 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ronish
Date: 2008-04-22 20:55
Has anyone else found as I have that Legere reeds are and do get with further use sharp edges? I don`t mean the tip . I`ve tried sanding them without much success. They are just too sharp inside my mouth and I wonder if anyone else has experienced this and have solved it. I do like the convenience of Legere.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2008-04-23 00:00
I've been using Legeres nearly exclusively for several years now and have never noticed any such sensation. Do you mean the edges of the reed on your bottom lip? Or just the reed's surface on your bottom lip?
I'm a little confuzzled...
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2008-04-23 00:58
Ronish,
Similiar to Katrina, I've been using Legeres exclusively -- 3 years on Bb clarinet & tenor saxophone and 2 years on bass clarinet -- and have not experienced the problem you described. When I first started to use Legere reeds it took me a couple of months to become truly comfortable with them. After that, I've been so happy with the sound and performance of Legeres that they feel entirely natural to me. I don't miss cane reeds at all.
Roger
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-04-23 02:28
I also have been using them exclusively for three years, and have never noticed this problem.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2008-04-23 04:24
Check your reed is not wider than the mouthpiece. If it hangs over then it will feel sharper in the mouth. Solution....new mouthpiece or narrow the Legeres.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-04-23 06:29
I just tried using only a Legere for a couple of months because my cane reeds were constantly breaking (aparently from slapping) and sharp edges wasn't one of the problem I had with them.
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Author: William
Date: 2008-04-24 15:01
No "sharp" edges for me. I play them exclusively on my bass clarinet and occassionally on soprano during practice with no discomfort.
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Author: seafaris
Date: 2008-04-26 19:17
I did have a problem that might be described as sharp edges. I bought some regular Legere's last year, and noticed that the very outside edges had a very slight raised sharpness (?) on 2 of them. I also use the new Ontario and the Quebec reeds, and did not notice that problem all in them, or in any of my other regular Legere reeds. It was bad enough to very slightly cut into my lip. I used a razor blade to smooth the edges down and then burnished them on a fine stone. I thought that it might just be a slight problem with the machine that made them or in the final process. They still played very well. I couldn't be happier with the Legere reeds in general. I have been playing them for just about 3 years.
...Jim
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Author: Ronish
Date: 2008-04-28 09:02
Yes Jim I think that is what I`m experiencing. I just buy a Legere reed from the local store but how am I to know where it comes from,but I do know that the top outer edges are fairly sharp . I contacted Legere but they said they smooth all their edges but I think they are manufacted in different countries.
I can smooth off the sharp edges but this must soften them a little. Anyway I`m paying $35 (about $31 US) and I`m reluctant to have to start then working on them to make them comfortable to use.
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Author: feadog79
Date: 2008-04-28 16:03
I think I may have experienced something similar with Quebec Legeres on Bb. I liked the idea of Legere reeds, but for a while I could never get them to work exactly the way I wanted. I now get Legeres a little bit on the stiff side and work them down with Ridenour's ATG finishing system. When I work the Legeres down like this, I find they work MUCH better for me, and all the edges are smoothed down better.
For a while, I tried using Legeres a 1/4 to a 1/2 step down from what I used with cane reeds (as many people had suggested to me), but I felt I was giving up something in tone quality just to get better response, so I stopped using Legeres for a while. Then, I tried stiffer reeds and worked them down with the ATG system; I now find I can get the response I want without sacrificing tone quality.
J. Wilson
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Author: Ronish
Date: 2008-04-28 22:19
Thanks feedog79 can you tell me a little about the ATG. I know it is supposed to do all sorts of wonderful things but what does it consist of? I presume some sort of abrasive system?
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Author: seafaris
Date: 2008-04-28 22:42
Ronish,
Wow those are pricey there. I pay about $15 through http://1stopclarinet.stores.yahoo.net/bbclarreed.html
I put the reed on a flat surface (a thick piece of glass), took a razor blade and at an angle, lightly scraped the edge at a slight angle down and out ward. I did not go all the way to the tip. Then I very lightly sanded the edge with the small block that comes with the ATG system, but you could easily make your own. I think the paperweight was wet and dry 600. I held the block down and pulled the reed towards me very lightly. Again I did not go towards the tip.
I only had this problem on two reeds. If you Google Ridenour's ATG finishing system I am sure it will show up. It would great if "feadog79 " described in detail how he adjusts his reeds. I tried it once and the tip got fuzzy on me.
Cheers,
Jim
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Author: feadog79
Date: 2008-04-29 14:00
Using the method described by Tom Ridenour (on his DVD that comes with the ATG system), I took Legeres that were a bit stiff and worked them down a bit. I took equal amounts off of the left and right ears of the reed to help make the reed a little less stiff without taking too much out of the heart. I also sanded the bottom of the reed (only a little) to get it a little thinner, even though this is not part of the ATG system. The biggest problem I had with the Legeres was poor response in the altissimo, even after I got them down to the strength I really liked. I used Ridenour's tip finishing techniques (again, exactly as he describes) until I got the reed to speak better in the high register. I think I was able to achieve better response along with a dark tone by making sure I left enough material in the heart of the reed.
I found that I have to sand more/harder with Legeres than with cane reeds. I find this to be a good thing...I'm less likely to take too much off out of over-zealousness! I think it's worth noting that I used only the techniques that Ridenour describes with his system, and did not deviate from the pattern (except for sanding the bottom of the reed a little).
I did try the tip finishing on 3 1/4 strength Quebecs, but since these reeds are already on the thin side for me, I didn't have much success keeping a dark and centered tone, although I was able to improve the response. Working down the 3 1/2's was much better for me.
I think it's also worth noting that different mouthpieces act differently with Legeres. I own one of Ridenour's mouthpieces; it sounds good, but doesn't respond well with Legeres. I usually play a Grabner K13, which works very well for me. I've also found that Rovner fabric ligatures (either "Dark" or "Light") work better for me with these reeds than my BG Super Revelation does.
Just my experience...your mouthpiece/ligature/embouchure may yield different results for you!
J. Wilson
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