 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: A Brady
Date: 2010-09-23 15:36
I have a number of Legere Signature reeds in a couple of different strengths which generally played very well for me when I first purchased them, 6 months to a year ago.
I have been playing on cane reeds fairly exclusively for the last few months, but have been keeping the LS in my case as a back-up if needed.
When I play these Legere's now, they all seem to have become considerably harder and quite stuffy, to the point where I really cannot use them in actual playing situations, whereas I used several of them very successfully in a show last Spring. Nothing has changed in my set up since then, same mouthpiece, horn, etc, and I doubt that my embouchure has changed (my practice routine is the same.)
Has anyone else experienced this negative change in these reeds? I don't know if it's the aging of the reeds, the fact that they haven't been played lately, or some other factor.
I really would like to be able to have these Legere's be a consistent back-up for my cane reeds, but this batch has become unuseable.
Any thoughts?
AB
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Author: USFBassClarinet
Date: 2010-09-23 16:14
I keep one in my reed case as a back up as well. I have had it since they released the signatures and have noticed no real difference from Day 1. I have probably only spent about 2 or 3 hours playing on it though.
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2010-09-23 16:33
Play on the LSig some more.....They need a bit of a break-in after they have been rested.
After a workout, they seem to settle in. Use a second one after an hour or so, so that the original does not soften.
I have several #4s that I rotate, and a 3.75 when needed.
All else fails, contact the company......they are responsive and can further advise you.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: William
Date: 2010-09-23 20:13
I use Forestones exclusively and, therefore, do not need any "backups". Nor do I not have to worry that my reeds will not perform when I need them to. BTW, I'm using some cut down Forestone Bb reeds on my Yamaha 681 effer this weekend and will have not trouble hitting those G7's on my Selmer HS** vintage mouthpiece. Always had trouble being consistant "up there" with cut down Bb or Eb soprano cane reeds. With an F3 cut down Bb, I can even easily hit D7 when I really want to irritate everyone around me. Thank [whomever], real music doesn't often require "that" note--LOL.
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2010-09-24 00:29
If I had seen this thread sooner I could have said "William is about to post something about Forestones".
I've had 4 LSS for about a year. One or two of them have seen many hours of playing (3.5) and the other (3.75) have seen slightly less action. I don't play on them on my current mouthpiece, but they still vibrate about the same as they did. No noticable difference to me.
Take careful note of where you place the reed on the mouthpiece. The legeres are much more tempermental than cane in this respect. Having the reed be just a bit too high or low or off to one side can have serious affects on the performance.
Good luck.
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Author: William
Date: 2010-09-24 14:47
Did somebody mention reeds???? Let me take this opportunity to tell you about these great F............... LOL. OK, I'll give this BB a break for a while--but that doesn't mean I'm going back to cane.
btw, as I've posted before--and to agree with NBeaty--placement of the synthetic reeds is critical if you expect optimum performance and consistancy. This was especially evident to me when I was experimenting with Legeres. A bit high or off to one side made all the difference in the world. Cane reeds are also touchy, but much more forgiving in this respect--in fact, often shifting a reed to one side or placing it a bit high or low makes further adjustment unnecessary and improves sound and response.
But now, since I'm using.....[oops, I promised] *delete*
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Author: A Brady
Date: 2010-09-28 19:46
Thanks for the replies.
I am well aware of the sensitivity of these reeds to mouthpiece placement, and have experimented accordingly; response is affected by this, but the stuffiness remains a problem.
I have a feeling that one has to play these reeds on a more consistent basis to be truly comfortable with them. Fortunately, I have good luck with cane, so these reeds will probably remain strictly a back-up option for me at the present time.
AB
AB
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Author: CWH
Date: 2010-09-29 00:09
I have found the Legere Signature Series to be hands down the best man-made/synthetic reeds currently on the market; and I’ve tested all of them side by side (Forestone, Bari, Fibracell & Hahn). With a Legere I can pick one after the other and they are as consistent as the first, no fuss or hassle making adjustments. In turn, this allows me to concentrate on the artistry of playing and less on my carpentry skills.
Study, Practice, Play and Enjoy.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2010-09-29 13:10
I've left a couple of Legere (standard) reeds on a practice mouthpiece, and both wrinkled across the tip, becoming unplayable. Soaking, heating and compression didn't help, so I had to pitch them. I think they need to dry out under compression, and I've had no further problems when I do that.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2010-09-29 13:42
The instructions in the package and on the website recommend that you not store the reed on the mouthpiece.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2010-09-29 14:36
Hi Folks:
Again, if you enjoy working on cane reeds, Forestones, or whatever, please continue your age-old practice.
The new Legere Signature reeds require no work on them whatsoever. As a matter of fact, they can be destroyed by trying to improve them. They are perfect as they arrive from Legere.
If you don't like the Legere reed, for any reason, Do Not work on it, just return it to Legere for a replacement or a refund.
My point is, these new synthetic Legere reeds don't require any "adjustments" no matter how small or precise. If you choose to work on your reeds, try another brand or stick with the usual cane reeds.
I believe these new Legere Signature reeds play beautifully right out of the package. When it stops working for you, don't adjust it, just get a new one. They last 10 times longer than any cane reed, and remain consistent throughout their use. Cane, and other synthetic reeds with cane, do not stay as consistent as a good Legere reed, and certainly don't hold up under adverse conditions. Legere reeds play well outdoors, in wet or dry climates, under smoke or adverse concert or pit orchestra settings...anywhere cane reeds fail.
I have used the entire line of Legere reeds here in NYC, at every venue: Concerts, Recordings, Chamber Music & Jazz/Rock Concerts, etc. and they have always played perfectly...without any "adjustments"!
Buy a good Legere reed, give yourself a chance to adjust to it, don't adjust it! You won't regret it.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: vjoet
Date: 2010-09-30 15:06
I've been playing Signatures since their debut a couple years ago. Though an amateur, I do play a lot and have used them in community band and in multiple shows (Chicago, Big, Producers, King & I, Wizard of Oz). They have never let me down or disappointed me in any way.
I totally agree with John Moses about not adjusting them in any traditional fashion.
Playing in the pit for one of those shows, I had a regular Legere bass clarinet reed that was just a tad too hard. (The bass clarinet Signatures weren't / aren't out yet.) I followed the advice from Legere that they can be softened slightly by dipping to very hot water for a couple seconds. I heated water in the microwave, held the bass reed in it for 3 seconds, let it cool to room temperature, and it was perfect (and still is). But I wouldn't touch them with sandpaper or reed rush. And they last, and last and last.
And this endorsement comes from one who is very, very particular about tone quality, and one who would spend HOURS a week adjusting and rotating reeds. Those hours now go into practice. What a blessing!
Vann Joe
(amateur)
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