 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: timtin66
Date: 2006-10-30 12:00
What's the scoop on these reeds???? Did a search, and some people seem to use them.
Do they truly last longer, and are great?????
Already been to the website.
Tim T
P.S. They come in several different cuts, and any info on this would help!!
Timothy Tinnirello
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Author: hans
Date: 2006-10-30 13:33
timtin66,
I use one for my clarinet. Since I play mostly alto sax and have to switch quickly to clarinet when the music requires it, it is very useful to have a reed that does not dry out (and therefore squeak) and that plays consistently.
Legeres do last longer, in my experience. Although there is no reason to wet the reed like a cane reed, I have found that wetting the back results in a better seal with the mouthpiece.
It may also interest you to know that Artie Shaw said that he played some of his biggest hits (Stardust comes to mind) on a plastic reed.
I hope this helps you,
Hans (satisfied Legere user)
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Author: bufclar
Date: 2006-10-30 14:03
I don't like the way they sound at all but they do seem to have practical applications. I can't stand stand the way the feel or the way the sound and would have to be in a real tight spot to ever use one.
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2006-10-30 14:13
Tim,
I've become a fan of Legere reeds....especially the Quebec model. When I first tried Legere reeds last year I quickly saw their potential but I wasn't overjoyed by the quality of sound I got with the regular Legere clarinet reed. Then, when I tried the Quebec reed it really did it for me. With its thicker cut the Quebec has a darker sound and what I'd describe as a stronger tonal core.
As I mentioned on another thread, Legere reeds work better on some mouthpiece facings than others. I've found Walter Grabner mouthpieces to be especially good for Legere reeds. I'm using a Grabner K14 as my primary mouthpiece on Bb soprano clarinet and his LB mouthpiece on bass. I'm also getting good results on C clarinet with a Ralph Morgan RM10 mouthpiece.
It took a period of time for me to get used to Legere. But, once I did I've been extremely happy with the results.
I should also mention that I sometimes use the ATG Reed Finishing System to make a subtle adjustment to the tip of Legere reeds I encounter that are a bit stuffy or not as responsive as I want. The adjustment is very simple and the reed then really opens up and plays beautifully. Normally, I don't need to make any adjustments to Legere saxophone reeds. They play fine for me right out of the box. But, I sometimes make the adjustment to Quebec reeds and Legere bass clarinet reeds to improve response.
Roger
Post Edited (2006-10-30 14:15)
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2006-10-30 14:16
They are the best synthetic reed out there. Many pros have used them, I even think that James Campbell, prof at Indiana and renown soloist has used them on recordings.
They feel different, but if you spend some time with one for a little while you will become quite surprised at how well they play. I've played one at a few rehearsals and nobody made any comments about my sound being worse...
However, my personal opinion is that they match the quality of a good cane reed yet and if you don't like the cut of the reed, they are hard to adjust.
They are guaranteed, so if you don't like them simply return them either for a different strength or a refund...
-S
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-10-30 14:32
"They are sharp on your tongue"
From my experience they are not as sharp as cane reeds. I personally can't stand the sound of Legere reeds, but many (good) player use them. There is only one way to find out if they wil work for you......
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2006-10-31 00:25
If they match the facing of your mouthpiece, they sound well.
If not, they can be a struggle to play at the topmost range.
I love my QC #3.75 and I figure each will last about as long as a box of twenty natural cane reeds. It's a spring after all, and springs wear out.
The biggest advantage is that they are insensitive to humidity changes.
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2006-10-31 00:34
I find them to be... difficult to use. It's hard to describe, but they just arn't the same.
There was a time (in high school) when I loved them, but now that my technique has improved I just can't stand them anymore, ESPECIALLY in the altissimo register, and they don't articulate as well in my opinion.
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
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Author: seafaris
Date: 2006-10-31 04:23
Hi Roger,
Received the Quebec reeds and first impression was positive. They were warmer than the regular cut. I was on the road traveling home and wasn't able to really test it properly, will do this week.
When you use the ATG system which way do you and? Tom says one way and legere says the other.
Thanks!
...Jim
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2006-10-31 12:05
Jim,
I sand in the direction that Tom describes in the ATG instructions.
I suspect that the information about reed adjustment on the Legere web site has conventional methods of working on reeds in mind. Tom's approach with the ATG system is different.
Roger
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Author: William
Date: 2006-10-31 14:10
The key issue with Legere reeds is--like with any cane product--they must match your mouthpiece for optimum performance. After over a year of using a variety of Legere reeds on all of my clarinets and saxophones, the best results were with my Grabner CDXBS bass clarinet mouthpiece. For outdoor concerts and doubling situations, I still use Legeres with my bass clarinet. But for the rest, I have reverted cane reeds because, for me, they sound and play better.
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Author: kfeder@hotmail.com
Date: 2006-11-02 03:19
I've tried the student version of the legere reed which is a lot cheaper and comes in 2 and 2.5 strength. They seem to be just as good as the regular legeres.
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Author: BradleyHardin ★2017
Date: 2006-11-02 05:00
My clarinet teacher suggested I try them for my bass clarinet because I was having trouble keeping the wider reed evenly moistened. Accordingly, I squeaked a lot. I was truely amazed at the difference. No squeeks, and the reed was ready to play instantly. Just like they say, it never needs soaking, and it never gets saturated.
I then tried it on the Bb. It worked equally as well, but I think the cane reeds have the upper hand on tonal quality. The benefit of using it on either of these instruments is when the choir is done singing at church, I hop down to the orchestra and pick up the clarinet and start playing with the praise team. There is no time for soaking or warming up. I need a reed that's ready to play instantly, and the Legere fulfills that need.
I then tried it on the contra. Consider my problem trying to keep a bass clarinet reed evenly moistened, then multiply that by 2 1/2. On the contra, the Legere and I get along much better that a cane reed!!
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