Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2019-11-12 08:00
First I have to say that the Legere European Cut is the first synthetic reed that played well enough to use in a performance. I recently played a reduction of La Boheme where the quick instrument changes required that I have both Bb/A ready to go at all times. The only way to accomplish this was to have mouthpieces with Legeres on each instrument.
If I find the right strength, I love the response, feel and sound. So for me, the problems are not ones of balancing the reed or adjusting its response on certain notes or in a particular range, it is getting the strength right.
I have found reeds anywhere from #3 - #3.5 that will play well for me. However, some #3s will play harder than a #3.5 and conversely. I recalled having read somewhere that someone suggested placing the reeds in boiling water to soften them.
I've been experimenting with using hot and cold water to adjust the strength. I heat a small dish of water for in a microwave for 30 seconds on high. I then dip the entire vamp of a reed that is too heavy (or that has a bit of edge to the sound) into the hot water for 1-3 seconds. (Typically, I actually repeat 1-second dips after playing the reed to ensure that I don't overdo things). This doesn't actually make the reed softer, but does seem to make it more "pliant" (its a subtle feeling). However, the results do seem to make the reed work better for me.
If I go too far with softening the reed, I have found that dipping it in ice-water for ~3 seconds seems to counteract the effect of heating to some degree and also quickens the response a bit.
Granted these are not (yet) scientific results, but they do suggest a strategy for adjusting the playing characteristics of these reeds without damaging the material by scraping, etc.
Perhaps there are others who have tried these or other techniques that may be viable.
Bob Barnhart
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