 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: avins
Date: 2014-09-01 16:45
I came back to the clarinet after a 2 years break and after building myself up back to V12 3# on this beautiful m30 VD MP
I ordered a 3 1/4 signature reed , well , I think this reed is a miracle , Although I like it so much I find it ever so slightly soft for this MP so Im ordering a 3 1/2 , which I think should be optimal , I' m just wondering whether I should also try the 3 1/4 one on a slighty larger gap MP B40 , which would be even better ,
Thanks for your comments
Avins
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-09-01 21:29
The balancing act of response, tone and tuning on the Legeres actually led me down the path of finding a particular cut and strength and then hunting down the right mouthpiece for it. So I'd say in your circumstance being "close" but not "there," the mouthpiece hunt may be the better way to go. With the Signatures, I just found the harder (or should I say too hard for me) versions to be less responsive, and yet I still did not get the dynamic contrast nor the ability to vary pitch as much as with cane. So my end result was not completely satisfactory on the Legeres but DO try the mouthpiece route as well as the harder Legere.
.............Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2014-09-02 02:21)
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Author: derf5585
Date: 2014-09-02 01:06
The reasons I use Legere reed are
1. Do not have to warm up, always ready for my cue
2. Rather spend time playing rather than fiddling with cane reeds.
3, Consistant
fsbsde@yahoo.com
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Author: avins
Date: 2014-09-02 13:17
Thanks , I think I will try the B40 VD MP with the 3 1/4 but I've also just ordered a 3 1/2 for the M30 , and I will see then.
BTW , I'm actually very happy with the results as for dynamics , only that , a little more resistance will give me better control and tone in the upper tones ,
Thanks again and I''' let you know of the outcome
Avins
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Author: Clarineteer
Date: 2014-09-02 14:05
I have been using the Legere Signature reeds since they were introduced and they are amazing. I have a Walter Grabner AWS PER mouthpiece which is made using a Zinner blank. The tone and response is unmatched by any cane reed and I can actually bend every note a full half tone.
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Author: ErezK
Date: 2014-09-10 13:36
I am in the process of exploring how well Legere reeds can work for me.
My setup has been for years a Pomarico crystal 5B mpc with Pyne string ligature.
With that setup, a Legere Signature did not work so well for me. I didn't care for the sound and from a practical point, the reed moved too easily on the table. Being smoother, I find that even on a hard rubber mpc, it needs a ligature with a good "clamp".
After trying a few mouthpieces, I found that it I like the sound and evenness in response with a Vandoren B40 Lyre coupled with a Vandoren Optimum ligature.
It is a combo that for me feels very stable and predictable.
Compared to a good cane on my other new mpc, B45 Lyre, the later is more "powerful" or has better "projection" but it is also requires more work on my part.
I am using lot of '"'s and employing a non-objective language as these matters are very subjective. Still though, I thought there is some value in sharing my experience.I'd be interested to learn what combinations work for other folks as well with Legere reeds.
I think a bit of background is also worth noting, because the demands are different at various skill proficiency levels. I have seen superlatives thrown at different products, often by folks that while are enthusiastic/passionate, which is a good thing, still have a lot to learn before they can give qualified advices.
As for myself: I returned to playing the clarinet regularly for a few months now, after a long break (>15 years). At the time, I was a member of the young israeli philharmonic, played there for 4 years. It is somewhat like riding a bike, but I found that it is also a good opportunity to take lessons from a good teacher.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-09-10 14:01
Ligatures are an interesting topic with the Legere. Because the plastic reed is slippery, you come to realize that the inherent design of a cone shaped clamp relies on the reed to provide the necessary friction to keep things in place. I wound up scoring (laterally, with sandpaper) the insides of ligatures to help keep them on better with the Legeres.
I too found the Optimum to work well due to its design that places the pressure more "up and down" rather than a "squeeze." Another ligature that works great (with a little scoring) is the M/O. This one will hold the Legere in place like a rock! Even though my sonic results were a little better with the leather (and metal insert) BG, no amount of modifying could get the BG to hold the Legere on as securely as the M/O.
I will have a Silvertein in a few weeks and will see what sort of results I get with the Legere. It is also more of a 'downward pressure' design.
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: pplateau
Date: 2014-09-11 04:41
I found the Rovner Mark III works better than the Optimum on the Legere signatures.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-09-17 19:38
The Silversteing can hold the Legere quite securely. It is also by far the best at optimizing the performance of the Legere reed (as is seems with cane as well).
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: William
Date: 2014-09-18 22:58
Just received, on approval, a Walter Grabner K11* model Bb clarinet mouthpiece and it is simply AMAZING. My Legere Signiture reeds, previously unplayable on my Kaspar 14, literally jumped to "life" on the Grabner. With no "blowback" there is ample dynamic flexability in all registers with a crisp staccato when desired. I can now double tongue from low E up to G6 with relative ease and tone quality is excellent. What is even more astounding, I can now play on previously unplayable Forestone reeds, which I much prefer to the Legere's. As my three week trial period goes on, I will report more findings on this wonderful K11* Grabner mouthpiece--as of now, it seems like a real winner and seems to play better than my old standby, Chicago Kaspar or it's "twin" cousin, my custom Ithica Charles Bay.
FWIW, Walter makes his K11* from a stock Zinner blank.
http://www.clarinetxpress.com/
Post Edited (2014-09-18 23:40)
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Author: avins
Date: 2014-09-19 20:12
William , interesting what you are saying as for the Garbner mp I think that MP and reed compatibility is of great importance with the clarinet but even more so with Legere reeds . I wish I could find one in my area but I will be in Berlin soon so I hope to try out over there .
Anyway I received the Signature3 1/2 , up from 3 1/4, and what a great combo together with my M 30 VD '
By the way It was slightly stiff to my liking but I placed the reed in hot water for a couple of minutes and unlike what people have commented around , it seems that this does the job not just for a few minutes, its now already a few days later and the reed is just perfect / perhaps this process changes the properties of the reed . I've been comparing this reed with other VD V12 3's and 3 1/2, I had one very good 3 1/2 V12 and this signatures compares well with it .This means that I will be using the Leger exclusively from now on. ,What is great about the reed is that I know how the reed will perform from day to day , what a pleasure..
Avins
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