 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jeffyx
Date: 2017-12-11 08:36
Does anyone know which Legere reed to get for the BD5? I'm confused whether to get the European or Signature. I understand the European is more popular but according to the website, it's works better on french mouthpieces. Has anyone tried Legere reeds on a BD5? If so, which model should I get?
Jeffery
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2017-12-11 08:42
The BD5 is a French mouthpiece.
Get the European Signature version. Go a quarter or half strength UP from what you would use for cane (Vandoren 4 would equal Legere Europeans Signature 4.5. 3.5/3.5+ would be about a 3.75/4).
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Author: Jimis4klar
Date: 2020-03-26 05:07
Anyone knows which legere or any synthetic reed works similarly to V12 3.5 for BD5 Bb clarinet MP?? I'm between a Legere signature 3.75 or a european 3.5.. I normally use V12 3.5 and I have tried the european 3.75 but It's heavy compared to v12 and It doesn't reach the very high notes, any alternatives????
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2020-03-26 21:01
Jimis4klar - If it's too hard - Adjust the reed just like you would with cane reeds.
Not all reeds work the same for players. I make my own reeds, because of frustrations with all of the other reeds I've played on.
No you don't have to make reeds, just learn the art of fixing reeds. Fred Ormand has a GREAT book on reeds. Tell him hello for me. He knows me very well. We've been friends since 1972. He's smart.
I think all Legere reeds are made without enough spine, the center of the reeds, ten the rails, the sides of the reeds are too thick. So try taking off material from the rails near the tip area to abut 1/4 of the way back to where the vamp starts.
Hope this helps.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2020-03-26 21:03)
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2020-03-26 21:24
Don't buy new mouthpieces to fit reeds! It probably won't solve your problems. There are NOT any Legere friendly mouthpieces on the market, unless you adjust the Legere's. Sure some mouthpieces might play a shade better, but you won't ever get that great sound. These reeds sometimes sound ok but the design causes a lose of harmonics, or overtones, whatever you wish to call it.
Learn how to fix these reeds if you like them, but the harmonics may not speak out very well. Yes you will save money by not throwing out cane reeds. So for the average player the Legere's can work with adjustments.
I need to repeat this, the Legere reeds are made wrong so a mouthpiece cannot fix this. It can only help a bit, and if you go back to cane reeds the mouthpiece may or may not sound right.
I'm kinda against changing mouthpieces a lot. Find or keep a really great mouthpiece. Make your reeds fit the mouthpiece.
One time I was in the finals of a major orchestra and I was living in Maryland. The weather was rain. I took the train to New York City and there was snow there. The first day of the auditions I made the final 4, the next day my reeds died from the climate change. Yes I lost. A Legere reed may have gotten me the job. Maybe... At least I would have sounded good enough to play.
I'll take a cane reed over a plastic reed, but for those stinky weather changes a plastic reed might get you through a very bad day.
The FEEL of cane reeds and Legere reeds is a lot different. I can't make a good mouthpiece using Legere reeds, but Richard Hawkins can. The last I heard he uses Legere's. His mouthpieces might help people playing on Legere's. Tell him hello for me. He's a good man. I think he probably adjusts his Legere's. So ask him to set you up with a few Legere reeds to fit his mouthpiece line.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2020-03-26 21:41
I haven't talked to John Bruce Yeh in a year or so. He was using a BD5 with Vandoren reeds. Maybe the V12 reeds, not too sure. He's with the Chicago Sym. As we all know, he's a very nice man. I'd stay with a V12 and a 3 strength reed and see what happens.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: vintschevski
Date: 2020-03-28 07:27
Does John Bruce Yeh play an unadjusted BD5 mouthpiece, or does he get somebody to work on it, to adjust it to his preference?
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