 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: chipper
Date: 2007-03-07 14:00
As a realitivly new player I'm concerned that if I try one of these gizmos I may loose my ability to play with a standard reed. What does the board think?
C
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-03-07 14:20
No need to be concerned. Not even a plastic reed plays all by itself.
Think of it as "just a different brand" of reed, or a different size.
(edited for clarity)
--
Ben
Post Edited (2007-03-13 07:15)
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Author: kuteclar
Date: 2007-03-13 02:42
No. Do not use a plastic reed. Maybe for marching band, that's it. They are loud, bright, and sound like plastic. When I played them, it was much much easier to blow, so then going back to a normal reed felt very resistant and my embochure had to be built back up again. I only used a plastic reed when I was in HS marching band.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2007-03-13 02:51
kuteclar wrote:
> No. Do not use a plastic reed. Maybe for marching band, that's
> it. They are loud, bright, and sound like plastic.
Guy Legere and his MANY converts would strongly disagree ...GBK
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Author: pewd
Date: 2007-03-13 03:12
strongly disagree.
it will not mess up your embouchure to try it.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-03-13 06:46
"sound like plastic."
I just took the closest plastic thing I had here and put it right next to my ear. No, can't hear a thing. It doesn't make a sound at all! Oops! Dropped it on the floor and it made a sound. OK, now I know how plastic sounds like.
Seriously, I am in the middle of trying Legere reeds on bass clarinet. Some people (they are not clarinet players) couldn't notice anything different in my sound with the Legere. The strength felt good, but the main problem was I couldn't get as many overtones with it. This felt like it was because of the shape of the reed above the lip. Not a huge problem but a bit annoying. It's also very smooth so feels weird at first. The sound was very good, almost as good as my best cane reeds (though I only tried one Legere so far) but the sound was much better than many other cane reeds.
About them sounding bad and ruining your embouchure in my opinion that is nonsense.
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Author: kuteclar
Date: 2007-03-13 22:04
I don't know about ruining your embochure. Just know that there is a large resistance different you will need to get used to back and forth. I don't know how plastic reeds sound on bass - I think they would make the tone clearer, and for bass that may be good. I personally don't like the bright and open sound I get with them. With trying for a deeper/darker sound, I subjectively like the sound that wood gives. I mean, this matter is all subjective. Have a few people listen as a blind hearing and see what they say.
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Author: hans
Date: 2007-03-13 23:05
I switch between plastic and cane frequently with no problem whatsoever. There is too much superstitious behaviour and habit/ritual among some clarinet players, IMNSHO.
Experiment with all the variables until you find what works best for you: mouthpiece (open versus closed); reed strength (soft or hard, or in between); wood versus plastic or rubber instrument; embouchure (teeth versus double lip); swabbing direction; ligature; etc., etc.
Hans
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Author: Katelyn
Date: 2007-03-14 17:57
I've only used them for marching band, just because they don't break as easy. I think the tone quality has the potential to be better on a wood reed, but depending on the brand or size of plastic reed you get it shouldn't really interfere with your embechure. Like tictactux said, just think of them as another brand and/or size.
But then, I was a Vandoren snob for about a year, so I'm prejudiced towards wood.
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Author: kilo
Date: 2007-03-14 18:46
Quote:
There is too much superstitious behaviour and habit/ritual among some clarinet players, IMNSHO.
It is somewhat amusing. One person will say these reeds are trash, the next won't use anything else. Another hates Green Lines and can pick them out in a blindfold test, someone else says they play better than any wooden clarinet. I'm reminded of a guy who was playing in a pit band with me. He introduced me to Legeres, and stated that they were "the best playing reeds he had ever used. A traditionalist leaned over and hissed, "the best playing or the best sounding?" I totally agree with hans -- mess around with some different approaches, find things that work, appropriate them as your own. And then you too can have fun being an opinionated member of a clarinet message board!
Post Edited (2007-03-14 18:46)
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2007-03-15 00:08
You can't generalize about "plastic" reeds any more than you can about cane reeds. Some are better than others in both materials.
I use Legere reeds as a backup on Bb clarinet: might not match up with the best Vandoren/Grand Concert/Gonzalez but it sure is a lifesaver to have one at the ready when all else fails! I don't recommend them for my students in (ugh) marching band -- tip is too easy to break. I've had less luck with them on bass clarinet -- seems to me the sound is too "dead" to carry well.
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Author: kuteclar
Date: 2007-03-20 23:37
Does anyone have experience trying them on Eb? I'm afraid it may be shrill or "dead" - opposites. So, I'll ask for info first!
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2007-03-21 02:42
I play Legeres all the time on Bb and A. I get many compliments on my tone, granted, from non-clarinetists. Many musicians however seem to like how I sound so I am happy.
I tried some Legeres on my Eb and I wasn't happy at all. Might be the mouthpiece (Vandy B44) but I thought they were very stuffy and didn't have the same "ping" that they do for me on Bb.
Katrina (also in Minneapolis!)
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Author: Erik713
Date: 2007-03-21 16:16
You all inspired me to order a Legere for alto and Bb clarinet. Thanks for helping me empty my pockets!
~~~~~~~
~Woodwind doubler - sop./alto/tenor saxes, clarinet, oboe, English horn, flute/picc.
~Woodwind Teacher
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Author: sherman
Date: 2007-03-21 16:39
As I have already mentioned, both in this forum and on my own website, I do not favor the Legere reed, and this after a test of about 4 months.
So here is another update, encapsulated from another article on my website:
1. It depends upon which Legere clarinet reed you use.
a. the regular on a french mouthpiece, for instance a Van Doren M13, r Legere can be bright and is sometime characterized as brittle.
2.If you use a Quebec cut, this same french mouthpiece will be less bright, or brittle, and seem to have more low frequencies.
3. On another type of mouthpiece, frequently on a Zinner blank both types sound better, but so too will french style reeds of cane. This is also subject to opinion of any number of players.
4. It is also dependent upon how much of your technic you have achieved, that is to say, where you are as a clarinetist.
5. The person whose ear I admire more than any other I have known, my wife, cannot tell a synthetic from any other, as long as I have chosen it to play. Piece most frequently demonstrated: The Debussy Rhapsody, and the impossibly difficult(sic) Petite Suite.
I hope this helps in what seemingly is an endless discussion.
sherman friedland
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2007-03-22 15:57
You won't lose your ability to play a wooden reed by trying a plastic reed, but you may lose your urge to play one or the other depending on your preferences!!!
I had found one EPIC Legere reed and used it for months... havnt' ever found one again though, so I'm currently using V12s.
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
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Author: Erik713
Date: 2007-03-28 02:08
I received the Legere Bb clarinet reed and Alto Sax studio cut reed in the mail yesterday.
My first impressions --
They both played instantly. I double a LOT, and that alone is priceless. I am VERY impressed with the clarinet reed's sound. It's a little on the bright side, which is okay with me, as much of the music I play is not straight classical. It sounds quite "woody" and doesn't seem to squeak as much (which isn't very often anyway) as a natural reed. I'd rate it an A-
The sax reed is definitely different than the blue box Vandorens I play normally. I'd expect it, though as the Legere is studio cut (commercial style playing). It's a bit buzzier, and doesn't seem to have the same kind of life that my VD's have. I'll be using it for shows -- it plays well, and very consistently. The sound is actually what I'm looking for in shows. I wouldn't use it for classical playing ever. I'd rate it a B+
Overall, I'm much more impressed than I thought I would be. They make good products that do what they claim they do!
~~~~~~~
~Woodwind doubler - sop./alto/tenor saxes, clarinet, oboe, English horn, flute/picc.
~Woodwind Teacher
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2007-03-28 16:09
Eric,
That's good news!
As long as you're experimenting with Legere.....
It might be worth your while to try a Legere Quebec clarinet reed. There are a number of us who think the Quebec has a much better quality of sound and better overall playability than the regular Legere clarinet reed.
Also, given the B+ grade you gave the Studio, it might be interesting to try a regular Legere saxophone reed to see how it compares with blue box Vandoren. It's going to be stiffer than a Legere Studio. I've found a #2.5 regular Legere to be ballpark with a #3.25 or #3.5 Studio. Personally, I don't like the buzz of the Studio reed. It's been my experience that the regular Legere saxophone reed has a warmer and more vibrant sound as well as a stronger tonal core.
This may be simply a personal quirk of mine, but I'd rather use a regular Legere saxophone reed (instead of the Studio) and have a mouthpiece that gives me a brighter sound if that's what I need for a show or commercial playing. I've had better results with this approach than using a Studio reed to get a brighter sound on my primary mouthpiece.
For whatever reason, I just don't connect with the Studio reed....like how I don't connect with the regular Legere soprano clarinet reed. Whereas, the thicker cut Legere reeds really do it for me in having a better quality of sound and a stronger core.
Never the less, if the Studio gives you what you are looking for then by all means use it and disregard what I've written.
Good luck!
Roger
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2007-03-29 03:14
Roger,
If I'm playing on a #3.5 V12 right now, would a #3.5 or a #3.25 Quebec cut be better?
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2007-03-29 11:58
I use a #3 Quebec on a Grabner K14. When I tried a #3 V12 it was a bit soft for me. I never got around to trying a #3.5 V12.
It might be best to first try a #3.25 Quebec. Fingers crossed!
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2007-03-29 23:30
Yeah, that sounds about right. If it doesn't work, I'll do the whole exchange thing, it's not that much risk, but it would be nice to get it right the first time out. Since I've been gravitating towards reeds on the softer side of #3.5, #3.25 sounds pretty acceptable.
Thanks!
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Author: kuteclar
Date: 2007-04-01 00:17
OK, so I think I may try the new Quebec cut reeds - I've heard too much good about the new style not to.
I see the strength chart, but I was wondering if experience puts those numbers right in place. I use an M-13 Lyre and Vandoren Tradition 3.5. The 3.5s are just about never too weak, and if anything they end up being a tad too woody and airy. So, if anyone has experience like this - should I try to 3.5 or 3.75 first?
Thank you!
Post Edited (2007-04-01 00:18)
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Author: hans
Date: 2007-04-01 02:45
kuteclar,
I have 3 or 4 of them. Unless Legere's policies have changed since I bought my last one, they will exchange a reed that is not the right strength for you, so that it is/was a very low-risk purchase.
Hans (a satisfied Legere customer)
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