Beginner Saxes Legere Reeds

[wooster]

Hi,

I know these reeds have been discussed on here a few times but mostly a couple of years ago and there seems to have been new developments in their range since then. I'm also particularly interested in knowing if they would suit my own circumstances.

I'm a beginner and, without trying to be a sax heretic, the subtleties of different reed tones don't seem as important to me as the chance of getting rid of one variable in my learning process. I don't really know enough to pick a good or bad reed from a pack and to know if one's worn out or not. I also am tempted to buy a lot of different ones in an attempt to magically improve my tone.

I thought I'd avoid this if I stuck with one reed for a few months while I concentrated on building up my basic skills - including getting as good a tone as I can from the reed I'm using. I reckon I can worry about the reed's individual tonal character later.

I also thought Legere would be a cost-effective option if I followed this plan. I'm contemplating trying an American Cut reed as according to Legere's website they are the freest blowing of them all. Legere also recommends a no 2 for beginners.

Am I onto something or heading down the wrong path?

 

[saxyjt]

What are you playing now? Alto or tenor? What mouthpiece and what reeds and strength.l are you comfortable with.

All of these variables can influence the decision.

I would suggest Légère signature rather than American cut. And beware that in my experience, the Légère signature is harder than the reference Vandoren blue for example. So a 2.0 would probably be equivalent to a 2.5 Vandoren blue. In my own experience.

But I think you're right in thinking it can reduce the issues related to cane reeds.

 

[wooster]

I have a YAS 280 with the stock Yamaha 4C and I have been using Rico 2 reeds. I got a whole stack of reeds with the sax and it seems to confuse me. The temptation is always to try out a new one and wonder if whatever one I have on is right or not.

I just want to get on with building my technique without having to worry about the reed I use. The reason I was looking at the American was that on their site, Legere's charts show it as less resistance than any of the others and they say its a good choice for students. Of course I haven't tried any of them and I don't know much about reeds anyway so I just went with what they said about reeds and strengths.

 

[Ivan]

I play Légère exactly because it reduces reed variables to almost zero

I think Légère ought to be a good reed to learn on

I don't know if Signature or American would be better for early learning; I play either and barely notice a difference

You can go with Légère's advice or regard it as cynical marketing and choose the cheaper Signature

 

[wooster]

Thank you. If I am comfortable with the Rico 2 should I go with a 1.75 legere or would 2 be reasonable?

 

[greenstripe]

I've gone with Legere American Cut for exactly the same reasons. Been playing them for just over a year now and they're great. I was on a 1.75 initially, now 2.0 and contemplating trying 2.25.

Legere do an exchange program so if you purchased a reed and it's the wrong strength for you, you can exchange it for a different strength for free. I've used this and it's a very simple and easy process.

I've even got my teacher playing them as it makes it very easy for him to pick up one of his saxes and just start playing during lessons.

Curly Woodwind are normally the cheapest place to buy them.

 

[saxyjt]

Thank you. If I am comfortable with the Rico 2 should I go with a 1.75 legere or would 2 be reasonable?

If you play Rico 2, I'd go for 1.75 as @greenstripe did.

But you may outgrow that as your embouchure develops. Rico 2 on a 4c seems rather weak. I started on 2.5 VD blue, but never felt comfortable with 3.0.

Hard reeds can be tiring. Then we're all different.

 

[Ballymenaboy]

If you buy a Legere reed that is too hard then 1 second dip into boiilng water will reduce it's strength by c30% in my estimation.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I gave up on vandoren blue due to strength inconsistensies. 2.5 varying between being too soft or just right and 3 being just right or too hard. Sometimes the whole box was the wrong way.

The facing curve on a yam mouthpiece suits a regular or american cut reed. imo

The whole point of cane is that it is variable and it requires the player to be flexible to get the best out of it. Where's the fun in "same every time"? 😉

 

[lydian]

I just want to point out that Legere will let you exchange for a different strength, in case the 1.75 doesn’t work for you.

 

[Colin the Bear]

As mentioned in post #6. 😉

 

[jbtsax]

I'm a beginner and, without trying to be a sax heretic, the subtleties of different reed tones don't seem as important to me as the chance of getting rid of one variable in my learning process.

You have touched upon something I found to be extremely important when I taught beginners for many years in my teaching career. Any person just starting out doesn't know how something is supposed to feel and are unsure if they are doing it correctly.

Working with beginners, I found that working on consistency with regard to posture, how far to put the mouthpiece into the mouth, neckstrap length (that determines the angle of the mouthpiece), and reed strength are all important to making consistent progress at first. As players gain more experience they can then make small changes and modifications that suit their physiology as they go along.

I just wish there had been good quality synthetic reeds when I started teaching in 1970. What they had back then sounded more like playing a kazoo than a saxophone.

 

[Wade Cornell]

I've always recommended synthetics for beginners for the reasons you have stated. There is an unfortunate "culture" of mucking around with cane reeds that one can certainly participate in at some stage, but for a beginner you want consistency so that all the other aspects of playing can be worked on and not to be unsure if the reed is causing the problem. There are other synthetics that are as good or better, but the Legere is OK and their exchange program a bonus.

 

[eb424]

I've always recommended synthetics for beginners for the reasons you have stated. There is an unfortunate "culture" of mucking around with cane reeds that one can certainly participate in at some stage, but for a beginner you want consistency so that all the other aspects of playing can be worked on and not to be unsure if the reed is causing the problem. There are other synthetics that are as good or better, but the Legere is OK and their exchange program a bonus.

could you reccommend any ??...I started using Legere in the summer cane just buckled in the caravan...generally I am really impressed with them the only issue I have is that they can move from side to side on a MPCE....surely if we have the technology to replicate a reel reed then there must be a way of geting them to stick to the table better....

 

[Wade Cornell]

could you reccommend any ??...I started using Legere in the summer cane just buckled in the caravan...generally I am really impressed with them the only issue I have is that they can move from side to side on a MPCE....surely if we have the technology to replicate a reel reed then there must be a way of geting them to stick to the table better....

The movement thing is a ligature problem. If tightened down properly no reed should move around. You may need a different ligature. As you can imagine plastic (Legere) is a bit more "slick" so prone to sliding. Other synthetics are not quite as "slick". The other good synthetics I use are Hartmann's Fiberreed. They have several different types depending on the type of sound you're after. I like them a lot. There is also Forestone's "Hinoke" reed. Forestone has others as well, but some are not to my liking.

Synthetic reeds, like any different reed, take time to get used to and adapt. The difference is that with cane you're doing that continually and often with a reed that will never be any good. Once you adapt to a style/brand of synthetic it lasts, so you can continue to develop your tone. Even when it eventually gives out the next one will be the same, so the consistency will work for you.

 

[lydian]

Reeds are very subjective. To me, Hartmann sounds like a kazoo. But I agree that you just need to fix your ligature issues and stick with what you’ve got.

 

[Wade Cornell]

Reeds are very subjective. To me, Hartmann sounds like a kazoo. But I agree that you just need to fix your ligature issues and stick with what you’ve got.

As you say "subjective" . Here's a track I just posted using a Hartmann "kazoo" sounding reed?
www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-238554.php

 

[eb424]

The movement thing is a ligature problem. If tightened down properly no reed should move around. You may need a different ligature. As you can imagine plastic (Legere) is a bit more "slick" so prone to sliding. Other synthetics are not quite as "slick". The other good synthetics I use are Hartmann's Fiberreed. They have several different types depending on the type of sound you're after. I like them a lot. There is also Forestone's "Hinoke" reed. Forestone has others as well, but some are not to my liking.

Synthetic reeds, like any different reed, take time to get used to and adapt. The difference is that with cane you're doing that continually and often with a reed that will never be any good. Once you adapt to a style/brand of synthetic it lasts, so you can continue to develop your tone. Even when it eventually gives out the next one will be the same, so the consistency will work for you.

Hey thanks tried the hartman fiber reed was great up high low B was really difficult...Apparantly they can adjust for you so you can get the perfect reed everytime....think I had the carbon in MS...I'll have to get it out the van and try it again.....do like the principle of being able to focus on other things as the reed inconsistancy is taken out the equation...

 

[Ballymenaboy]

The movement thing is a ligature problem. If tightened down properly no reed should move around. You may need a different ligature. As you can imagine plastic (Legere) is a bit more "slick" so prone to sliding. Other synthetics are not quite as "slick". The other good synthetics I use are Hartmann's Fiberreed. They have several different types depending on the type of sound you're after. I like them a lot. There is also Forestone's "Hinoke" reed. Forestone has others as well, but some are not to my liking.

Synthetic reeds, like any different reed, take time to get used to and adapt. The difference is that with cane you're doing that continually and often with a reed that will never be any good. Once you adapt to a style/brand of synthetic it lasts, so you can continue to develop your tone. Even when it eventually gives out the next one will be the same, so the consistency will work for you.

Totally agree...I use Rovner ligatures with Legere reeds and providing well tightened there is little reed movement

 

[lydian]

As you say "subjective" . Here's a track I just posted using a Hartmann "kazoo" sounding reed?
www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-238554.php

Not my ideal sound, especially the higher you go, but not bad. I guess I got a bad batch, very buzzy and rubbery feeling. I think it was the Onyx. I will still never buy another. They’re far too expensive for me to take a chance on.