 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2024-10-29 19:35
this is meant for those already using Legere sucessfully
A local university clarinet teacher has been recommending the use of Legere Eb European Cut reeds on Bb clarinet. The student from whom I heard that sounded really good so I thought I'd give it a whirl.
Over the course of about a month (and I'd say one needs to spend a little time with getting used to the characteristics) I have nothing but great results now.
The first interesting advantage is that the reed is narrower (side to side dimension) than the Bb European cut (or Signatue Soprano saxophone reed), so it's closer to a normal cane reed width or the Legere French Cut. I believe that having slightly less material at the tip allows it to respond more quickly. At very least I'd say the quick response is what I find appealing about the French cut reeds.
Then the vamp is naturally much shorter than it would be for a Bb reed. One would think that is a bad thing on a Bb mouthpiece. However, it just seems to give it that Signature Soprano Sax reed "snap" to the sound.
If you're in that in-between place with Legere (that being the European Cut are a bit sluggish and the French Cut are too thin sounding) I highly recommend trying the Eb Euopean cut reeds.
It's hard for me to recommend a strength comparison since I have been going through some "nebulousness" on that score of late BUT, you may try a one for one comparison to the French Cut, possibly verging on moving a quarter strength higher for the Eb reed.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2024-10-29 19:44
I've recently been using soprano sax reeds on clarinet, both cane and legere. They work very well, with great tone colour. I use about 1 number higher than if I was using a cane Bb reed.
Tony F.
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Author: graham
Date: 2024-10-31 01:00
Interesting, because I use Marca American Vintage soprano sax reeds on my E flat. Works well for me.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2024-10-31 02:41
For me the "cons" were with getting used to how the short vamp affected pitch. I find myself having to be more attentive to the embouchure "pressure" side of the embouchure/air equation. My BIG mistake was playing the reed on one of the first days I had it for a gig. I don't have perfect pitch and finding WHERE everything was lying on the fly was very hard. I'd say I "missed" more than I got right......just didn't have a handle on the direction pitch was going.
...........Paul Aviles
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