Reeds Getting Back into Cane Reeds.

[Lewis.S]

Hi all, it's been my first post in quite a while, so, hi again

A few months ago, I started using Légère synthetic reeds for my alto sax, on my Selmer ebonite, and my Yanigasawa metal mouthpiece; I found them to be very good, but I only had one for each mouthpiece, and as the reeds are approaching the end of their life, and I feel it's time to move back to cane reeds.

My sax teacher has told me to get Vandoren V16's for my ebonite, so, the type of reed is fine, it's just what strength to purchase. My teacher said to buy strength 3, and originally I used the studio cut on my Selmer C* mouthpiece. I felt the read became weaker in the past few days, does this mean I need a stronger reed?

Lewis ​

 

[TomMapfumo]

Hi There!

I depends on what music you prefer playing with your Selmer C* on Alto. What hardness of Legere Studio do you use? The V16 3 is rated as just between the 2.5 and 2.75 of the Legere. The V16 is quite a thick reed and does take a bit of puff, especially as a 3, though you do play a narrow tip opening mouthpiece.

I don't play synthetics so hopefully someone could advise about whether you need a stronger reed. It would be useful to have a bit more info about what you are looking for as certain reeds will perhaps suit different types of music better than others. I play a V16 type reed (an Alexander Superial NY) when I am playing more rock/funk type music, but otherwise use more jazz cut reeds.

 

[kevgermany]

How big are the mouthpieces? And which Legere were you using?

Your teacher's probably has a better idea than we do.

Why are you switching back to cane? Just curious. Haven't used synthetics myself.

 

[TomMapfumo]

Your teacher's probably has a better idea than we do.

A big assumption, as I have found - lots of teachers have very outdated views - have only heard of Vandoren & Rico reeds, Selmer mouthpieces, Yamaha saxophones etc. etc. Some teachers are very on the ball, some are definitely not, in my experience...........

 

[Lewis.S]

Hi There!

I depends on what music you prefer playing with your Selmer C* on Alto. What hardness of Legere Studio do you use? The V16 3 is rated as just between the 2.5 and 2.75 of the Legere. The V16 is quite a thick reed and does take a bit of puff, especially as a 3, though you do play a narrow tip opening mouthpiece.

I don't play synthetics so hopefully someone could advise about whether you need a stronger reed. It would be useful to have a bit more info about what you are looking for as certain reeds will perhaps suit different types of music better than others. I play a V16 type reed (an Alexander Superial NY) when I am playing more rock/funk type music, but otherwise use more jazz cut reeds.

Hi, thanks for the reply!

I do use the 2.75 strength reeds, and the V16's did strike me as a jazz reed, although I've never really tested reeds, I've used Legere, Traditional Vandoren, and their Jazz equivalent for my yanigasawa mouthpiece.

And Hi Kev!

I decided to stop using synthetics, because I feel cane are better, although this is just my view. I recently switched from legere reeds on my clarinet, to the traditional vandoren, and I feel I got a much better sound! So, I felt the same may apply to sax. Secondly, my legere was approaching the end of it's life after several months of use, and finally, I'm learning altissimo for my grade 7 Jazz, and it was quite difficult with the legere reed, especially at this point in it's life. I would recommend them though! I find they don't really suit classical playing, which is quite ironic, since I'm doing a jazz exam, but hey! I'm still partial to a bit of Debussy

Lewis

 

[kevgermany]

Hi, thanks for the reply!

I do use the 2.75 strength reeds, and the V16's did strike me as a jazz reed, although I've never really tested reeds, I've used Legere, Traditional Vandoren, and their Jazz equivalent for my yanigasawa mouthpiece.

And Hi Kev!

I decided to stop using synthetics, because I feel cane are better, although this is just my view. I recently switched from legere reeds on my clarinet, to the traditional vandoren, and I feel I got a much better sound! So, I felt the same may apply to sax. Secondly, my legere was approaching the end of it's life after several months of use, and finally, I'm learning altissimo for my grade 7 Jazz, and it was quite difficult with the legere reed, especially at this point in it's life. I would recommend them though! I find they don't really suit classical playing, which is quite ironic, since I'm doing a jazz exam, but hey! I'm still partial to a bit of Debussy

Lewis

My son tried synthetics on his clarinet. Sound was appalling. Somehow he 'managed' to 'lose' it quite quickly..... ;}

 

[Lewis.S]

My son tried synthetics on his clarinet. Sound was appalling. Somehow he 'managed' to 'lose' it quite quickly..... ;}

Aha! Legere reeds are quite good for a classical sound on the clarinet since they are reliable, but they are no replacement for the good old vandoren traditional ;}

 

[kevgermany]

He's using Sinus reeds, a lesser known, but good German brand, gets them from his teacher.Google sinus and pflaumer if you're interested.

 

[Jack]

I just googled Sinus Reeds and got ads for Mucinex! What I found on synthetic reeds was that playing really fast articulations especially on clarinet that the synthetics could not perform as quickly as a cane one. (I was using fibrecell 2.5). I have now gone to Rico Jazz select and occasionally the Rico Plasticover Try them you might like them !!

 

[kevgermany]

you must have forgotten the Pflaumer - Rudolf Pflaumer is the maker, here's a link:

http://www.sinus-reeds.de/englisch.html

 

[Lewis.S]

Aha, they're probably something I will consider when I've used up my good old box of V 16's ;}

 

[kevgermany]

Aha, they're probably something I will consider when I've used up my good old box of V 16's ;}

I've not tried them myself, although the teacher uses/sells them for clarinet, he doesn't use them on sax, usually it's rico royal.

 

[Jack]

that's great for european customers, but for us in the States, http://Musiciansfriend.com has free shipping and no sales tax and a great price !!

That's for any reeds. I don.t believe they carry Pflaumers.

I typed the name in and got "Lee Oskar Natural Minor Reed Plates" so I think not.

 

[Rikki]

Hi Lewis,

Like your self after several months I found that the legere reed (tenor signature 2.25) seemed a bit dead so I switched back to cane reeds - rico orange, and the sound was nice and lively. After advice from another user, I put the legere in our freezer for a couple of days. The result was amazing, the legere is now back on the sax, and confirms for me that I at least prefer the synthetics and what amazing value they are.

Regards Rikki