 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: lcollins
Date: 2017-05-31 22:43
I have recently started using Légère's European cut reed and am getting good results from it. They recommend on their website that the reeds be stored flat but without putting pressure on the tips. I asked them what case they would recommend. They didn't want to recommend a brand, but did say some of their artists use Protec or Rico cases. But all the cases I've found in both these brands seem like they'd pinch the tips. Légère did suggest storing on glass, and I've found a couple of cases (with mixed reviews, mostly on hinge or faux leather quality) by Aibay and DN that have a flat glass storage bed. A comment on the DN case says you slide the tip under a small edge of foam. It seems like that would hold it in place without putting too much pressure on it, but without seeing it in person it's hard to be sure.
I've just bought a couple more Légères to rotate, and having this much invested in the reeds I don't want to blow it by storing them wrong. I thought before ordering I'd ask here for advice. Can anybody recommend a specific case that you know works well with the Légère Euro cut reeds? Thanks much!
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-05-31 23:10
I've been using the black plastic Reedguard style holders with no apparent damage to the reeds. I'm interested to see what others are using because my regular reed cases are all designed for thicker cane reeds and the Légères slide around. Even with the Reedguard holder they sometimes slide out unless I push them in far enough to expose the tips at the other end.
Karl
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Author: GenEric
Date: 2017-06-01 02:44
https://www.amazon.com/DAddario-Woodwinds-Guard-Clarinet-Saxophone/dp/B00YRKP9G4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1496270498&sr=8-3&keywords=reed+case+daddario
I use this Reed case. In my opinion, it's the best reed case. It has a regular reed lining with the ridges on the bottom but instead of the band that holds the reeds, there is a large rubber mold around it that holds the reeds. I feel like this is better than all the reed cases that I used. It is better than the Rico plastic reed guard because I feel like the plastic on plastic might
ruin the reed and i feel more secure using it because it is better than 1 single rubber band holding the reed.
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-06-01 03:50
I'm glad you brought this up Lui. It's been on my mind until I read the same verbiage, coming from you, that I too read at the Legere site in days past:
"the reeds be stored flat but without putting pressure on the tips."
All this means, I strongly suspect, is that the very tip of the reed, i.e. the top rounded edge, not the tip section of the reed (an AREA examined from above or below), shouldn't hit up against any object, in storage or otherwise.
I don't think the people at Legere have any issue with you putting downward pressure on the tip section of a reed, as is common to any reed holder that exerts downward pressure to keep the reed from falling out.
(Many think *cane* reeds should be stored upside down to a flat surface.)
I think any reasonable reed holder is fine, including the plastic cases that Vandoren's are packaged in.
I certainly don't think, to turn this into a visual, you need to go to the jewelry store to get some of that foam they sit the loop portion of rings in while on display, using it instead to grab only the butt end of your Legeres, that otherwise are stored vertically.
If I'm wrong, I think Legere might have told you what reed storage cases to NOT use. Still more, I have had no problem using either of the reed cases I discuss above.
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Author: lcollins
Date: 2017-06-01 04:58
Thanks to all for your replies and suggestions, I've been checking out the cases you recommend (but can't find Wurlitzer).
WhitePlainsDave, this is an interesting point you make - I had visualized it as wanting to avoid any downward pressure on the tip area when it's laid flat. If it's the tip end that's to be avoided, that's a whole different matter. I just may ask Légère to clarify this for me to be sure, but what you're saying makes a lot of sense, I had been puzzled by this part.
And one more question for you, Dave, you mention having had "no problem using either of the reed cases I discuss above." But I don't see a mention of reed cases - can you clarify please?
Thanks! Lui
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Author: ClarinetRobt
Date: 2017-06-01 18:40
Lui:
This is a good discussion I've never considered. When I read "downward force on the tip area", I image the case physically touching the top of tip of the reed and exerting force on the bottom plate.
Doesn't the #1 case on Dave's link touch further back on the reed (vamp) to keep it secure. I thought it secures the reeds like a lever that toggles to secure on the vamp/base and avoids any actual physical contact with the tip.
If this is the case, it'd meet Legere's requirements perfectly.
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Author: hans
Date: 2017-06-01 19:27
Re: "all the cases I've found in both these brands seem like they'd pinch the tips"... that's the problem I had with my Protec case, unless I avoided using the "outboard" reed slots.
Legeres are thinner than cane and slide in a little too far, resulting in tip damage. Some thin tape could probably be used to take up the slack and keep the reed from sliding too far forward.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2017-06-01 21:29
Quote:
Legeres are thinner than cane and slide in a little too far, resulting in tip damage.
One of my issues with these reeds is the thinness of the blank. It causes the fit problems with reed cases and I have also had issues getting a ligature to fit and hold it properly. While I know that some will suggest various ligatures, I would like to use the same ligature I always use rather than have to use a certain one just for these reeds.
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Author: lcollins
Date: 2017-06-02 01:43
Here's the latest update from Légère in response to my request for clarification regarding what they meant by tip. Apparently it's not just the very edge of the tip but the larger area they're referring to:
"When I say a glasslike surface I am only using this as a reference to something that is completely flat. We do not want any pressure to be put onto the general area of the tip as it can cause the reed to warp. I have listed a case below that Protec offers that does not put any pressure on the tips rather just has a slot the reeds slide into to keep them in place.
I hope that this helps to better answer your questions.
http://www.protecstyle.com/product-p/a251.htm"
************
However, isn't the case they recommend here the same one you refer to, Hans, that created problems with your Légères?
After re-reading all comments above, I think either I'll continue using my plain old Vandoren plastic cases, or I'll try the D'Addario or Dave's #1 Reedguard. Thanks much everybody for all your thoughtful input.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2017-06-02 03:00
Attachment: vandoren_cl4.jpg (17k)
Hmmm... interesting.
For a while I've been using an old Vandoren case pictured without the insert- 4 Europeans fit nicely in there. (Reeds not people.) But I can't say I really know what's happening down at the tips, that's kind of hidden. Perhaps that's a bad idea.
I have 2 (maybe 3?) Protec cases currently full of old cane reeds I will never play again. But the Europeans are too wide to fit in them. I guess that's why they show the alto/tenor model. I do really like these cases. But they're iffy also?
Perhaps I will revert to my old repurposed folding cosmetic mirrors from eBay that do indeed allow me to store 3 or 4 reeds "flat on glass". The price is that when these are opened all the reeds are loose and in a dicey situation some might get away. Maybe I'll post a photo or 2 of these, nothing much to them.
Last thing I need is a new reason for experimentation.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: hans
Date: 2017-06-02 07:56
Yes - Unless the design was changed since I bought mine, about 10 years ago, that case damaged three of my Legere reeds' tips.
I use the same type of Protec cases for Alto and Tenor sax Legeres but haven't had the same issue with them.
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-06-03 06:09
"Doesn't the #1 case on Dave's link touch further back on the reed (vamp) to keep it secure?"
Yes: mine does.
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Author: shmuelyosef
Date: 2017-06-07 21:37
Ditto on Dave's choice. Mine are older, but I don't think the LaVoz Reedguards have changed much since the aluminum ones. I haven't seen any reed damage...I use Legeres on both Bass and soprano clarinet, as well as baritone sax...the appropriate Reedguard cases have been perfectly suitable.
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2017-06-08 10:24
I use Vientos Bambu cases for Legere reeds. They fit great, don't slide around, and don't pinch the tips.
Full disclosure: I am a distributor for them.
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
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