Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-05-31 20:36
Burt wrote:
> I wonder if thinning the tip will reduce this problem, but I
> have not tried it.
>
My suspicion is that thinning the tip may worsen the problem - it's similar to the effect I find with a too soft tip on a cane reed. I haven't tried it either - partly because I really don't know what kind of tool or abrasive to use. The material doesn't seem to scrape cleanly.
But, my problem begins a fourth lower, and I can play in tune only by raising my tongue in what feels like a really exaggerated way and applying extra embouchure pressure by tightening my lips around the mouthpiece. By the time I've done all of this, the sound I'm producing isn't free or steady, I assume because I'm introducing a lot of extra tension to hold the pitch up. These notes are too much called for to write off. And Morales and others I know are using Legeres don't *sound* like they're having a problem with this.
I've never thought of my mouthpieces as medium-close - most of them are in the range of 1.01 to 1.04 mm. I wonder, for those who feel the close tip works better for Legere, what effect if any the curve length has? The difference with cane between two mouthpieces of the same model and tip opening, one 16 mm to the closing point and the other 19 mm, is noticeable. Maybe the effect with a Legere is even more significant?
I plan to spend my practice session today experimenting with this, but I wonder what others' experiences are.
One other question to those who are successfully playing on Legeres: is there a difference in the amount of controlled volume you can produce between cane and Legere?
And two others, to broaden the discussion a little:
No one in this thread has mentioned Forestones except perhaps in passing (we used to have an avid proponent of Forestone named William, I think, who posted almost exclusively about Forestone's virtues, but he doesn't seem to be here). My impression of them generally has been that they're too soft for the close-tipped mouthpieces we're talking about for Legeres. Does anyone use any of the Forestones successfully on a close-tipped, medium to medium-long facing?
I mentioned Fiberreed near the beginning of this thread. Does anyone have any experience with them? They're unique-looking and at least one of their models seems to me promising, but I had never heard of them until I saw them advertised in an email from WW&BW.
Karl
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