 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rgoldem
Date: 2020-09-07 15:37
How consistent are legeres? They are usually comfortable and I get nice results playing them. However they don´t feel the same when changing for a theoretically equal. Aren't they suppose to be always the same? Is there any secret for consistency?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-09-07 16:15
Nice results depend on what you think of them. I would say that if you do a side by side with your favorite cane reed, cane will still have more vibrant sound.......but........
The results with Legere's European Signatures can be incredibly close to cane results once you have carefully found the right strength to use on your mouthpiece (arguably the hardest process with these reeds.......moving up a quarter strength at a time from the softest that you can get to work).
Once you are there though constancy is their greatest strength. Some have posted some odd experiences with Legere, but in five years I have found them remarkably close in strength from reed to reed of the same designated strength (far more than any cane reed ever thought about being). Key here though is to buy (once you have gone through the process of correctly determining the correct strength) through a big, reliable outlet so that you are getting current stock, shipped correctly. That's what I do, and I get consistently great reeds.
Then of course are all the reasons they are better than cane:
o Constant from day to day (still, one should rotate through at least four, one each day)
o Completely free from vagaries of humidity or lack thereof
o They last a long time (six months to a year)
o Perfectly smooth (you don't realize how comfortable that is until you've tried them)
[missed one}
o You know EXACTLY how you'll sound.........tomorrow!!!!
I would add that for the most cane like sound you want to use a Luyben ligature (only $16.00 through the Luyben website). I can't tell you why (a mystery to me!) but the plastic allows the Legere's to really resonate. Also if you have a Gigliotti ligature rattling around in a drawer, those work great as well.
...............Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2020-09-07 23:30)
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Author: Ed
Date: 2020-09-07 16:32
A couple of years ago I did use the Legeres for a time. For me, there were issues with consistency. Some reeds played well (although never quite as comfortable for me as cane) and others were merely passable and not ones I would use for performance.
I know that there are many who adore them. Perhaps at some point I should give them another shot, perhaps with different ligatures to see if there is a different result.
One question for those who are regular users of the European Signature- do you find the Legere strength chart to be accurate?
Post Edited (2020-09-07 20:16)
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Author: duncsleigh
Date: 2020-09-09 13:33
This summer switched to Legere European cut reeds because I was fed up of the day-to-day inconsistencies I was getting with cane reeds. I have found that Legere reeds are very consistent day to day, and that consistency between reeds is good, but not perfect. I have one reed that is so far off that I believe that it should really be labelled ¼ a strength up – all the rest have been pretty accurately labelled (i.e. within a 1/8 strength of what the label says).
I think the strength chart is way off. I mostly use Legere European cut 3.5s. The chart says this is equivalent to a Vandoren V12 strength 4, but I find it equivalent to a soft 3.5 or a hard 3 V12 reed. Also, the chart says that a European cut 3.5 is equivalent to a Signature 3.75, but I found it closest to a 3.25.
The biggest problem that I have with Legere reeds is that the notes towards the top of the clarion register (in particular A5) play too loud with a harsh tone and are tough to articulate cleanly. I would be interested to hear if anyone else has found this and has any idea of why this might be.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-09-09 14:02
Dynamics are not an issue for me in any register. This is an interesting observation from "duncsleigh." Dynamics were an issue for me on the original Legere reeds (the milky colored ones) because I had found a "sweet spot" needed to get a descent core to the sound. Above or below that, the sound was too tubby. That also limited any ability to alter pitch with the embouchure.
I do find a bit of thinness to the sound at the top of the altissimo (B and C on the fifth ledger line above the staff), but it is tolerable. Perhaps performance may depend on whether you are using a more open mouthpiece or not. I use small facing openings with very short lays.
Harshness is somewhat relative. Since the only thing stopping the Legere reeds from sounding exactly like cane is a slight absence of upper partials, I welcome edginess where I can get it. But again, funny that you mention that. I had to try out a clarinet outside recently (a Covid related purchase) and damn if the sound I heard back in the parking lot wasn't a bit nasty! But I attribute this to the rushed environment. I may just have to play outside more these days to know.
...............Paul Aviles
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