 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-05-08 05:57
With no less than 4,700 posts just found on "Legere" there's no shortage of material here on them, and maybe this question has been pondered.
For those who abandoned cane for Legere's, particularly those who didn't do so right away (i.e. for who Legere's perhaps weren't love at first play), what was the defining moment or thing that swayed you to the cane free lifestyle?
Was it the introduction of a new brand of the product, or simply getting fed up with cane, etc.?
..still content with cane.....
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Author: tucker ★2017
Date: 2017-05-08 06:05
I dated Legere for 3 months. I've re-caned. I cheat from time to time... most recently with a tenor sax studio cut (for bass). Best date I've had so far, but not enough for the final divorce.
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Author: gwie
Date: 2017-05-08 06:09
For me, it was the Legere Signature European Cut reeds finally delivering what I was hoping for since the first Legere reed was introduced.
I was very skeptical as to the possibilities of a synthetic reed. I tried Fibracell and a few others and was disappointed. I tried every single version of Legere's offerings, the original, then Quebec Cut, Ontario Cut, Signature, etc. But they never quite had all the right attributes at the same time. I always went back to cane.
Nowadays, with the playing and teaching schedule that I have, I don't even bother to bring my cane reeds with me (even some excellent Behn Aria reeds haven't changed my mind). I know that I can put my Euro Sig on my mouthpiece and get that same responsive, resonant, and beautiful sound right from the get go, without having to break in or do anything to the reed. I rotate through 3-4 at a time so that they'll last a long time. I've bought extras to stash away, and barring any failure of the product in the future, I'm set, no more cane reeds, reed tools, etc. for me!
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Author: shmuelyosef
Date: 2017-05-08 06:15
With the release of the Signature reeds, I have largely committed to Legere for Baritone Sax and Bass Clarinet. Still dating on clarinet...had a few first dates on the other saxophones (SAT) but even the Signature series is not sufficiently compelling, although the soprano sax was close. On alto and tenor sax, I don't really have much trouble with reeds...I can use both RJS and VD jaZZ interchangeably and get mostly playable reeds out of the box.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2017-05-08 18:47
I have found the European cut to be significantly better than any of the others I had tried. While I like them and have used them in a variety of situations, I still prefer cane for the most part.
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Author: ClarinetRobt
Date: 2017-05-08 19:39
The Euro Signature for Soprano clarinet is a game changer. The previous models of Legere have, at best, been ehhh. (I thought I like the Quebec for about 15 minutes one time, but at the end of the day it was just, ehhh.)
I abandoned cane for the past six months after I used up my last Leuthner for the a Euro Signature 3.75. Best move ever.
I will admit, Behn's Aria reeds are probably the most consistent/balanced/lively reed I've ever come across. I suspect my reed choices will be more mixed depending on my playing situation.
But heading into hot ass summer in Texas, I do a lot of outdoor playing. So I'll be suited up with my Ridenour & Euro Signature Legere in hand for all of that playing. I enjoy no drama with my equipment. (And kinda chuckle when I see my peers struggle...and feel bad for them. I told them when the new Legeres came out...There's a Better Way! Come to the Light!)
~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: echi85
Date: 2017-05-08 20:50
I too switched to the Euro cut last September. It's the first synthetic reed that I've felt comfortable using. I've done an extensive amount of testing for the past 9 months. I've sent recordings to colleagues, talked to guest conductors, gotten feedback from non clarinet players in the orchestra, and had students try them. I've enough points of data to say that they are what I will be playing on for the foreseeable future and recommending them to everyone. Full disclosure, as of last month I am a Legere artist.
The evenness of response for these reeds is really what sold me on them. I had to tinker with other pieces of equipment to get the sound to what I like. I also had to learn to play them. I find you really can't bite and get these reeds to work. Upper lip control with a relaxed jaw position is crucial for these reeds.
I don't think they work for everyone and I don't think work with certain mouthpieces. I've yet to play a mouthpiece with a medium-short facing that sounds good on these reeds. The longer facings do very well with them.
I've gone back to cane several times now, even with the Behn reeds, and have always found myself coming back to the Legeres.
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Author: fromsfca
Date: 2017-05-08 21:58
I use the Legere primarily for shows where the bass sits for awhile before I have to play it.
I prefer cane reeds, but unless I'm playing mostly bass, will use the Legere to reduce headaches from dried out reeds. I also use Legere on my oboe for the same reason.
I tried them on both Bb and Eb clarinets and I didn't like the sound or the response, especially above high C.
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Author: ClarinetRobt
Date: 2017-05-08 22:15
Echi85 brings up a great point. They don't work on every mouthpiece. My Fobes Europa 3 repels Legere, it has to have a cane reed, but a nice mouthpiece nonetheless. There is definitely a learning curve with Legere. You will have your embouchure as perfect as possible. It's a good thing...I think about using an even jaw pressure all the way round the mouthpiece, biting bad.
I know I've told this board last year, but I had a freshman with a cane allergy. We switched her to Behn's new Legere friendly mouthpiece with the Euro Signature and the transformation was astonishing. The gal went from a fair, typical HS sound to a beautiful round pinging quality.
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Author: gwie
Date: 2017-05-09 02:38
Definitely you have to find a mouthpiece that works well with the Legere. Luckily there are quite a few options!
I'm playing on Behn's Epic HCV and it works beautifully with a 3.5! I dug out my old Vandoren 2RV and was thrilled to find that it worked very well also.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2017-05-10 04:18
For me, it was a combination of finding a mouthpiece that worked well with it, and totally getting fed up with reeds.
I play in all sorts of weather, and I play a lot. At least two hours a day every day (one hour on Sundays), that's just on clarinet and not including putting time on saxophone and trying to learn flute. I also am taking online college classes and have administrative work to do with the band, so I don't have a lot of time (and even less patience) to mess with cane reeds to get them sounding good, only to have an outdoor gig on a humid day make them all respond like [expletive].
So I have legeres on clarinet and sax, throw them on, and practice, rehearse, or perform or whatever it is I need to do that day.
I like my sound on them (verified by recording some practice sessions and liking what I hear), and the european legere reeds for some reason sound and feel even better.
Signature series on alto and tenor sax (for both hard rubber and metal mouthpieces), and european legere on clarinet. So nice to carry a small 6 reed case around, pull one out, slap it on and play.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2017-05-14 01:19)
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Author: shmuelyosef
Date: 2017-05-13 21:46
Interesting
I use a Fobes 4L with the Signature and it's splendid. I bought a second one for the rotation and liking it more all the time...and time is what I get back not having to fuss with cane.
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-05-14 19:53
So...I tried a Legere Euro Signature based on the above.
While I am not ready to abandon cane, I do agree, the product is a significant step up from previous Legere offerings--not to imply that either the Euro is perfect, or that previous offerings not huge paradigm advances in the non-cane single reed offering market space.
I'm a correct in saying that consensus lies in the player getting a differing feeling playing some of the clarinet's notes using a Legere, than when doing so with cane, or is it just me?
...not that the "feeling" one gets playing a note should be a big factor in one's decision...especially if that feelings is "it's easier (or no more difficult) to voice."
I also found that some notes that had originally played flat for me with non-cane offerings, came into tune as I took in more mouthpiece (i.e. my fault, not the reed's)
..and taking in more mouthpiece, IMHO, is one of those things that, as long as you don't squeak, you should probably consider doing.
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