Beginner Saxes Legere Reeds

[eb424]

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

Trouble is its on an otto link...If I do a rovner up to tight it seems to choke the sound....

 

[Ballymenaboy]

Trouble is its on an otto link...If I do a rovner up to tight it seems to choke the sound....

I also use Rovner on a link tonemaster..no issues

 

[eb424]

You dont find the legeres can move

 

[Ivan]

You dont find the legeres can move

Not if ligature fits and tightened appropriately

Do you mean moving when playing? Or moving out of position when sliding mouthpiece onto neck?

If the latter you should fit mouthpiece to neck then reed to mouthpiece

 

[Wade Cornell]

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.

Really not sure what your ideal sound is and I play differently to match the track that's being recorded. The point was that this sound is about as far away from Kazoo as you can get. On another track I can use the same reed and setup and sound quite different. The point is that (as said in a previous post) you need to give a reed time so that you adjust and make it conform to the tone/sound you want. With experience that can be modified according to what your concept is with the same setup, but can also be made easier with a reed and mouthpiece that make that sound easier for you to obtain.

I've been using Hartmann reeds for some years now and not found a "bad batch". The basic idea of synthetics is consistency. If they didn't have that nobody would buy them. Saying they are not for you is fine. Trying to put other people off with statements like "sounds like a Kazoo", and "a bad batch", are really not on unless you have a lot of experience. That's why an example was posted, which you somehow still found the need to criticize. IMHO that's an unnecessary negative attitude when it seems your experience is extremely limited. Criticizing another player's sound IMHO says you can play the same track with a better sound and interpretation. That track is available for you to show us how it should sound. By the way it's a single take improvisation with no music or chart.

 

[eb424]

Not if ligature fits and tightened appropriately

Do you mean moving when playing? Or moving out of position when sliding mouthpiece onto neck?

If the latter you should fit mouthpiece to neck then reed to mouthpiece

When playing...it happens with the other guy too...he uses link lig ..ill try tighter

 

[squeak]

I just want to get on with building my technique without having to worry about the reed I use.

I think this is a great approach.

I am not a beginner, but limited in time for practice. There is nothing like a great cane reed, but the consistency of Legere is hard to beat when you just want to pick up your horn and continue where you left. The only real downside to Legere I can think of is that it can be hard to determine when to replace them. With cane, it is pretty obvious when a reed is kaput.

BTW, I use Legere on synthetic or metal mouthpiece with Rovner ligature without problems.

 

[Ivan]

The only real downside to Legere I can think of is that it can be hard to determine when to replace them

I agree... The degradation is slow and you adapt to a subtly softening reed

 

[wooster]

I've picked this up from a few places as something I need to be mindful of. I can't really afford the manufacturer's recommendation to buy 3 or 4 Legere reeds to rotate so I'm wondering if a couple of cane reeds and one Legere and rotating them might be acceptable.

 

[sax panther]

My experience (on Legeres and ambipoly) is that it sounds inferior to cane when I'm playing, but if I listen back to a recording its harder to tell the difference.

I use Legere tenor sax reeds on bass clarinet and with the ligature I've got they did tend to slide around a bit, so I just shim it with cardboard or thin cork and it's not a problem anymore.

 

[eb424]

My experience (on Legeres and ambipoly) is that it sounds inferior to cane when I'm playing, but if I listen back to a recording its harder to tell the difference.

I use Legere tenor sax reeds on bass clarinet and with the ligature I've got they did tend to slide around a bit, so I just shim it with cardboard or thin cork and it's not a problem anymore.

Hi can you explain shimming, is it all the bit that goes on the table...does it add any width to the mouthpiece...thanks Eddie

 

[Ivan]

I'm wondering if a couple of cane reeds and one Legere and rotating them might be acceptable

I really don't think you need to make things as complicated

I use one reed at a time. When I start to wonder, after a few months, if the current one is getting soft I fork out on a replacement, then compare and decide whether to jump straight to the new or stick with the old a tad longer

 

[Ivan]

Hi can you explain shimming

Is it that things burglars do on drain pipes?

 

[sax panther]

Hi can you explain shimming, is it all the bit that goes on the table...does it add any width to the mouthpiece...thanks Eddie

No, I just put something on top of the mouthpiece - not the reed/table side. Makes up for the legere being a bit thinner than cane and allows the lig to grip.

 

[eb424]

No, I just put something on top of the mouthpiece - not the reed/table side. Makes up for the legere being a bit thinner than cane and allows the lig to grip.

Cool thanks...

 

[Colin the Bear]

A little clear parcel tape on the back of the mouthpiece helps to prevent ligature marks too.

 

[jonf]

I've tried various Legere synthetic reeds on tenor and alto over the years and gone back to D'Addario Select Jazz, but inspried by this thread I decided to give Legere American Cut a try for baritone. I've been playing it for the last few days or so, and I have to say, I've been very impressed. Plays really well, with a full tone and nice brightness, just like a good Select Jazz. Playing it on a Yanagisawa 9 metal mouthpiece.

Also impressed with the service from Curly Woodwing. As @greenstripe says (thanks for the pointer) they were the cheapest i could find, and super quick.

 

[SaxBySW]

I've tried various Legere synthetic reeds on tenor and alto over the years and gone back to D'Addario Select Jazz, but inspried by this thread I decided to give Legere American Cut a try for baritone. I've been playing it for the last few days or so, and I have to say, I've been very impressed. Plays really well, with a full tone and nice brightness, just like a good Select Jazz. Playing it on a Yanagisawa 9 metal mouthpiece.

Also impressed with the service from Curly Woodwing. As @greenstripe says (thanks for the pointer) they were the cheapest i could find, and super quick.

I’ve been trying to use them (signature) on Bari as well, I find cane can dry up during long sessions on Bari. I’m between sizes - the 3.25 is too soft and the 3.5 just a bit too hard. In fact I’d say there’s quite a gulf between the 3.25 and 3.5 in terms of hardness. I think I’ll persevere with the 3.5 because the tone at fuller dynamics is great, really fat and resonant. Just need to get the softer dynamics controlled.

They’re very consistent performers - did a couple of hours yesterday and it played same throughout. And they come into their own if playing in a hot environment.

 

[Ballymenaboy]

I’ve been trying to use them (signature) on Bari as well, I find cane can dry up during long sessions on Bari. I’m between sizes - the 3.25 is too soft and the 3.5 just a bit too hard. In fact I’d say there’s quite a gulf between the 3.25 and 3.5 in terms of hardness. I think I’ll persevere with the 3.5 because the tone at fuller dynamics is great, really fat and resonant. Just need to get the softer dynamics controlled.

They’re very consistent performers - did a couple of hours yesterday and it played same throughout. And they come into their own if playing in a hot environment.

See earlier post as to how to reduce strength of Legere reeds..might be useful

 

[SaxBySW]

See earlier post as to how to reduce strength of Legere reeds..might be useful

Does it really reduce strength by as much as 30%? Or is that relative to the next strength down?