 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Wayne
Date: 2008-02-01 05:36
I recently tried some legere Quebec reeds and have some questions....
I started with 3.5 since I normally use V12's of that strength. I found it very hard and switched to 31/4, and of course find it to be to soft ! I've read through some posts and see that there is an Ontario? version that I'm not seeing on the Legere web site. Can anyone give me some info on this product and where I can buy them ? I like the fact that the reeds play straight away and sense that when I find the right one this might be great for me. Does anyone have experience with clipping a Legere to very slightly stiffen for better results ? I'm using two (31/4) and switching after about 30 minutes as per Legere's advice.
My mouthpiece is Vandoren M15 with a rovner ligature - tried my old Bonade lig with no real difference that I can sense/hear. 31/4 still seems soft and 31/2 has my eyes bugging out after a while. Legere's reed strength chart shows that both the Quebec and std. model have identical stiffness so I haven't yet tried the std. model. Any input is much appreciated !
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kilo
Date: 2008-02-01 09:23
With any luck, fellow member Roger Aldridge will see this thread. He has done extensive work with Legere reeds. In the meantime, reed trimming is not recommended according to the site but if the reeds are just not working for you, you don't have much to lose by experimenting. I'd be more inclined to sand the 3.5's rather than clip the 3.25's. It looks like the Legere site hasn't been updated in a while — they don't mention the Ontario cut — but I'd encourage you to stick with Legeres for a bit longer. Use the guarantee feature and you can get a free replacement. Once you find something that works they are great to have in your bag, even if you don't use them exclusively.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2008-02-01 12:08
You may have an anomaly with the 3.25. I have only used the regular (non Quebec) and found a quarter strength below what you normally play to be the best conversion. Of course they are NOT a substitute for good cane reeds in good atmospheric conditions, thought they are a wonderful way to stave off madness during the cold months when running the heater causes a precipitous drop in your indoor humidity.
.............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: S. Friedland
Date: 2008-02-01 18:14
It is important for to note that there seems to be about as much disparity between Legere as there is with cane reeds. At first it doesn't seem so, but after a while the ear and the embouchure begin to pick up differences which for me, makes me question seriously their validity as a choice, the only advantage being not having to moisten the reed. Inevitably, I always return to cane. But, after a while , I return to Legere, and after a while I return to cane, and after a while.......
And of course, the same can be said for anything that a clarinetist may wish to try, which is always a good way not to have to worry about the plethora of clarinetists, and the diminishing job market and the ferocity of perfection of the people who audition when there is a job.
Oye, vayiz mir.
(woe is me)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2008-02-01 18:29
As I understand it there is a variance in their reeds but they are much more accurate than cane reeds. They supply 3 1/2s that are bang on...some are tending to 3 3/4...and some are leaning to 3 1/4. I would suggest sending back a hard 3 1/2 and ask for a softer 3 1/2. They might actually tell you exactly what to order in the future. I preferred the Quebec cut... I believe the Ontario is freer blowing so a 3 1/2 might be perfect for you but the tone might not be what you want.
Freelance woodwind performer
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: seafaris
Date: 2008-02-01 22:49
I use the Ontario Reeds and really like them. Best price I have found was at http://1stopclarinet.stores.yahoo.net/
...Jim
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2008-02-01 23:19
S. Frieldand said:
"It is important for to note that there seems to be about as much disparity between Legere as there is with cane reeds. At first it doesn't seem so, but after a while the ear and the embouchure begin to pick up differences which for me, makes me question seriously their validity as a choice, the only advantage being not having to moisten the reed. Inevitably, I always return to cane".
I did notice from the first note playing these reeds that they lack all the overtones and resonance that I get with cane reed so no luck there.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2008-02-02 14:05
Wayne,
I've been using Legere reeds exclusively for more than 2 years and I've tried all of the Legere versions -- regular, Quebec, Ontario, and German -- made for soprano clarinet.
I'll see if I can help with your questions....
* Do not clip Legere reeds. If you need to make adjustments, the best thing I've found is to use the ATG Reed Finishing System. It seems to work better on Legere than conventional methods of adjusting reeds.
* Better yet (this is what I do), have similar mouthpieces in different facings. Thus, if you have a Legere reed that plays stiffer then use a facing with a smaller tip opening or a more open one for a Legere that plays softer. I have 4 Walter Grabner Kaspar-style mouthpieces in different facings -- K11, K11e, K14, K14e. This helps me to fine-tune the performance of Legere reeds between my clarinets.
All of that said, I normally don't have any problems with Quebec reeds on the Grabner K14 I use for my primary mouthpiece. On a rare occasion I'll come across a Legere that's problematic. But, in the vast majority of times Legere reeds play perfectly fine for me right out of the box. My experience is similar with Legere tenor saxophone and bass clarinet reeds.
It's my impression that Legere reeds can be less forgiving with respect to mouthpiece facings and ligatures than cane reeds. It took me a period of time doing trial & error to find particular mouthpieces that give me optimal results with Legere.
Personally, I absolutely love the quality of sound and overall performance I get with Quebec reeds on Walter Grabner's Kaspar-style pieces on soprano clarinet and his LB on bass clarinet. On tenor saxophone I use a custom made Ralph Morgan 6C that Brian Powell adjusted so it works even better with Legere.
With respect to ligatures, some do not work well on Legere reeds. One problem I encountered was some ligatures do not provide a large enough area of sealing pressure -- thus, the edges of the reed along the back side rails were not sealing correctly. This had the effect of the mouthpiece suddenly having a longer facing. I finally settled on the Vandoren Klassik string ligature. I'm deeply impressed with this ligature. For me, I prefer it (in terms of tonal clarity & resonance, response, and projection) to any metal or fabric ligature I've used in the past.
A final thought is Legere reeds are also less forgiving than cane in the position of the reed tip on the tip rail. I've found that this, in itself, is a big deal in using Legere. I place the tip of my Legere reed so it is directly on the edge of the tip rail...however, not going over. I've found that this gives me the best quality of sound with Legere.
I've tried the new Ontario reed and keep one in my reed case. It's definitely a good reed and, in my opinion, is a significant improvement over the regular cut Legere soprano clarinet reed (which I don't like). When I'm practicing at home there are times when I'm impressed with the Ontario on one of my Grabners -- in particular, the K11e. However, when I return to playing in a large performance space I always prefer the quality of sound, strong tonal core, and overall performance I get with a Quebec. For whatever reasons, Quebec really does it for me. Of course, it's always a matter of what works for us as individual players.
The only shop in the US that I've found so far that sells Ontario is 1stopclarinet.com. It's also the only place I've found that sells the alto saxophone version of the Klassik ligature. The alto Klassik expands to comfortably fit my Morgan tenor mouthpiece. Sadly, Vandoren does not make a Klassik for bass clarinet. The Vandoren Masters ligature works well for me on bass clarinet with Legere reeds.
Roger
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wayne
Date: 2008-02-02 17:19
Roger: thanks very much for the information. I to have found the legere's to be very fussy regarding reed position relative to the tip of the mouthpiece and also place mine right at the edge. Just ordered a 3.25 and 3.5 Ontario cut from 1stopclarinet so will have a chance to try them soon. I tend to like a closed tip mouthpiece - I prefer the M15 over the M13 and may take your advice and contact Mr. Grabner in the near future. As per his website the K14 is fairly open compared to his K11/K13.... I'll be sure to discuss this with him before I try. Also, I mentioned this to my new teacher yesterday - she suggested trying the 3.5 again in short busts of practice and perhaps " build up " to using it over a month or two. She uses legere for her saxophone work and cane for the clarinet..... Thanks again.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2008-02-02 22:44
I believe there's an exchange policy posted on the company website.
Once, there was mention of adjusting the pliability (making it play softer) by immersing in warm water... dunno if that's repeatable, however.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
