Because these first reeds were an identical size to cane reeds they needed to have exactly the same stiffness and density. The clarinet is made up of wood, plastic, rubber, metal, ivory and resin materials whereas the mouthpieces are made up of rubber and sometimes plastic. I have tried various Forestone, Bravo, FiberReed and a few other synthetic reed brands in the past but actually have not had a chance to test play the Légère Signat… Légère synthetic reeds are rugged and should last for many hours of playing, however, the tip is fragile and the reed can split or break if it is mishandled. At this point, the reed is in playing condition. If you do not feel a fast attack the reed position or strength is incorrect. If you cannot find a position that works well and it feels like the strength is incorrect please make use of Légère’s Exchange of Strength program. It tired my embouchure and at the end of set two, I was outta gas. Now I can at least tell which reeds are good and which are not so good. Well, after waiting for over two months my synthetic reeds arrived - Hahns, Fibracells, and Legere (from various vendors). I considered looking for a really excellent one for the side-by-side comparison, but it seemed to be a better real-world test if I used what I had immediately at hand. Curious about our manufacturing process, materials or equipment? A person who plays clarinet is known as Clarinettist. Of course, if you always play your harps gently, they will last much longer than if you abuse them, but reeds do not become "more flexible" if you break them in, nor do the reeds become "easier to bend". I do not have the time that a professional does to work on reeds and identify the correct reed for that day. To unpack the reed, remove it from the case or box carefully avoiding contact with the tip. All Legere oboe reeds are slightly different and will need slightly different adjustment. I might just go at it with a knife and see what I can do… However, reading how they needed to be "broken" in, I decided to apply this, and fortunately, it worked. If you like reeds on the heavier or harder spectrum, you or a teacher may need to do some adjusting to your reed. Playing. Altering Légère reeds is not recommended. Our reeds have a slight “grain” pattern embedded in the material which can be mistaken for cracks. Légère Reeds online store is currently available in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. One complaint that I have though, is that the reed does not come with any case to carry it in. Compared to my cane reeds it was obviously more durable and long-lasting, but also more convenient as these Legere reeds do not need to be wetted or broken in before playing. Finally, when a little more time passed, the Legere's sound and response became very close to a … Browse Legere Reeds products and enjoy free shipping on thousands of Legere Reeds gear & 30 day returns. All jokes aside, I received some samples of Legere Signature reeds and I thought it would be interesting to do a head to head comparison with them and a cane reed. The reeds will eventually fatigue and become permanently softer, losing their tone quality. I still like the sound of the Legere Signature Series 2.5 (tenor) the best. Depending on your playing style, the reed will need to be rotated after roughly 60 minutes. Clipping the reed with a conventional reed clipper is likely to cause longitudinal splits through the tip. It is best to always handle your reed by the heel. While Légère reeds are durable, they can easily be damaged if mishandled or dropped. Anyway, I normally play Vandoren blue box reeds of 2.5 or 3.0 strength, so I ordered sop, tenor and bari reeds of 2.5 in each of Hahn, Fibracell premier and Legere. After around 30 mins to an hour, they began to play and sound like a normal cane reed. A few players send me their Legere reeds to fix. Move the reed back and forth trying a variety of positions and continue testing. Bending stiffness is a function of elastic modulus and removing material will drastically reduce the strength of the reed. To best avoid cracking and to elongate the lifespan of your reed, it is recommended to rotate between 2-3 Légère reeds. To best avoid cracking and to elongate the lifespan of your reed, it is recommended to rotate between 2-3 Légère reeds. Need to Know Strength Charts. They do not need to be broken in, they are water proof, and they last longer than cane reeds. Why do I need to adjust these reeds for players? We strongly recommend that you keep two or three reeds in rotation and retire reeds periodically as they wear out." Reeds that have been altered are not eligible for an exchange or refund. Depending on your playing style, the reed will need to be rotated after roughly 60 minutes. However, I still await a Fibracell for my baritone. each reed once per day, adjust as needed, and stop when your reed feels soft. I take no responsibility for any attempts you may have in adjusting the reeds My curiosity once again got the best of me and I decided to go about hacking away at the reed to see if … With proper rotation and care your reeds should last many months. Included with the Legere alto reed was a Legere clarinet reed. Compared to my cane reeds it was obviously more durable and long-lasting, but also more convenient as these Legere reeds do not need to be wetted or broken in before playing. Our comprehensive strength chart compares traditional cane strengths to the matching Légère reed strength for both clarinet and saxophone. It is best to always handle your reed by the heel. Légère saxophone reeds are available in the Classic, Studio, and Signature cuts and a variety of strengths to satisfy all styles of playing. On the gig, the Legere on the Meyer piece just wore me out in two sets. Légère reeds are made from polypropylene, are always symmetrical, and do not react to moisture. Whether or not reeds need to be broken in is up for debate, but cane reeds do tend to have a longer “breaking in” period than those that are synthetic. I may use it as a sort of chop busting exercise to get my embouchure in great shape. After long use, our reeds may develop fine lines down the vamp which in most cases, will not affect the sound. I fix them the very same way as I do with cane reeds. If desired, the reeds can be scraped with fine sandpaper or a sharp blade, held perpendicular to the reed. The reed can be cleaned periodically with water and a mild detergent. Depending on your playing style, the reed will need to be rotated after roughly 60 minutes. With proper care and maintenance, your Légère reed will give countless hours of playing and the Freedom to Perform. It's quite dark and doesn't have much of a buzz like so many other reeds do. I used Vandoran reeds and once I properly broken in a reed, I didn't worry about that reed until it broke down. Test the reed’s response either on the instrument or alone. Should you experience cracks within 30 days, please contact us and we’d be happy to review your case. Due to the sensitivity of the reeds, particularly at the tip, improper care or excessive playing could cause damaging cracks. The next thing you need to do is soak your reeds in a glass of fresh, clean water. While Légère reeds are durable, they can easily be damaged if mishandled or dropped. Place the reed on the mouthpiece in the same position that you would put a cane reed and secure it with a ligature. But, do you know when it’s time to replace saxophone reeds? The clarinet is a type of woodwind musical instrument which its mouthpiece consists of a single reed, a cylindrical tube, and a flared bell. Légère Reeds LTD, has become one of the most popular synthetic reeds on the market today. This is intended to reveal all aspects of the reeds. Use Legere’s Replacement Policy Legere offers to replace reeds within 30 days of purchase to help you find the right size. They should be scraped from the top of the vamp towards the tip. One can get a bigger and better sound because the reed has more surface contact with the mouthpiece and the air isn’t going behind a warped reed. What I also do, because the reeds will come out of the cases is label the butt of the reed with the same number as the case, so I know which reed goes into which reed case. Legere Saxophone Reeds also come in multiple sizes – even 1/4 sizes – starting at the softer 1.5 and up to the harder 3.5 You should feel a quick attack that speaks instantly. Tuned reeds (as in harmonicas and accordions) are made of metal or synthetics. In Denver, a great reed one day is a Popsicle stick the next. American Cut for Saxophone The American Cut represents the next-generation of Légère saxophone reeds. When you are finished playing on your reed, loosen the ligature and remove it from the mouthpiece. Musical instruments are classified according to the type and number of reeds. A reed is a thin strip of material that vibrates to produce a sound on a musical instrument.Most woodwind instrument reeds are made from Arundo donax ("Giant cane") or synthetic material. I switched back to the Sinta with a cane reed (Vandoren ZZ 2) and played the third set without a hitch. First and foremost, don’t think about replacing reeds as a money-grab by the reed manufacturers. More and more saxophonists have made the switch to Légère due to the many common problems and inconsistencies they have faced while dealing with traditional cane reeds. One complaint that I have though, is that the reed does not come with any case to carry it in. Due to the sensitivity of the reeds, particularly at the tip, improper care or excessive playing could cause damaging cracks. You’ll notice that you can play on them a little longer each day, and eventually, you’ll get to 20-30 minutes. If you are interested in experimentation purchase reeds that are 0.5 to 1.0 step stronger than your appropriate strength. Early Légère reeds were made with profiles very similar to cane reeds. And you don't want to mess up if you try to adjust them. Due to the fact that polypropylene is non-porous, it is very difficult for bacteria to build on your reed. To unpack the reed, remove it from the case or box carefully avoiding contact with the tip. Légère single reeds should be stored on a flat surfaced reed case. One reed in particular gave me problems with articulation and response: it was not clear nor was is fast and light. There is no need to moisten a Légère reed, it will play like a pre-moistened cane reed directly from the box. I've been playing bari with a borrowed setup that … Step #2 — Soak Your Reeds. Unsure what your strength is? So this means to me Legere doesn't have what it takes to simply design a reed to fit all mouthpieces. The Legere European Signature reed removes the uncertainty. At this point, I consider the reed to be broken in, and I put it into my regular rotation of reeds (see below). With proper rotation and care your reeds should last many months. Reeds often need to be broken in for very long periods Fewer options, brands and types of plastic reeds to choose from Cannot easily be altered, shaved or trimmed to fit one’s specific needs (do not sand plastic and put it back in your mouth!) One of the best features of a Légère reed is that it does not need to be moistened prior to playing. Why They Work. Légère Reeds do not need to be adjusted like cane, saving you valuable time. With their high cost, you want to get the most out of every synthetic reed you buy. The cane reed was the best that I had at the time in a pretty average batch of broken-in reeds. The polypropylene synthetic material makes them translucent (nearly see through). Once the attack feels correct play the reed for a couple minutes to warm it up. Such is a critical factor to understand. There is no need to moisten a Légère reed, it will play like a pre-moistened cane reed directly from the box. I have got a couple of Legere Signature tenor reeds that feel a bit too hard - too much air noise and a bit tiring to play … The earliest types of single-reed instruments … Reeds are very much a matter of personal preference, but I'd suggest trying out a synthetic if you can. Learn how to properly care for your reeds, here. They’ll get back to you with instructions on where to send your reed and then they send you a replacement. Can you tell when a reed is dying? These first reeds were cut using a very similar process to that used for current Légère reeds. 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