 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-07-26 00:52
Hey folks,
The show is underway and there are lots of great vendors and product to keep you away from all the great performances!
I went specifically to see two products from Italy, The new ZAC ligature and the top of the line Artista clarinets from Patricola. Both are AMAZING!
As I sat down to try the ZAC ligature the representative used a car analogy. He said it was like adding another gear to the transmission. I don't know about that BUT it sure did add about twice the top end volume (in the space) and a heck of a lot more gritty ping (just what I was looking for to bring out the best of the Legere reeds). This ligature uses the same sort of cable used for the Silverstein, only it is just one loop at the front, one loop in the back, and a plate (either metal or wood) that extends across both cable and is the only actual contact with the reed. Even with the extra wide European Signature, the cable does not touch the edges of the reed at all (only the plate makes contact). I decided on the brass plate option with has the most "zazzing."
Then in the adjoining booth, Patricola is displaying their new top of the line horn, the Artista. The silver plated version is comparable to the MAP price of the Buffet R13 but the gold plated version is only another $1000 (a much better deal than other manufacturers at the moment). I heard the sound of that horn bounce off an angled wall about fifty feet from me.......wow! Some of us may remember the sorta intermediate level horns from Patricola fromb the 90's. These are WAY better and right up there with the best of rest. Ferraris and Lamorghinis are no longer the only reasons to love Italy!
................Paul Aviles
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-07-26 15:12
YES !!!!!
I guess I hid that in my description. I ONLY use Legere European Signature 3 1/2 reeds at the moment (never considered going back to cane). I am always on the hunt fo a ligature that will securely hold down the fairly thin Legere reeds. To my amazement the ZAC ligature does in fact hold down the Legeres beautifully and allows a clearly superior sound over other ligatures with Legere reeds.
Oh, I almost forgot.
Legere told me that they ARE going to be releasing a European Signature for bass clarinet within the next three months!!!
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-07-27 00:43
Yeah!
Reconnected with some old friends, made new ones, pissed of the sales rep for Buffet in Jacksonville.
Can't win 'em all.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: BethGraham
Date: 2019-07-27 03:01
My motto? "A day without pissing someone off is like a day without sunshine."
Glad you're having such a good time!
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2019-07-29 06:02
Too bad the names on the IDs were printed so small that you had to almost put your nose to their chests to read them.
I'm sure that I missed people who I've never met face-to-face, but have communicated with through the BBD, Facebook, etc.
Sad to say, this was just one of the things that irked me and that had others livid.
Oh well. Maybe next time.
B.
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Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2019-07-29 17:49
Yes, I agree the name tags should have been printed much larger.
However, at that one criticism, I want to say we had a great time. From the vendor side of things everything was organized smoothly and went off without a hitch. Thanks to everyone involved in making it the big success that is was.
On a personal note - thanks to all of our friends and supporters! The sales of our new line of Grabner HiTech Clarinet Mouthpieces were through the roof. Best ever. I hope everyone who bought one will have many happy years playing on them.
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetXpress.com
Grabner HiTech Clarinet Mouthpieces
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2019-07-30 02:58
Oh my goodness. A European Signature bass clarinet reed?
I'm excited for this.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-07-30 05:14
Well that balances out the news that Legere will be phasing out their Tenor Saxophone Studio Cut.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: jack
Date: 2019-07-30 07:33
Tried the Silverstein ALTA polymer reeds at the Fest. For me anyway, they beat out the Legere's in every way. They have the same warmth and feel of cane instead of the sterile, one dimensional feel of the Legere. Can't comment on longevity, because haven't used them long enough to say. They make bass clarinet reeds as well, but didn't try those.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-07-30 13:07
So where does the strength differential lie with those (that is....1/4 strength stronger or weaker than comparable Vandoren, etc.)?
Also, I am to understand that they sound different when moist. Is that a huge difference? When bone dry is their performance acceptable?
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: Mojo
Date: 2019-07-30 18:47
Hopefully they just rebranded the TS Studio. Legere was aware that player were using them on BC.
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2019-07-30 19:00
I'll be so disappointed if that's all they did.
I suspect it's not, though. The Signatures use a different material that lets Legere use the cuts they are using.
I have maybe too much hope for the European Signature bass clarinet reeds, but I'd love to be done with cane on the bass clarinet at some point.
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Author: MarkS
Date: 2019-07-30 21:22
Hello All,
I have been enjoying your postings for a little while, but have not posted before. Until about three months ago, I was playing on a Robert DiLutis 4.0 reed, and it worked well for me. Then I decided to try Legere European Signature. I tried 3.5 initially, but changed to 3.75 to get better definition in altissimo. I have been pretty happy with the result, but I felt that the tone on certain notes was not as good as on the cane reeds.
I have been trying out Silverstein Ambipoly 4.0 reeds for the last four days. I contacted Silverstein Works to ask them which strength corresponded to Legere ES 3.75. No specific response, but they referred me to a chart that compares strength only to Vandoren V12 and Rico Reserve. I used that information and my knowledge of the relationship between DiLutis and V12 to guess that 4.0 would be about right. That seems to be the case.
So far I am very happy with the tone over the full range--much better than the Legere ES. My only concern has been that the reed seems a little "buzzy" from middle C down. However, it seems possible to eliminate this either by minor adjustment in embouchure pressure or by moving the reed up slightly on the mouthpiece. I am guessing that as my embouchure gets used to the new type of reed, this issue will go away.
In general, the reed seems to have the best qualities of both cane and synthetic. Also, in contrast to the Legere, it seems to be possible to adjust the apparent strength by moving the reed up or down without destroying the tone.
By the way, I am using a Grabner Virtuoso mouthpiece (medium open) with Silverstein A-style ligature.
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