 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2019-05-24 21:25
Having problems with Legere clarinet and alto sax reeds warping at the tip- reeds are getting a wavy profile across the tip end. I have experienced this both with reeds that stay on the mouthpiece as well reeds that are stored in plastic reed holders. Has anybody else seen this? Is there a fix for these reeds?
Jerry
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Author: fernie121
Date: 2019-05-24 21:27
I’m using the same Legere for a year now and have never seen this. Could be your tonguing technique. Other than that, I can’t imagine why a synthetic would warp like that.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2019-05-24 22:56
This usually happens with cane reeds when a used reed is first moistened until it becomes evenly wet. Like Ken and fernie21 I've never had it happen with Legere reeds, either. Is this consistent with all of your Legeres or only a couple or a few?
Are you dipping them in hot (I think Legere says somewhere, boiling) water to try to soften them because they're slightly too stiff? If so, maybe you're holding them in too long. I think Legere's suggestion is a second or two, although I can't find this on their website, which is where I think I saw it originally.
Do these wrinkled tips straighten out on their own with playing or with thumb pressure against a flat surface (as cane reeds do)? If not, what happens if you dip one in boiling or very hot water for a second or two. Does it straighten out?
Not having had the problem with a number of Legere clarinet and sax reeds over the past few years, I can't think of anything else.
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-05-24 23:26
I'm curious about the designation "reeds that stay on the mouthpiece." I might let a reed stay on during a day once I set it in position in the morning, however, it comes off at the end of the day and the next one of four (or five) go back on the next day.
Perhaps if there is a prolonged period of days you leave a reed on the mouthpieces, there is something happening regarding being exposed to heat (such as being in direct sunlight coming through a window........or something).
The only "warp" I experienced was an errant hand gesture across the mouthpiece while the clarinet sat on a stand during a lesson......and I heard a very audible "crunching" sound. Unfortunately the bend in the corner that I imposed was permanent and I experimented with some boiling water before tossing it........into recycling.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: kdk
Date: 2019-05-25 02:27
saxlite wrote:
> I have experienced this both with reeds that stay on the
> mouthpiece as well reeds that are stored in plastic reed
> holders.
Paul Aviles wrote:
> I might let a reed stay on during a day once I
> set it in position in the morning, however, it comes off at the
> end of the day and the next one of four (or five) go back on
> the next day.
>
> Perhaps if there is a prolonged period of days you leave a reed
> on the mouthpieces, there is something happening regarding
> being exposed to heat (such as being in direct sunlight coming
> through a window........or something).
saxlite says it doesn't matter if the reed is left on the mouthpiece or stored in reed holders. He also doesn't say whether he's leaving the instrument out or packing it up (with one reed still on the mouthpiece).
I imagine if the clarinet with a reed mounted on the mouthpiece and the other reeds in holders, all inside a closed case, are then stored somewhere that's exposed to the warmth of direct sunlight, or the heat coming off of a chimney flu that runs up the wall inside a closet, that might be something to investigate. It probably isn't good to do that to the clarinet, either. saxlite will have to tell us if there's any possibility here.
With more and more players turning to synthetics in general and Legeres in particular, this would be worth tracking down.
Karl
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2019-05-25 03:59
Do you press the reed against the mouthpiece with your thumb to dry it out? This can warp a Legere reed. Don't ask me how I know!
Tony F.
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2019-05-25 05:16
I too have not seen a warped plastic reed (have only owned 2). After practicing I wash it thoroughly, dry it thoroughly, and put it in a plastic reed holder. I have found over the years that for some reason plastic reed holders prevent warping of wooden reeds somewhat better than metal holders. Don't think that is relevant to Legeres.
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2019-05-26 21:59
To answer the various questions posed:
My reeds are never exposed to heat of any sort. I play the clarinet or sax for about an hour and then put it away in the case. I dry the reeds with a gentle motion between my fingers before putting it back in a plastic reed guard.
I can't find anything in my usage that would tend to warp the reed.
So, it's still a puzzle.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-05-27 18:30
The only other thing that I can think of is a chemical exposure of some kind. Perhaps something exuding from an old vulcanized rubber mouthpiece, or some exotic oil used to lubricate keys or the ligature fasteners.
????????
Please keep us updated on the investigation.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: Selmer Buff
Date: 2023-05-26 07:04
My one year old, lightly played, Legere reed (European cut, 2.5) warped. I wrote to Legere to ask about how to flatten the reed. They replied quickly:
" For a reed that is 1 year old, this is reasonable. The reed will wear and soften overtime, and this could be result of use in this fashion. There is no way to return it to normal shape, as it's the internal structure of the oriented material that has worn, not much can be done about that unfortunately. Best thing is to replace it, as the bend in the reed is going to make it far less responsive. "
c'est la vie
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-05-26 13:46
Fortunately I can say that this has never happened to me. I'm guessing that both of you who've posted having this problem are saxophone players. I am only guessing but this may be a result of an issue where there is a much larger physical gap between mouthpiece and reed when playing, one that is larger than for any typical clarinet player.
Still an interesting phenomenon and I'd be curious to know the cause.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: lydian
Date: 2023-05-26 21:43
I've seen a few reports of warped Legere reeds, but of the 20 or so I've played in the past few years, that's never happened to me. I've just had them start to split at the tip as they reach the end of their life. They're usually unplayable by then for other reasons.
I play Legere on bari and bass saxes, so pretty huge gap on those, never any warping for me. It's hard for me to imagine how hard plastic could warp anyway without uneven mechanical or thermal stresses.
Just do an exchange if it happens within the first 30 days.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-05-26 21:55
lydian,
So I have experienced some at the right corner at times. Turns out as a right handed person with large hands, the fleshy inside of that ring formed by thumb and index finger would tug back at the corner of the reed and cause the split. I now put the mouthpiece on with reed facing AWAY from me. Any extraneous grabbing only pushes down on the reed……no more cracks in the right corner!
Are yours similar or just random splits across the tip at different places every time?
…………..Paul Aviles
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Author: lydian
Date: 2023-05-27 01:17
I’m pretty sure on bass sax it’s 6 months of hard tonguing that causes the splits. Never happened on bari since I don’t have to tongue quite as hard. I don’t use synthetic on any other saxes or clarinet due to poor tone quality and intonation in the high register. I’m not crazy about the tone on bari/bass saxes either, but it’s good enough for my outdoor venues.
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2023-05-27 04:01
this warping at the tip has happened to 4 of my legeres in the past 2 years. i am switching to hartman fibereeds .mabey i will have better results and luck
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Author: donald
Date: 2023-05-27 06:49
I used the same Legere on Alto sax for 6 years... then gave it to a student who used it for her Grade 8 ABRSM (and passed!). Per usual, "results can vary".
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Author: Burt
Date: 2023-05-27 06:53
I alternate four reeds (Signature and European, 3.25 and 3.5). The newest is four years old. I've never seen this problem. Nor have I seen it on my alto and tenor sax reeds.
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Author: Mojo
Date: 2023-05-27 16:37
This may help, or it may not. I have never had a tip warp but storing them on a flat surface seems like a good idea to me.
https://youtu.be/yDx5biM1cP8
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2023-05-27 17:08
after the first warp happened -i took to storing them in metal reedgaurds. they still warped
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Author: Julian ibiza
Date: 2023-05-28 11:24
The Legere material seems to have a good molecular memory.
I've had satisfactory results correcting warpage by using clothes pegs to hold the affected area flat on a piece of glass and then heating it up . The glass should remain a comfortable temperature to touch . A safe hight above a radiator etc.
It's worth a try if the alternative is throwing the reed away .
Julian Griffiths
Tel. 34 696 798 853
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2023-05-30 07:40
This may be the elephant in the room, or it may be not: Saxlite mentioned that he puts his Legere reeds in the ReedGuard cases- these cases have ridged surfaces as well as ridges in the inside of the slots(where the tip of the reed touches the case). Could they be causing your legeres to warp?
I do have a dozen of Legere reeds stored in these ReedGuard cases, but it's been quite a while since I've played them(migrated to much harder reeds on both cane & Legere) so it'll take a long time to dig them out once more!
Josh
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-05-30 15:21
I like the "thinking outside the box" trying to figure this one out. However I doubt the reed guard is the cause. Many of my reed guards have the ridges and there is no sign of rippling of the reed. Thinking about it, you'd have to have a force pressing BEYOND the ridges to cause this, but no matter how much you may jam a reed into these reed guards, the flat, hinged plastic piece that presses down only goes as far as the top most point of the grooved surface. Of course if you pressed down on the reed while on a grooved surface with your fingertips, that would be a different story.
..............Paul Aviles
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