 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: RLarm
Date: 2017-02-24 23:22
I recently purchased 17 of the European Signatures. Wow! I understand why there is so much positive chatter about these reeds. Unlike Legere's earlier reeds I find the that the reeds' strength is so consistent from reed to reed. But what caught my attention immediately is the sound which is REALLY very good for all 17 - no lemons.I could play any of them in performances. I have two questions: I find that I play slightly flatter compared to cane reeds. I also find for lack of a better term that they get a little slimy after several minutes. Any comments?
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-02-25 00:21
For me, yes, and yes. I also find them slightly flatter, but my mouthpieces tend to play a little sharp, so not a problem for me. I just pull the barrel out less. I don't know what you mean by "slimy" but they do seem to hold water differently on the back than cane reeds do. Maybe it's just that I can see it better on the Legeres. But I find I need to wipe them off more often. I also think - but it's hard to compare directly to cane - that I get water in the tone holes more quickly, so have to swab more often, with Legeres. I don't know why this would be, but empirically it seems to be so.
Karl
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Author: gwie
Date: 2017-02-27 03:44
I find the same thing...they do play slightly flatter but it's not hard to compensate.
As for the water issue...since they don't absorb any of it, more gets into the instrument.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-02-27 04:25
gwie wrote:
> As for the water issue...since they don't absorb any of it,
> more gets into the instrument.
That was my first thought, too, and it may be the explanation. But once a cane reed is wet, how much more does it absorb, at least once it's broken in?
Karl
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2017-02-28 05:50
Quote:
Maybe it's just that I can see it better on the Legeres. But I find I need to wipe them off more often. I also think - but it's hard to compare directly to cane - that I get water in the tone holes more quickly, so have to swab more often, with Legeres. I don't know why this would be, but empirically it seems to be so. It was the same for me at first. I fully believe that the body CREATED more saliva over time with reeds cause it NEW they needed to be wet. And that over a period of time, we would lessen our saliva with legeres because over time our body would adjust to it.
My theory, but FWIW, I had the same saliva problems going from legere to cane and back again, each time it eventually lessened being a problem.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-02-28 07:45
sfalexi wrote:
> It was the same for me at first. I
> fully believe that the body CREATED more saliva over time with
> reeds cause it NEW they needed to be wet. And that over a
> period of time, we would lessen our saliva with legeres because
> over time our body would adjust to it.
I don't think most of the water on the back of the reed (cane or synthetic) is saliva - certainly not all of it. Enough is condensate from the player's circa 98.6° F. breath that increased or decreased salivary production wouldn't explain all of it. The water seems to bead up to a greater extent than it does on cane, I suppose because the synthetic material is water-repellent and doesn't distribute the moisture as well - it beads up until the bead falls of its own weight (with the encouragement of the moving air stream).
All I can say is that water on the back of my reeds seems more of a problem with the Legére synthetic. The upshot is that I have to take the reed off and wipe it more often. Still a small trade-off for the other conveniences.
Karl
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2017-02-28 09:01
kdk wrote:
time our body would adjust to it.
>
> I don't think most of the water on the back of the reed (cane
> or synthetic) is saliva - certainly not all of it. Enough is
> condensate from the player's circa 98.6° F. breath that
> increased or decreased salivary production wouldn't explain all
> of it. The water seems to bead up to a greater extent than it
> does on cane, I suppose because the synthetic material is
> water-repellent and doesn't distribute the moisture as well -
> it beads up until the bead falls of its own weight (with the
> encouragement of the moving air stream).
>
> Karl
Good point. I think I equated the feeling of wetness or dryness on my tongue with the condensation. I definitely will take the slight annoyances for the convenience of being able to play at a moment's notice. I felt that today when I arrived late to a rehearsal, slapped the reed on, and said, "Good to go. Let's do this." Got 'em for every reed instrument I play, and will continue to get them.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: ClarinetRobt
Date: 2017-02-28 19:55
Amen Alexi!
I always use Legere Euro Signature in summer, outdoor playing. After each piece, I go through a ritual of swabbing my Ridenour and de-spitting my Legere.
I never have any issues. With cane I usually get through several pieces before de-spitting.
~Robt L Schwebel
Mthpc: Behn Vintage
Lig: Ishimori, Behn Delrin
Reed: Legere French Cut 3.75/4, Behn Brio 4
Horns: Uebel Superior (Bb,A), Ridenour Lyrique, Buffet R13 (Eb)
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2017-02-28 22:16
Concerning the condensation issues on the back of reeds, two possible solutions came to my mind and, IMO, were verified in the following post from the archives:
#1. Periodically, place as much of the mouthpiece into one's mouth and suck air inward while slowly pulling the mouthpiece from the mouth.
#2. Place a tissue paper or some other thin, porous paper between the reed and the mouthpiece rails and press against the back of the reed.
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=183692&t=183532
I found the above thread to be quite informative.
The above two possible solutions may not make the Legere as dry as removing it and wiping it dry, but I believe they would more than suffice and the time element would be greatly reduced.
I have seen clarinet players do #1 as well as blow across C#4 to get rid of accumulating moist breath air condensation.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-03-01 00:03
Dan Shusta wrote:
> Concerning the condensation issues on the back of reeds, two
> possible solutions came to my mind and, IMO, were verified in
> the following post from the archives:
>
> #1. Periodically, place as much of the mouthpiece into one's
> mouth and suck air inward while slowly pulling the mouthpiece
> from the mouth.
> #2. Place a tissue paper or some other thin, porous paper
> between the reed and the mouthpiece rails and press against the
> back of the reed.
I have been doing solution #1 for 60 years. It doesn't get enough of the water off a Légère as needed, but it is certainly a partial help. After a particular point, though, the sucking action becomes noisy enough that conductors and colleagues start complaining about it. A friend of mine who was a section mate in our university wind ensemble back in the 1960s used to raise the conductor's ire regularly this way - I've never been sure if my friend was baiting him deliberately or not.
Thin, porous pieces of paper (solution #2) tend sometimes to tear off, leaving paper under the reed, which then means you have to take the reed off anyway. Again, it's a help, done carefully, but a little unreliable.
The point is that the problem of water on the back of the reed, which isn't unique to Légère plastic just seems greater with the synthetic and needs to be dealt with more often than with cane.
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