experience with this reed. I would like to know what others think of this reed who have tried it.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2006-06-20 12:33
Legere far exceeds the competition on the synthetic reed front. It is certainly the "go to" reed in hygromatic emergencies, ie too little humidity, and they last longer than their wooden counterparts. The down side is that they will not allow enough vibrancy of sound to achieve the best tone or projection as compared to a good cane reed that is working properly (compare the extreme altissimos where the reed realy has to earn its keep).
...........Paul Aviles
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-06-20 12:47
I have a Légère too; I use it when every other reed at hand fails. When I then still squeak or sound stuffy, then I'm obviously not in a playing condition...
--
Ben
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Author: YCL-450
Date: 2006-06-20 13:17
Legere far exceeds the competition on the synthetic reed front. It is certainly the "go to" reed in hygromatic emergencies, ie too little humidity, and they last longer than their wooden counterparts. The down side is that they will not allow enough vibrancy of sound to achieve the best tone or projection as compared to a good cane reed that is working properly (compare the extreme altissimos where the reed realy has to earn its keep).
...........Paul Aviles
From what I have read they are a little squeeky in the altissimos and command more control. As beginner of a few months I can't get into the altissimo range yet so that isn't a problem for me right now. I really like the convienience and I can't tell the differance in tone. That may change down the road when I'm better though.
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Author: hans
Date: 2006-06-20 15:08
Paul Aviles,
Re "The downside is that they will not allow enough vibrancy of sound to achieve the best tone or projection as compared to a good cane reed that is working properly (compare the extreme altissimos where the reed realy has to earn its keep).", you may want to reconsider that statement. Artie Shaw made some of his most famous and best-selling recordings with a plastic reed. Res ipsa loquitur.
Regards,
Hans
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2006-06-20 19:15
I get excellent results with the Legere Quebec reed. I prefer it's thicker cut to the reguar Legere reed.
Also, Legere is working on another clarinet reed. The prototype name is "3 Dot". I tired several 3 Dot reeds last year. I'm not sure when they will be available on the market. Currently, they can be ordered through the Legere company. This gives players interested in Legere another option besides the regular and Quebec cuts.
One thing I do with Legere reeds is to make a subtle adjustment to the tip area with the ATG Reed Finishing System. After making this adjustment the reed really comes to life with improved tone and response. With an ATG-tweaked Quebec reed I get a lovely dark sound that is vibrant and has a good level of projection. I especially like how it retains a "thick" tonal core in the high range. This is important to me because I often double on clarinet and tenor saxophone in a big band. I cannot stand an overly bright or thin clarinet sound. With the Legere Quebec reed I can have a dark, fat sound that is strong enough to hold its ground in a big band.
There are times when I dust off some high quality cane reeds that I keep. They sound very good at first. But, after playing on them for a period of time I go back to Quebec and feel it to be an ideal match for what I need. Quebec reeds have really grown on me!
Roger
Post Edited (2006-06-20 19:20)
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Author: seafaris
Date: 2006-06-20 20:11
I play for fun about 1-2 hours a day. Mostly light jazz and standards. I practice with the computer program Band in a Box. I have been playing the Legere reed off and on for 2 years. Lately 90% of my playing is with a Legere reed. I play a Leblanc LL, Walter Grabner 64mm barrel, Walters k-14 mouthpiece, the Eddie Daniels ligature with # 3 Legere reed. When I play the cane reeds (21/2 Vandoran or Gonzales reeds) I use a Fobes 4L, and the rovner light ligature. I have been recording on my computer a few songs comparing both. I have found that it is a lot easier to critique ones playing by listening to it recorded. It is a very interesting and eye opening experience. I use a high quality condenser mic right above the center of my music stand, pointed at the center of the horn.
I have some observations. The mouthpiece is very important. I play my cane reeds with a Fobes 4L which is very free blowing and the Legere sounds terrible. I play my Legere reeds on a Walter Grabner kz 14 which is his most open, but a little more resistive than the Fobes. The k-14 sounds great, but the Fobes is easier for me with cane. When the cane reeds (I rotate 5 reeds) are playing really well (for what ever strange reason) the higher register has more clarity and just rings like the finest crystal. The Legere reed sounds better in my opinion from "C" on the staff and lower, the upper register sounds like good crystal.
For me the Legere reeds work best because I spend more time playing and not fooling with the cane. IMHO the Legere reed takes a lot more air support in the higher register to ring, and this took me over a month to get there, and I am still working on it. My embouchure can be more flexible with the Legere. The throat tones sound richer. I hardly ever squeak. It does takes more air and work for any note above "E" on the staff. In general the Legere sounds less airy with a more woody tone. Whenever I play the cane it initially sounds better, but I am much less consistent and after a day I am back to the Legere. I have pretty much decided to practice on the few short comings of the reed and then hopefully I will have a real winner!
Cheers,
Jim
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Author: seafaris
Date: 2006-06-20 20:27
Hi Roger,
What excatly to you do to the tip reed with the ATG system? Which direction do you sand the tip? The Legere site says to do it one way and the ATG system does it the other.
What will be the difference in the 3 dot reed in comparison to the other 2?
One thing I forgot to mention above is that I can blow the heck out of the Legere reed without fear! It might lend itself a little more towards jazz and big band than classical.
Cheers,
Jim
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2006-06-20 21:33
Hi Jim,
I adjust the tip area of a Legere exactly as it is shown in the DVD and user guide that comes with the ATG. It is extremely simple and takes less than a minute to do. You are correct, this method of adjustment goes against the recommended advice contained on the Legere web site about working on reeds. Never the less, IT WORKS.
It's been close to a year since I've played a 3 Dot. At the time, I liked it better than the regular Legere clarinet reed but not as much as the Quebec. I would describe the 3 Dot as an adjusted version of the regular cut. It's as if sanding was done along the sides of the vamp. That's as I can best remember. If you're interested in the reed it would be best to post a question about it on the Legere web site.
I, too, discovered that mouthpiece characteristics can make a big difference with Legere reeds. I have not experienced any problems with Legere on my Morgan RM28 mouthpiece on Bb clarinet or RM10 on C clarinet. However, I was not happy with Legere on my Morgan 3C tenor saxophone mouthpiece. I tried the two Legere saxophone reed cuts in various strengths. But, I did not like the quality of sound that I got with Legere on that mouthpiece. I tried different mouthpiece facings over a period of time. Finally, the ball went out of the park with a #2.5 regular cut Legere on a Morgan 6L. The combination of this reed and mouthpiece sounds really good....big, robust, vibrant dark sound. I'm quite happy with it.
I should also mention that I found that I had to use a different ligature with Legere. I had been using Francois Louis ligatures for the past 3 or so years. However, I had a problem with leakage along the side rails using an FL lig on Legere. Never had that problem with cane reeds. It seems to me that the small reed plate of the FL doesn't provide a large enough area of sealing pressure. So, I tried a selection of ligatures and got the best results with the Vandoren Master's. Now, when I do a "pop" test with my set up on clarinet and saxophone the Legere reed remains sealed for a very impressive length of time before finally popping open.
As you can see, I found that I had to make some adjustments to my set up in order to get the best results with Legere reeds. However, since I double so much it was DEFINITELY worth it. I first tried Legere to see if the reeds would be of help in doubling situations (ie, reeds drying out). Legere has been a huge help in that respect. But, once I became comfortable with them and fine-tuned my set up I discovered that I really like the tonal qualities and response of the Quebec clarinet reed and the regular cut Legere saxophone reed.
Roger
Post Edited (2006-06-20 21:40)
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Author: seafaris
Date: 2006-06-20 22:19
Thanks Roger for the detailed response!
I was also using the Francois Louis ligature, but it is slightly large for the zinner blank. I put a patch on the top, but it gets scrunched up. I still think it is the best ligature, but the rovers are easy (safe) on the mouthpiece, are adequate, and don't twist on the mouthpiece. I will try the atg again on one of my not so great reeds. Every once in awhile I get a reed that has a waiver to it and a thin sound. I am in the process of trying 2/34 strength reeds and they seem to work fine.
Cheers,
Jim
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