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 Synthetic Reeds: Legere and PlayNick
Author: Clarisqueak 
Date:   2018-02-17 10:10

I've always been reading posts here, and I decided to create an account today.

I currently play on Legere European Cut reeds, strength 4.25. Recently I've chipped my best one, and although I've tried a few, I can't seem to find one as good as my previous one. So I did some research and saw PlayNick Master Cut reeds. Has anyone tried these? If so, are they as good as Legere and worth trying, or not worth trying at all? It is cheaper than Legeres, but I'm maybe the high shipping cost to US will make it about the same price.

Thanks!

A clarinet student

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 Re: Synthetic Reeds: Legere and PlayNick
Author: Dan Shusta 
Date:   2018-02-17 12:03

Although the following video compares a Nick clarinet reed with a Legere soprano reed on a clarinet, to my ears, the Legere clearly won because at low dynamics the tonal consistency of the Nick appears to change character somewhat and at high dynamics, the tonal consistency of the Legere was more uniform than the PlayNick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6No3GbvlWU

To me, the differences were not drastic but noticeable.



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 Re: Synthetic Reeds: Legere and PlayNick
Author: Klose 2017
Date:   2018-02-17 12:03

Tried and Master Cut reeds match playnick mouthpieces very well but White Cut reeds are not really good. White cut reeds are designed for beginners but I don't think there is such a market.



Post Edited (2018-02-17 12:24)

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 Re: Synthetic Reeds: Legere and PlayNick
Author: Klose 2017
Date:   2018-02-17 12:13

Dan Shusta, in the video, the comparison is between Nick Legere and Soprano Sax Legere. Please note Playnick is no longer collaborating with Legere and they have released their own synthetic reeds, White cut and Master cut, which are the poster asked about.



Post Edited (2018-02-17 12:20)

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 Re: Synthetic Reeds: Legere and PlayNick
Author: Dan Shusta 
Date:   2018-02-17 12:48

Klose, yes, the O.P. wanted a comparison between Legere European cut and PlayNick Master cut. I Googled and that was the only comparison I could find either in written form or YouTube playing form.

I expected the PlayNick Master cut to match their mouthpiece. However, the O.P. wanted a comparison between Legere European and PalyNick Master cut. If you have played both, I would love to read your sound comparison comments.

Also, it appears the O.P. is not playing a PlayNick mouthpiece.

Clarisqueak, what type of mouthpiece are you playing?

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 Re: Synthetic Reeds: Legere and PlayNick
Author: Bob Bernardo 
Date:   2018-02-17 13:10

Hard for me to really tell. In fact I couldn't tell. So it's in the feel and more playing is needed. Playing a piece that would show the differences such as articulation sound throughout the horn.


Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces


Yamaha Artist 2015




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 Re: Synthetic Reeds: Legere and PlayNick
Author: Klose 2017
Date:   2018-02-17 18:07

Dan Shusta, I am afraid that your post is somehow misleading because there is no Nick-Legere reed anymore and again, the comparison is between a Nick/legere and Legere SAX reed. So you think the SAX reed sounds better?

Yes, I played both. On my Playeasy mouthpiece, which is originally designed for Legere Classic reeds, I would say Master Cut reeds are better than Legere European Cut in terms of intonation and response. As for sound, it is difficult to say, as a German system clarinet player, my sound concept might be very different from you. Sorry, I only have one B2 for German system clarinet because normally I use German mouthpiece with German cut reeds. Nice to know that Playnick will also release a German cut synthetic reed, the German cut reeds from Legere do not work well on some mouthpieces.



Post Edited (2018-02-17 18:19)

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 Re: Synthetic Reeds: Legere and PlayNick
Author: Clarisqueak 
Date:   2018-02-17 19:50

Hi Dan, I play on a BD5 that I bought from my teacher, who says he had someone fix it up a bit to make it play better. Don't know if that helps.

I know reeds and mouthpieces are subjective, and you never know until you try it out, but I really don't know what strength to order. And the shipping cost must be really high. Or else I would buy a set of 3 to try, since they are much cheaper than Legere Euro reeds.

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 Re: Synthetic Reeds: Legere and PlayNick
Author: Dan Shusta 
Date:   2018-02-17 23:42

Hi Clarisqueak,

According to PlayNick's website http://www.playnick.com/index.php?cmd=s&id=473, they list Innoledy, located in New York, NY, 1-646-801-8646 http://www.innoledy.com/ and Family Melody Center, located in Patchogue, NY, 1-631-475-3210 http://www.familymelody.com/ as distributors of their products.

I called the Family Musical Center and got the "guitar person" who didn't know anything about clarinet reeds. He said "that" person would call me back when he/she returns.

I then called Innoledy but could only leave a message. Perhaps they are closed on Saturday. Also, their website lists the PlayNick mouthpieces, however, when I clicked on "reeds", I only found Legere listed among several other cane reed brands.

Also, when you stated "I currently play on Legere European Cut reeds, strength 4.25", I sense that you're probably aware that PlayNick Master Cut reeds come only in 5 hardness states: Soft, Medium Soft, Medium, Medium Hard, and Hard. So, IMO, trying to match your 4.25 Legere reed strength appears to be a kind of guessing game.

Good luck!



Post Edited (2018-02-17 23:55)

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 Re: Synthetic Reeds: Legere and PlayNick
Author: DavidBlumberg 
Date:   2018-02-18 08:54

I tested the Nick Reeds when they came out about a year ago, and didn't approve at that time. The reed was not as good to me as the playnick reed collaboration with Legere were (the S, M) - these didn't have as good a tone, nor felt as comfortable to me.

That was then, possibly they have improved......... Legere Soprano Sax Signature are my choice for Synthetic. A great reed (not a great synth reed, a great reed period)

http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com


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 Re: Synthetic Reeds: Legere and PlayNick
Author: Jimis4klar 
Date:   2020-05-07 12:27

Finally, which synthetic reed worked best with BD5???

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