Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-11-09 21:00
Well just to add a bit to what I do to the Legere reeds is measure the rails, the sides and adjust them. For the standard mouthpieces being made today, not people like Walter and myself, plus a few other talented mouthpiece makers and refacers, the width of the Legere reeds are too wide and the rails are too think. So people ask me to adjust them and I surely don't mind at all.
They then play very well, have a much better sound and easier to articulate. Sometimes playing softly with that sweet clarinet sound isn't there. I only get this from cane reeds. However, these reeds do work pretty well.
I still prefer cane. I make my own reeds lately and I have a good source of cane from the famous French area called the Var. What is special about this cane is the reeds hold up well and if you mess up when making a reed usually the reeds still play pretty darn well. The cane quality is the secret.
As a few people have said, not just in this post, but I did read other posts, is the way the reeds vibrate. Legere reeds can be a lot better. The vibrations of the reeds is what I feel is missing and also the spine can use a bit more material. But these reeds are hard to clip so you can fix the spine, the center of the reeds. Also known as the heart.
So back to mouthpieces for a second. If the sides of the Legere reeds are to thick and too wide, plus with the standard mouthpieces having rails that are too wide I feel the reeds need help. I also read that some players are using Soprano Sax reeds, Legere. I don't get this. These reeds are way to wide and make the clarinet sound a bit dull and muddy. That's not right. Do we want to play with dark muddy sounds or realize the need for projection. This isn't a question. Maybe a better way to describe these reeds is we lose overtones. This is why people like the dark muddy feel. But your ears are playing tricks of you. Losing overtones is not a good clarinet sound.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2020-03-12 22:49)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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