 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-06-20 19:48
It's Lowenstern's website. Is he just selling the one's he bought? Also he makes the claim that ALL SYNTHETICS GET TIRED AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS.
That is simply not true and tells me he does not play Legere with any regularity.
..............Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2023-06-20 19:48)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SecondTry
Date: 2023-06-20 23:10
Hi Paul:
I ordered one from Mr. Lowenstern yesterday--who I have no affiliation with--and noticed other online vendors making them available for sale.
Now whether such vendors have inventory....?
I didn't notice Mr. Lowenstern's reference to the reed's ability to only play a couple of hours, but am wondering if he was referring to a couple of hours consistently, or saying that the reed's entire useful life across multiple play sessions is only mere hours.
I ask because I've noted myself and read reported that a single Legere reed may best be rotated out for another during a long play session, but with rest, its reuse with good results is entirely possible.
It sounds like you have success with marathon sessions on Legeres.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2023-06-21 00:26
Meridian Winds posted on their Facebook page a couple hours ago that they have these in stock. There is a photo of 12 boxes, so they at least have a few in the store.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-06-21 01:23
The "two hour duration" comment is at the bottom of Mike Lowenstern's add for the VK1s he is selling. Apparently he wants you to buy more.
The talk about the duration of use on plastic reeds is probably over several different threads and or videos. I believe one European professional player said something similar to me that finding a strength that is initially a bit stronger than ideal will leave you with a reed that will last (at one stretch) as long as any cane reed. I say that I can play one all day long (rehearsals, concerts, practice sessions). The rotation is something I do that is a carry over from cane. I allow the reed to "recover" for a few days by rotating through four at a time. This is MY ideal, though I cannot say that it is necessary. I currently have been using only ONE reed for several months. This came about when I started using the Classic German Legere (this called for the expensive and time consuming search for proper strength) and did not jump immediately into buying a passel of reeds for fear that I'd wind up changing strength in about a month (not atypical when you are honing into that perfect strength). Point being though that ONE reed is holding up through a full day, I take it off at night put it into a reed guard, and put it back on the next morning! So far.......no issues.
I can say with certainty speaking of other reeds I have used over the years that you can have reeds lasting longer than a year.
Recently I've started "adjusting" older reeds by bending them back at the points where they seem to bend in toward the mouthpiece. I just look along the left edge and then the right edge, note the point of the bend (if there is one) and do a quick counter bend (place reed perpendicular across the mouthpiece table and just exert a quick pull with fingers while pushing down with thumb). I think (won't know for a year or more since I just started this) that I can probable get Legeres to last indefinitely this way. And by the way, I've NEVER seen warping or fraying of the tip. Of course some folks have huge tip openings for sax and probably exert more effort than one typically does on clarinet that may account for the fraying stories.
..............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: earspasm
Date: 2023-06-21 16:35
Hi guys,
First off, for Paul Aviles: The 2-hour per-session information comes directly from Vandoren. I did not make this up. Be careful before you claim otherwise, since these are not built the same as Legere reeds; they are mesh, not tubular, and so it's best not to try to compare them to something you know...until you know how these work for you.
I have about 360 reeds in stock, mostly now the open-box (unused) that I'm going to put into trial kits (which no one else is planning to offer). This way, you can see which strength is right for you and only purchase the ones that work on your setup. Vandoren basically sold me all of their original stock, and cut open the security tape so that they cannot be sold as "new" since the original packaging is different from the current packaging.
Note: each reed is slightly different, even from those that are the same strength, so your mileage may vary. But the trial kit will put you in the ballpark.
I have enough reeds for 60 trial kits. I'm just waiting for the custom reed cases I designed to arrive, and then they will become available. If you're interested in the trial, you can read about how it works here: https://www.earspasm.com/reeds-and-teeth/vk1-trial
................Michael Lowenstern
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SecondTry
Date: 2023-06-21 19:14
Hi Mr. Lowenstern:
Would you be willing to do an email blast to those on your mailing list once the trail packs area available for sale?
TIA
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-06-21 20:18
Michael,
I apologize for any assumptions on my part, however if you have not updated your announcement, it did read “all synthetics.”
Properly chosen strengths of Legere can easily power through four hours of practice session and still play like I just took it out of the reed guard. I’ve been using various Legeres exclusively for the last six years.
……….Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2023-06-21 20:31)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2023-06-21 21:53
Paul,
Whether earspasm clarifies/changes this point of "all synthetics" or not - I do not see how his voicing of his opinion/experience is any less valid than you voicing yours. It's all good.
As stated at the link provided by SecondTry - Earspasm's primary reason for suggesting the purchase of more than a single reed was: variability from reed to reed. Makes sense to me.
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: MarkS
Date: 2023-06-21 22:04
From the Legere website:
"Once the attack feels correct play the reed for a couple of minutes to warm it up. At this point, the reed is in playing condition. Depending on your playing style, the reed will need to be rotated after roughly 60 minutes. This is to extend the life of the reed, not improve your short-term tone. With proper rotation and care your reeds should last many months."
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-06-21 22:41
All good, just not accurate. I’m not voicing opinion, just what has been working for over six years. If Vandoren’s Vandoren Kane only works two hours a day, that’s just another reason to stick with Legere.
………..Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: lmliberson
Date: 2023-06-21 23:34
"I’m not voicing opinion, just what has been working for over six years."
Well, yes...for you.
Don't assume that what you subjectively believe happens to be the solution for everyone. Essentially, this is exactly your opinion.
Some of us (I doubt that I'm the only one?) actually prefer cane (or perhaps these new Vandoren's) for different reasons, despite any and all reasons that have led you to Legere's.
And that's fine - you're comfortable and so am I!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-06-22 00:50
And when Mr. Lowenstern says all synthetic reeds only last two hours, is that a hypothesis, good marketing strategy, or….. opinion?
…………Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2023-06-22 01:20
Paul,
I am not being purposely inflamatory towards you. Surely, you must admit to carrying a certain bias in this topic? It's totally fine - we all hold biases, but I was hoping that my miquetoast response would direct the thread back to the Vandoren VK reed topic.
In a lighthearted way I offer the following:
Unless I missed it in the bboard rules somewhere - Reed threads aren't required to turn into full length Legere ads. Sometimes a reed post is just a reed post.
Warmest Regards,
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: lmliberson
Date: 2023-06-22 01:51
"And when Mr. Lowenstern says all synthetic reeds only last two hours, is that a hypothesis, good marketing strategy, or….. opinion?"
My comment was aimed directly towards your experience in "what has been working for over six years." Nothing at all about Mike's comments.
And I have no comments on his hypothesis, opinion, or whatever.
But keep in mind that his experiences are no less legitimate than are yours.
And neither are mine, for that matter. But they do matter to me as my experiences with Legere (and, btw, I was a tester of their prototypes back in the day) - despite revisiting them on several occasions - has kept me firmly in the cane category for my entire career.
As I have stated on various topics here over the years, when it comes to practically everything clarinet-related, subjectivity rules.
So you do what you want and I'll do what I want - as will every other person who visits this site.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SecondTry
Date: 2023-06-22 05:17
I live relatively close to where Mr. Lowenstern does, so much so that the reed arrived in the mail today.
First off: conflict of interest: I have none--at least I don't think I do. Buy it or don't buy it. Buy it from Mr. Lowenstern (who I think is a very reputable vendor) or someone else.
Background: I am a cane player and I think I will continue to be. I think cane is still the best and with Boveda humidity packs and reed adjustment methods like Tom Ridenour's ATG system I feel that I am able to get enough acceptable cane reeds that meet or surpass any synthetic's abilities. I have tried many of the synthetics offerings, particularly from Legere, and while I am extremely impressed with how far synthetics have come in the last 20 years, switching to them permanently is just not right for me.
Dabbling in synthetics on the other hand, just to try what's out there or to have on a bad reed day, that's me.
I completely respect those like Paul who have made the switch to synthetics. I have no axe to grind with anyone's setup choices.
With that said, I was enormously impressed with Vandoren's new offering.
This old guy plays an M15 and a strength 3 reed across numerous brands. The VK 35 was perfect for me so far. We'll have to see how and if its strength is compromised over time with use.
For me, and again, your mileage might vary, there is never any question in my mind that I am playing a Legere, as opposed to a cane reed when I do.
But the VK product: its feel and response for many, but not all notes made me forget I wasn't playing cane. In my opinion if feels closer to cane than the Legere's I've tried.
I get the impression that Vandoren didn't rush this to market.
Like a Legere there is no break in period or need to wet the reed. I think it and Legeres are light years ahead of the Venn and Ambipoly products.
I agree with, I think it was Eric Black, that it has a Vandoren V12 type feel to it and articulates well.
The notes C6 and C7, for me are still the domain of cane reeds, much as I was able to get these notes to voice on the Vandoren when taking in lots of mouthpiece. Rarely can I voice such notes with a Legere reed.
I was not flat playing the VK product. I am flat playing Legere reeds. As I am consistently flat with Legeres, as Paul and others have alluded to, this could be remedied with a shorter barrel.
Of course I cannot speak yet to how well this reed ages during the course of a play session or over time, but I am thrilled to have this "insurance policy" in my case, particular as outdoor concert season and the .
IMHO, if a cane reed is a "10," a Legere Euro is an "8" and a VK a "9," so far.
But this is just one player's review, where differences between reeds are entirely subject to my limitations as a player.
Post Edited (2023-06-22 05:22)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
