 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: klim
Date: 2019-05-16 03:58
I'm currently using the Legere Euro 3 reed with a Vandoren M13 Lyre mp (on Yamaha 450). I realize that every facet of equipment will produce different results for each individual player, but I can't help but wonder if there is a mouthpiece that is better suited to this reed (I am committed to the reed). Any suggestions?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-05-16 04:21
I'm convinced that there is no special mouthpiece that works best with Legere reeds (which I've used exclusively for the last three years).
That said, the Legere's are just a bit less vibrant than a good cane reed so any mouthpiece that tends more toward producing a good set of upper partials would be preferable. Lately I've been using Clark Fobes mouthpieces which I pair with 3 1/2 strength Legere European Signature reeds. Of course that is a purely personal preference.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: crusius
Date: 2019-05-16 08:04
I tried the European Cut #4 and #4.25 on an M15/M13 Lyre but they felt much too soft on those, so I got a M30 Lyre and have been happier. But that may not work for you.
What exactly are you not happy about with your setup?
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Author: fernie121
Date: 2019-05-16 09:22
I’m using the new Vocalise R by Hawkins and Backun and it works perfectly with my Legere reeds. Hawkins has said himself they are designed to work well with Synthetic and cane reeds. There’s also the CG/CG+ and Kukmeier mouthpieces but those are much more expensive. I haven’t tried the CG’s myself and I found the Kukmeier’s were too resistant for my taste.
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Author: klim
Date: 2019-05-16 18:20
Crusius:
thanks for your reply. It's not that I'm displeased with my setup it's just that with the panoply of mps available I wonder if I've been extremely lucky in finding the best one for me or if there might be others that would be better. I know, I'd have to play likely candidates to find out if they worked better form me than the M13 Lyre, but it would be helpful, drawing on the experience of players like you, to winnow the selection to a few (I'm not getting any younger).
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Author: crusius
Date: 2019-05-16 20:00
Hi,
The answer for "there might be others that would be better" is always "yes," no matter what your setup is, so, much as with any deliberate practice problem, you have to identify what is it you want to change, and then go for it.
In my case, as an example,
1. Cane was just too much trouble - the room I practice in, as Summer approaches, had reeds drying in a single minute, and dealing with that was using up too much time. I'm not getting any younger either.
2. I tried solving that with Legeres European Cut, strengths from 2.5 to 4.25, in my M15 (or M13 Lyre, I have both). The 4/4.25 were too soft, but getting there. The sound was not that great either. Or was it?
3. I recorded myself using a decent condenser microphone setup, and to my surprise there was little to no audible difference between the Legeres and the cane reeds (Peter Leuthner, Vandoren). The reeds felt different to the player, but not to the audience. The problem was now that the reeds did seem too soft, with telltale C6 undertones.
4. I then tried to find a mouthpiece with similar characteristics but that required softer reeds. In the Vandoren line, the next one to try was the M30 Lyre, so that's what I did.
The M30 Lyre is still not perfect, but the original problem is basically gone and I can/should now spend my time solving more pressing problems.
Summary: Legeres in M15/M13 Lyre/M30 Lyre sound plenty good. If you're looking to explore, go for it, but I think you'll be looking not for a "better mouthpiece for the Legere" as much as "a mouthpiece with a sound you like more."
Cheers!
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Author: gwie
Date: 2019-05-17 04:32
I've found that the Backun Vocalise R and G models that I've trialed have worked supremely well with the Legere Signature European Cut reeds; I used 3.5 strength although others have used 3.25 and 3.75 as well and gotten good results.
Bradford Behn's mouthpieces are incredibly resonant and responsive, and work very well in mitigating that "less vibrant" aspect of synthetic reeds relative to cane reeds.
I had a number of Walter Grabner's K11 and K11* mouthpieces that are now in the hands of students, and all of them were able to get Legere's working quite well though some preferred to stay on cane.
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Author: mdj
Date: 2019-05-17 18:52
Would anyone be willing to share what is used as a definition as 'better' in terms of a 'better' mouthpiece for Legere Reeds?
I'm very curious to know. I use a Fobes San Francisco with the Euro Sig's 3.25 and find it to work okay.
What would make a mouthpiece work better? Is it in terms of tone or is it in terms of reed placement?
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Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2019-05-17 23:04
mdj, at least for me a "better" mouthpiece could be one with a better sound (according to my taste, and either in general or at a certain range or on certain notes), faster tonguing, a larger dynamic range, and so on. However, a mouthpiece may not be better than another one in just every respect, so ultimately you may need to decide what matters most to you and what's the best compromise for you.
That said, I still think we can benefit from each others experiences. What others have found out may at least help us narrow down our own search.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-05-19 01:26
There ARE some tricks to making the reeds play a shade better. But you can't make them play like a cane reed. Email me if interested.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: mdj
Date: 2019-05-19 13:41
"Micke Isotalo: mdj, at least for me a "better" mouthpiece could be one with a better sound (according to my taste, and either in general or at a certain range or on certain notes), faster tonguing, a larger dynamic range, and so on. However, a mouthpiece may not be better than another one in just every respect, so ultimately you may need to decide what matters most to you and what's the best compromise for you.
That said, I still think we can benefit from each others experiences. What others have found out may at least help us narrow down our own search."
I appreciate the response. I had assumed this is what was meant but wanted to be sure. I totally agree that we can all benefit by sharing our results.
I'm content at the moment on my results with the mouthpiece I have for the level of player I am (intermediate student). However I am most interested over time as changes take place in the industry how new pieces will develop. If I get the opportunity to experiment (mostly accessibility and money) with a new piece that is developed "with synthetics in mind" I will give it a try for sure.
I may be wrong, but I tend to think many (perhaps not most) of the young generation today beginning will shift to synthetics as to alleviate the headaches/idiosyncrasies that come with cane.
My 11 year old daughter was the first to bring a Legere into school band and now more and more are switching over as they've begin to learn about them.
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Author: klim
Date: 2019-05-20 04:21
Thanks to all for comments. I've ordered a Backun Vocalise R to compare to my M13 Lyre. It's all fun - even the bad days.
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