 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jill B.
Date: 2000-08-29 01:20
Okay,
I have been playing for 7 years on wooden reeds, but I am starting to hear more and more about plastic one's. I am not to convinced though. Could anyone with some information on these please help me out! Thanx
~JILL~
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Author: William
Date: 2000-08-29 01:27
My own opinion, I prefer any wooden reed to the best Legere or any other plastic reed that I have ever played. I do use them in doubling situations where a sax or clarinet has to sit idle for an extended time and then must be ready to play immediatly and, for those situations, they do work--it's just that I like the sound of cane better.
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Author: Bob Gardner
Date: 2000-08-29 03:29
i have used my Legere #3 1/2 reed for all of two weeks, and i think it is great. The dollar cost was high, but worth it.
Now i'm a beginner for what ever that is worth.
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Author: William
Date: 2000-08-29 14:42
Bob (and Jill B.)--I am an relatively accomplished clarinetist with many years of playing experiance in all sorts of amature and professional groups (orchestral, pit, wind bands, jazz bands, soloist, etc) and, I suppose, with all these years behind me, I might be a bit bias in my acceptance of artificial reeds. I have played Legere reeds and they work ok in doubling situations, but still for me, cane reeds are much more responsive and sound better in all registers of my clarinets and saxophones. But then, I also like broccolli, so maybe my "taste" standards are bit "out of sync." To each his own. Bottom line is, I guess, if it works, don't fix it. Good luck.
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Author: SusieQ
Date: 2000-08-29 16:23
Jill,
William is right about cane reeds giving you a better tone, that is if you can find a perfect reed. I use a Legere reed on my bass clarinet and love it. Just ordered my second reed. BC reeds are really expensive and the cane reeds just don't hold up. The consistancy of the Legere is amazing. I haven't had to dig in the depths of my case for a good reed in months because I know the Legere will work. It is a matter of being willing to give up a tone for consistancy. I play most of my concerts outdoors and find that humidity and temperature don't affect it. Give one a try the have a great return policy. Good Luck!
SusieQ
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Author: Bob Gardner
Date: 2000-08-29 17:11
To make yourself happy try both. I have a friend who is a great player and says she rejects 80 per cent of all cane reeds. As a beginner I have never rejected one (also I fugul). I like the legere for the same reasons as Susie--it is ready to go and with my ear I really can't tell the differance. As Willian said--to each thier own.
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Author: bill
Date: 2000-08-29 23:55
I've played on wood my whole life and I'm gonna play wood till i die!
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Author: Roger
Date: 2000-08-31 13:51
The first graduate student that I ever took lessons from (back in 1983---I am no spring chicken)told me that the problem back then with plastic reeds was that they vibrated differently from cane and the mouthpieces were really matched to cane. He indicated that he thought that plastic reeds could be more acceptable if they redesigned the mouthpieces.
I do not believe that has happened. What has happened is that they have worked of the reeds to improve their performance.
When I play bass clarinet I use a plastic reed. I have used the same reed since 1992. When I play other clarinets and saxes I use cane.
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Author: Rosie
Date: 2000-09-02 15:42
I think cane reeds produce the best sound, best response to articulation and whatnot. However, I do find that a plastic reed works wonderfully in a marching band. I can get a nice loud obnoxious, marching clarinet sound with a plastic reed, and never have to take off, and never split it. But when I switch gears I use cane reeds, because that's what my mouthpiece is designed for, and that's what produces the sound I love.
So, depending on your level, style and purpose of playing, you should try any reeds you want to, and pick the one that works best for you.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-09-02 19:44
Rosie wrote:
-------------------------------
I think cane reeds produce the best sound, best response to articulation and whatnot. However, I do find that a plastic reed works wonderfully in a marching band. I can get a nice loud obnoxious, marching clarinet sound with a plastic reed, and never have to take off, and never split it.
-----
Rosie, have you tried the Legere? It is not anything like a Fibrecell or Plasticover. It's not quite a cane reed, either.
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