 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: William
Date: 2009-04-26 18:09
Does anyone else--besides me--notice your clarinet playing lower in pitch while playing either of these popular synthetic reeds?? The accoustical configuration of my clarinets does not change, but the general pitch level is about six cents lower than with cane.
Post Edited (2009-04-26 18:24)
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Author: Wes
Date: 2009-04-26 20:56
Yes, I've noticed that it can affect the unity of a clarinet section when a player changes to a synthetic reed. But, I don't know whether this is a common situation or not.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2009-04-26 21:16
Yes, I've noticed. I think it's because both leave the tips too soft.
Karl
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-04-26 23:33
Hard to say. I played a concert today on a well-used Legere Quebec 3.5. My setup included a Greg Smith Chedeville mpc., a Vandoren Klassik String Ligature and a Ridenour 576 BC clarinet. The horn was perfectly in tune with other players, and I had a fairly exposed part playing against a violin solo in the theme from Schindler's List. I matched pitch perfectly with the two other clarinets, one who plays a nice R13 and the other with a Selmer Centered Tone (one on a part) and the solo violin.
Jeff
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Author: alanporter
Date: 2009-04-26 23:52
I have noticed my bass clarinet plays 10 to 15 cents flater with a Legere
2 1/2 compared to my number 3 cane reed.
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Author: Pappy
Date: 2009-04-27 00:36
"Yes, I've noticed. I think it's because both leave the tips too soft.
Karl
"
I noticed that too. When i clipped the Forestone C-3 to stiffen up the tip it did bring the pitch up a bit, but not all the way.
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2009-04-27 17:04
I've not had that problem with Legere on clarinet, bass clarinet, and tenor saxophone.
Roger
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Author: stimsonaa
Date: 2009-04-27 18:06
Not sure about pitch, but I've found that for me, certain voicings/embochures/airstreams give a cane-like tone and response on legeres, whereas others that I can get away with trying on cane respond differently (and sound really strange) on legere.
It seems like for certain players or playstyles the synthetics mimic cane well, but for other (equally valid) ways of playing, they are not the same.
I'm excited to try forestone though, and maybe some newer legeres (mine are from like 6 years ago). Just my 2-cents.
Albert Stimson
Midwest Musical Imports
www.mmimports.com
albert@mmimports.com
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2009-04-27 19:15
Albert,
It's been my experience that Legere reeds can have a stunningly beautiful quality of sound and performance characteristics with particular mouthpiece facings and ligatures. Sadly, the opposite is also true.
I've had the experience of trying a Legere reed on a certain mouthpiece (which in theory had a good facing for the Legere reed strength) and it sounded absolutely terrible. Then, the same reed was used on another mouthpiece and WOW....love at first note.
Simlar experiences with ligatures.
I used the trial & error method to piece together set ups on each of my horns that work exceptionally well with Legere reeds. With each, the results are so good that I have no desire to return to cane.
Interestingly, the set up that gave me the most trouble with Legere was my tenor saxophone. I ended up sending the mouthpiece back to the craftsman who made it along with a new Legere tenor reed. I asked him to optimize the facing for Legere. After his adjustments the mouthpiece totally blew me away. Gorgeous sound and remarkable response.
PS, we also need to remember that Legere is currently making five kinds of Bb clarinet reeds (not counting the Student version): Regular, Quebec, Ontario, German, and the new Signature Series. Each is different. Thus, when clarinetists talk about the results they get with Legere I find it helpful if they specify which kind they use.
I've never gotten along well with the Regular cut on Bb clarinet. Whereas, Quebec really does it for me. I recently tried the Signature Series. I found it to be an impressive reed in its tonal qualities and overall performance. However, for whatever reason, its reed strength is softer than a Quebec in a similar strength. When the reed becomes available in US shops I'll try it in harder strengths.
Roger
Post Edited (2009-04-27 20:02)
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Author: Phil Pedler
Date: 2009-04-27 22:11
For me, on Bflat Clarinet, using a Hite D mouthpiece, I find my Legere Quebec 4 reeds tend to easily go flat in the throat tones. I experience much less flatness with a Portnoy BP02 and another mouthpiece seems even better. My Ridenour mouthpiece also seem not to have the problem.
Phil
Phil Pedler
clarinetpages.wetpaint.com
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-04-28 02:16
The Grabner K-series mouthpieces play wonderfully with Legere Quebecs.
Jeff
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2009-04-28 11:56
Jeff,
Please see the new thread I posted last night about the Legere Signature reed. I have yet to understand why there is such a reed strength difference between Signature and Quebec. I use a #3 Quebec on my K14 (my clarinet is a vintage Couesnon Monopole) and discovered that I need a #3.5 Signature. Signature does not give me as thick of a sound as I get with Quebec. However, both the quality of sound and especially the ease of articulation I experience with Signature are impressive. Given how much I love the dark thick sound of Quebec, I cannot see myself doing a complete switch to Signature. However, I'll have Signature in my reed case and will use it in certain situations.
I received an email from Guy Legere last night telling me about how they are using the Signature material in a new saxophone reed. Can't wait to try that out!
Roger
Post Edited (2009-04-28 11:57)
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-04-28 12:12
I saw your post on the Signature reed in the other section, Roger. I can't wait to give a couple of them a try when they hit the vendors. As it is, I just received a couple of new Quebecs yesterday from Weiner Music, so I can rotate out a couple of the older ones in my case.
Jeff
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Author: stimsonaa
Date: 2009-04-28 17:07
Roger,
It's good to know I'm not the only one who found variations in the circumstances that make synthetics work. I'll try different mouthpieces/ligatures as well. I think that when I got my legeres they may not have even had the different cuts yet, so I'll have to check that out. 
Albert
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