Reeds Legere Signature Series Tenor Reed

jonf · Aug 2, 2010

Well, this is an odd thing. Following the poll started by Pete, and all the interest which ensued about synthetic reeds, I bought a Legere Signature Series for tenor, strength 2.5. I slapped it on the Brilhart Level Air (current version) I've been playing for the last few weeks, and it was great. Just a really good reed, and ready to blow as soon as I put it on. I've been playing it for several weeks now, and I'm really pleased with it.

BUT, I tried it on my RPC115B a few days ago. It just didn't work. Dull, unresponsive, muddy tone. All the RPC sparkle gone. So, thinks I, have I just got too used to the Brilhart? I grabbed a Rico Jazz Select from the box, put it on and the old RPC was back. Tried again with the Legere. Useless. Tried the Legere on the Level Air. Worked great. Tried the RJS on the Level Air. That worked great too! Rovner lig on both mouthpieces, same sax, same gob. What's all this about then? :confused:

zootsaxenberger · Aug 2, 2010

jonf said:
Well, this is an odd thing. Following the poll started by Pete, and all the interest which ensued about synthetic reeds, I bought a Legere Signature Series for tenor, strength 2.5. I slapped it on the Brilhart Level Air (current version) I've been playing for the last few weeks, and it was great. Just a really good reed, and ready to blow as soon as I put it on. I've been playing it for several weeks now, and I'm really pleased with it.

BUT, I tried it on my RPC115B a few days ago. It just didn't work. Dull, unresponsive, muddy tone. All the RPC sparkle gone. So, thinks I, have I just got too used to the Brilhart? I grabbed a Rico Jazz Select from the box, put it on and the old RPC was back. Tried again with the Legere. Useless. Tried the Legere on the Level Air. Worked great. Tried the RJS on the Level Air. That worked great too! Rovner lig on both mouthpieces, same sax, same gob. What's all this about then?

Different mouthpieces as simple as that. I often find that when I try out different setups I have to experiment with different reed strenghs and sometimes the mouthpiece wont work for me with my sax

jonf · Aug 3, 2010

Yes, but I must have had thirty tenor mouthpieces over the last thirty years or so, and used loads of different reeds as well. Although I've preferred some over others, I've never had such a marked difference between a mouthpiece working well with one reed and not another. Both pieces suit the sax, a Yani T992. I like both mouthpieces very much. Both blow great with a RJS. One is great and one is just awful with the Legere. Both are very similar tip openings too, so it's not down to the hardness of the reed. They even appear to have a fairly similar facing curve.

zootsaxenberger · Aug 3, 2010

jonf said:
Yes, but I must have had thirty tenor mouthpieces over the last thirty years or so, and used loads of different reeds as well. Although I've preferred some over others, I've never had such a marked difference between a mouthpiece working well with one reed and not another. Both pieces suit the sax, a Yani T992. I like both mouthpieces very much. Both blow great with a RJS. One is great and one is just awful with the Legere. Both are very similar tip openings too, so it's not down to the hardness of the reed. They even appear to have a fairly similar facing curve.

I guess it is just one of those odd things, maybe for some inexplicable reason one mouthpiece just doesn't "like" synthetic reeds

old git · Aug 4, 2010

When ordering RPCs from Ron, he informs you of the reeds he intends to use for the development of your mouthpiece.

Of course, he writes sarcastically, if you bought this item secondhand, then you wouldn't know or indeed deserve to know this. >:)