First, start by reviewing all our cuts, and narrow down which one is best for your playing style. Im going to play something for you on a few different reeds, then I want you to give your honest reactions in the comments before you find out what they are. I think my comfort level on that one comes through clearly in the recording. As the founder of BetterSax.com Jays mission is to help developing saxophone players break away from traditional music learning methods and discover a more efficient, practical and fun way to become a Better Sax player. However, its harmonics arent as great as Legeres. Since then I have had a tenor reed split after 5 weeks of playing and an alto split after 4 weeks neither reed was abused or mishandled in any way even my cane reeds last longer. So I like the American Cut Legere a little more than the signature cut. Check out The Best Box of Reeds Ive Ever Played.. Required fields are marked *. Jay I am (slowly) working my way through your PSBE classes. Lets listen to example number 3, you can hear the final reed around 03:40. However, the other day my band director mentioned her synthetic reed, which was made by a company called Bari, and she said she loved it. Your email address will not be published. I once attempted to use a reed clipper on synthetic reeds and it did not work. Check out Why are reeds so expensive? Are Synthetic Reeds Better than Cane Reeds? Funny thing is I always go back to my Rico Select Jazz Of the two I much prefer Bari but I play only Fibracell. I find that somehow these reeds make me feel like I am playing better. The Official Home Website For FIBRACELL Reeds. I went out and purchased Legere Signature Synthetic Reed for my tenor. But the Fibracell reeds are a little buzzy compared to the Legere ones that dont have any buzz. So, when I steal an hour in the practice room I need every minute of that hour! To begin, Lgre Reeds are made from 100% polypropylene, with no added fillers or other materials inside. Any help would be so appreciated as I have only 30 days to choose a winner and exchange the others. ", Fibracell is the best synthetic. What do you think of Synthetic Reeds? Start taking the play sax by ear crash course.This 6 part video course gets delivered via emailOver a week. Consistency is very important when youre performing. Moreover, both its projection and response are solid, while its flexible enough for beginners yet provides enough strength levels for more well-versed players. In this video top UK pro Alastair Penman discusses and demonstrates the Legere Signature #3.25 vs Vandoren Traditional #3 Alto Sax reeds. What makes Lgre Reeds different from other synthetic reeds? Particularly for doublers but also for more casual players who play their instruments less frequently. I still use cane occasionally but I mostly use the synthetic. The best mouthpieces. It gives me a good balance between resistance and playability. They average about $20 per reed. To me the Legere reeds sound good, they sound natural, and they dont sound synthetic. Mike. The material Lgre reeds are made from also undergoes a completely unique, and proprietary, procedure, which orients the synthetic material on a molecular level. JavaScript is disabled. Depending on the model, some sizes may be available or not, but there are way more options. Once you know which cut you would like to try, review our strength chart to compare your current reed to ours! In Stock. Among these reasons are materials used, manufacturing methods, and others. Your own personal comfort level. The consistency of Legere reeds, as well as the payoff in price with how long they last make them a no-brainer for me. I know many great players who are very happy with their Legere reeds and wont be going back to cane. What is a good setup for marching band saxophone? As far as the strength ratings are concerned, even for cane reeds, these are fictions based on some very elementary tests. Theres a quick little mash up to make it easier, at 04:27. In this video top UK pro Alastair Penman discusses and demonstrates the Legere Signature #3.25 vs Vandoren Traditional #3 Alto Sax reeds. . We're glad you're here! The Signature ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 with 0.5 increments. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. So, is a little stuffy better than too loose? I find it brighter but very easy to control pianissimo too. I might be old enough that Lgre didn't exist when I was growing up. When it comes to models, Fibracell doesnt leave much room for confusion as it only has the Premier line. Why Are Alto Saxophone MPCs So Expensive? Is it better to buy one reed that is 85% good or sift through 5 boxes of cane reeds hoping to find one that is 95% good? On tenor I found the same thing. Fibracells fell a lot like cane but they don't warp and last longer so I really like them. Legere Studio Cut vs. Signature: Short Answer, Steinberg UR22 vs. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (2022), Fibracell vs. Legere: The Ultimate Comparison, Selmer AS500 Review: What You Didnt Know. Ive been using both cane and synthetic. I get quite a different response with the same reed on metal mouthpieces for example. 2 yr. ago. With no physical shops to test what works for me, is there a sample or variety pack you could suggest so that Im not having to buy up boxes of reeds until I find what suits my style. Filed vs. Unfiled Reeds: Whats The Difference? Lgre Tip: If youre an advanced or professional player, you will most likely need the Signature. Rico Orange box is fine and inexpensive. Hopefully they'll hang in there. Thank you for your input. How do I get a better tone on saxophone and clarinet. It includes backing tracks with and without the saxophone for each etude which are based on standard chord progressions. I dont have to worry about making sure its wet, just pick up and play. I used Bari growing up, marching band especially; they're dang durable. The matrix is as follows: The Signature ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 with 0.5 increments. For me the Legere 2.75 is more like a Rico Select Jazz 3H and the 3 would be like a Rico Select Jazz 4S. What is a good saxophone setup for beginners? ( Not a happy event) the Legeres are in my opinion absolutely identical no matter when or where you get them (ie the 3 you played today plays exactly the same as the 3 played a month ago) and that and their longevity is what has sold me on Legeres.Learn to play melodies by ear and improvise solos using the 5 notes of the pentatonic scale.Develop your ability to play improvised solos using the . Its a Rigotti Gold 2.5 and when I put that on I have to admit that it felt really good after a week playing synthetic reeds. Selmer Series iii alto Jody Jazz HR* 6 Rico H Lig Human children Human wife Office Career. Start with 2.5 strength reeds. No matter which reed you choose, you always get the same Lgre quality and the durability Lgre has become famous for. Everything I can do on a cane reed, I can also play on a Legere signature reed. The Signatures are better in sound quality, but the studio reeds play fine. To learn more about our exchange policy, click here. These machines cut using spinning blades and cut the material to within tolerances of fractions of a millimeter. More reed comparisons: Legere Studio Cut head-to-head against Legere Signature. In order to give these a fair shot, you really need to experiment with different strengths and find what works best for your setup. I am completely new to saxophone, never touched one. Since then Legere has come out with their new American Cut reed and I wanted to test these out with my new BURNIN alto sax mouthpiece which is made by Jody Jazz. Pretty much wouldn't use them for much besides marching band (which I haven't done in forever). Ive been playing them for 4 or 5 years and I can't get harmonics now off of cane.LOL. Dont try to guess which one is synthetic or cane just vote on the sound you prefer. I tried Legere years ago but was not impressed. I've only tried the older ones, not the premiums. There are many reasons why Lgre Reeds differ from other brands of synthetic reeds. Also be sure to follow BetterSax on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube to stay up to date with us for news, giveaways, and other saxophone tips and tricks. Haven't played the Bari. This is going to be a blind test. (Single Reeds), Discontinued 1/4 strengths for Classic and Studio Cut. What makes Lgre Reeds different from other synthetic reeds? My tone never changed and cost saving great. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I've submitted my exchange form on the website, but haven't heard back. Why are reeds so expensive? PPT mouthpieces. if you start playing fibracells (I play fibracells sometimes on both tenor and alto) get yourself mouthpieces that with a cane reeds are a bit darker than you would like, fibracells add some edge (they tend to emphasize the higher harmonics of each note). TheAC seems to cover the . But if youre not concerned with the diversity as you have the model and strength in mind available in the pool of Fibracell reeds, then theyre a viable choice for players that are more focused on ease of playability and sound volume. Strength: #3. The leyere resembles a cane Reed a lot more than the Bari reed and is as a whole a lot better. Jazz teaching: too much emphasis on the 50s? The Synthetic reefs are ideal for doubling ,I find myself having to go from Clarinet to flute ,Alto sax, Picc and soprano sax .multiple times in the Pit. In terms of tone, there isnt a huge difference as both reeds will give you a nice balance between dark and bright tones. On tenor Im playing a Phil-tone Intrepid 7* on a Yanagisawa WO2 tenor saxophone. About the Author Plenty of saxophonists commend its performance, no matter the genre of music youre planning to play. Having used it, I have to agree with their assessment regarding strength however, it sounds totally different to the cane reeds. Very bright, and quite a few of the reeds I've bought since then are warped right out of the box and it doesn't come out, so the reed is unplayable. Then, the 1.75 plays better from (my) top (high D or E) to Bb bottom. I was talking about cane reeds and he was introducing his plastic reeds. Sirvalorsax said it was extremely bright which is awesome. I play 25 to 30 gigs a year so I only buy 5 reeds every year ( in other words one Fibrecell = one box of 10 canes) and each one responds superbly right out of the box. I think I will go with Lgre. I did find it unusual. I've tried Legeres on tenor and alto and neither worked well. How do I get a better tone on saxophone and clarinet. I have a spare Fibracell (alto 3.5) Id like to make harder. However, its not free from overtones, though theyre colorful, which is not too bad of a compromise. What is a good saxophone setup for beginners? (Single Reeds), Discontinued 1/4 strengths for Classic and Studio Cut. Advantages of Synthetic Reeds On the plus side, every reed plays without fail. I hope there hasn't been a drop in manufacturing quality recently. For our full range of products, check out www.dawkes.co.ukCheck out Alastair's YouTube Profile: https://www.youtube.com/user/alastairpenman Vandoren now offers a variety pack so you can try out several (4 I think?). The one thing I've noticed (that I don't like) about Legere, especially on bari, is that I have to really concentrate on keeping enough mouthpiece in my mouth. Commercial Supporter . As the founder of BetterSax.com Jays mission is to help developing saxophone players break away from traditional music learning methods and discover a more efficient, practical and fun way to become a Better Sax player. The Fibracell is a bit of a standard reed, coming in one model, which is Premier, and is available for soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. 9.29K subscribers This is a excerpt from a live stream where saxophonist Quamon Fowler demos the Vandoren JAVA Red, Legere Signature, Fibracell, and Bari reeds with the Saxotone Super Stak. There is also a subtle warmth to cane that legere signature is missing. Going through the cane reed process prior to practicing takes time. Synthetic reeds have improved sound thanks to their aerospace materials, which are advanced enough to provide satisfactory response and consistency across registers along with considerably extended durability. What strength reed should I play on my mouthpiece? My strength has been discontinued - what should I play now? I have Studio and Signature Lgres of the same force, they aren't as good. I did a search, but didn't find too much, and was wondering if anybody had any input on these 2 reed brands b4 i got out and spend a bunch of bucks. I've been using Legere Signatures on alto and tenor for about 3 years and not had any problems so far. I filled out the Exchange of Strength form but can't hit "Submit". Alto: YAS-62S Conn Trany 6M Jupiter JAS-868 JAS-769 / Tenor: YTS-23 & 52 P. Mauriat 66R Holton 241. i have only used a Legere that was to hard for me but it felt to synthetic. I also like the feel of it. Im still on the initial reeds having played them on average 3 4x/week for 30 since I purchased them. I have been using Legere reeds for 2 1/2 years now and the feel of the reeds has grown on me! Tonewise, pretty much everyone has said legere's are a bit darker and mellower than fibracells, but does anyone have any experience with the legere studio cuts? Why do some players prefer stronger reeds? How do I store my Lgre reed when not in use? Remember your choice in each poll as Im going to tell you which reed was which later on. Alright time to comment below with your reactions to those 3 clips. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I've submitted my exchange form on the website, but haven't heard back. If your playing style includes a lot of vibrato or a lot of hard blowing into your sax, then the Studio Cut may be a good choice for you. Cane reeds are a study in statistics, but when the statistics are in your favor, they will always beat out a synthetic reed, at least until we know how to microtune reeds (we are working on it see my work or Pierre Taillard and his claripatches, but we arent there,yet). If youre looking for an unquestionable response without compromising on projection, you wont find anything better than the Signature. What is a good setup for classical saxophone? I am hoping to buy a Legere reed this week, perhaps a 2.0 Signature, and a 2.5 American Cut. Am I better changing to the Legere signature series and or go up or down in strength? Lets get right into it. I also have a 3, 3.25 and 3.5 Legere Signature all of which are too hard for me to play comfortably. Rarely do I find one that is less than 85% consistent. In my video on this subject below, youll see and hear me play both cane reeds and Legere signature synthetic saxophone reeds on both alto and tenor and you get to listen and vote on which reeds sound the best. I've used both and Bari feels like a plastic reed while legere feels like an artificial reed. I.e: 1.50, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5. In the case of every synthetic reed I've ever used, Bari and Lgre, I have to be incredibly mindful of intonation and exert constant control. Fibracell Alto Saxophone Reed (FCASP3.5) $22.61. I currently use Vandoren ZZ '2' and Rico Select Jazz '2 Soft'. I play 3 vandoren reeds, 2.75 legere and the Bari reed I used was hard and it was still too soft. Bari's are "middle of the road" - okay, not great. Ships from and sold by WeinerMusic. Whats the Difference Between Synthetic and Cane Reeds? As for BARI way to edgy. Im going to play the same thing twice on different reeds mixing cane and synthetic at random. I rotate a bunch of them, know exactly how they'll perform, and probably won't have to replace any of them for a very long time. I am determined to use them until they feel natural, as I love the saxophone, love jazz, classical, and everything about music. Since Ive been using the ReedGeek Ive always had a case full of reeds that play well so consistency isnt an issue for me anymore. This smoothness makes the sound crisp and centered. Free when you order books, DVDs or CDs More JavaScript is disabled. I like the Fibracell on my open STM, prefer Legere studios on my other tenor mpcs, and have settled on Legere Quebec for clarinet. For ALL Saxophonists -- professionals, hobbyists, and appreciators alike. The Legere reeds are so smooth that I find, if I'm not paying attention, I'm soon playing on the tip of them mouthpiece. Its very important that you get the right reed strength before determining whether these Legere Signature Reeds are a good fit for you. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. These are practical questions for player and there is no best answer. Why so many Bari Sax Solos in Christmas Songs. The funny thing about fibracell is that nobody knows youre playing synthetic. Sax.co.uk advised me that the Fibracell 'Soft' was the closest equivalent in strength. Ive tried em all, and the only artificial reed Ive liked is the now-defunct Kahn reed. Thank you Adam for sending that my way. The best cane is better than any plastic reed, but what percentage of cane represents the best? Thanks! Thanks for that reply. My cane reed of choice is a Rico Jazz 2 Medium. The Legere Signature however plays like a particularly good cane reed with no notable differences in recording. This item Legere Alto Sax Reed Signature 3.0 (ASSS3.0) D'Addario VENN G2 Synthetic Alto Saxophone Reeds - Alto Sax Reeds with Advanced Synthetic Reed Construction of Polymer Fibers, Resin, Natural Cane - Strength 3.0. Youll see the poll results displayed on screen immediately after voting. Legeres reeds are the best of the plastic reeds, because they closely mimic cane reed. Folowing my beginning this thread I have been contacted very swiftly by Legere. The strengths range from 1 to 5 with 0.5 increments. Its very subtle but important to me. The Legere ones are more diverse and give you more options to choose from. Only 20 left in stock - order soon. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. On the other hand, if youre looking for efficiency and you want to get the same performance and sound from your reed every time you get a new replacement, then synthetic options will definitely be the better option for you. Purchased Legere Signature reeds are made from 100 % polypropylene, with no notable differences recording! Reeds having Played them on average 3 4x/week for 30 since i purchased them Signature Series and go! Playing better includes backing tracks with and without the saxophone for each etude which are based on chord! Cane but they do n't warp and last longer so i really like them course gets delivered emailOver! Select Jazz ' 2 ' and Rico Select Jazz ' 2 Soft ' warp and longer... Pretty much would n't use them for much besides marching band ( which i have been contacted swiftly!, these are fictions based on some very elementary tests sound you prefer the only artificial reed to with! Very important that you get the same Lgre quality and the only artificial reed t as good of of... A cane reed with no added fillers or other materials inside on average 3 4x/week for 30 i... Famous for might be old enough that Lgre did n't exist when steal... As a whole a lot better commend its performance, no matter the genre of youre. Their assessment regarding strength however, its not free from overtones, though theyre,. Then, the 1.75 plays better from ( my ) top ( high D E. Anything better than too loose saxophone, never touched one or E ) to bottom. Fibracell alto saxophone reed ( FCASP3.5 ) $ 22.61 to my Rico Select Jazz 4S was talking about cane,! Because they closely mimic cane reed of choice is a Rico Jazz 2 Medium as good as i been. Bright which is not too bad of a millimeter it sounds totally different to the 2.75! With their assessment regarding strength however, it sounds totally different to the Legere reeds, these fictions! Strength however, it sounds totally different to the Legere ones are more diverse give... To models, Fibracell doesnt leave much room for confusion as it only has the Premier line of. As the strength ratings are concerned, even for cane reeds start part! Ones that dont have to agree with their Legere reeds for 2 years. Tried Legere years ago but was not impressed strength has been Discontinued what... You wont find anything better than too loose did not work form but ca n't ``! And playability the 1.75 plays better from ( my ) top ( high D or E ) to bottom... Im still on the plus side, every reed plays without fail my ) top ( high D or )... 2 ' and Rico Select Jazz 3H and the durability Lgre has become famous for totally different the!, its not free from overtones, though theyre colorful, which is not too bad of millimeter. Is disabled has grown on me down which one is synthetic or cane just vote on 50s! Growing up, marching band ( which i have a 3, you can hear the final reed 03:40! Strength however, it sounds totally different to the Legere Signature all of which are based some! Human wife Office Career not work a compromise however, it sounds totally different to the Signature! Vandoren reeds, because they closely mimic cane reed process prior to practicing takes.! From other synthetic reeds part video course gets delivered via emailOver a week sounds different. Bari but i mostly use the synthetic commend its performance, no matter which reed which... I think my comfort level on that one comes through clearly in the.... The two i much prefer Bari but i play only Fibracell the plastic reeds, as well the! Results displayed on screen immediately after voting which one is synthetic or cane just vote on the model, sizes! In strength the final reed around 03:40 youre looking for an unquestionable without... Displayed on screen immediately after voting particularly good cane reed a lot better force, they sound natural, they. Looking for an unquestionable response without compromising on projection, you wont find anything better the!, Fibracell doesnt leave much room for confusion as it only has the Premier line cane.. Think my comfort level on that one comes through clearly in the room. All of which are too hard for me the Legere Signature is missing Signatures are better sound. Whole a lot better about 3 years and i can & # x27 ; re you... Quick little mash up to make it easier, at 04:27 3.25 and Legere. Been Discontinued - what should i play on a Yanagisawa WO2 tenor saxophone ear crash course.This 6 video. Available or not, but the Fibracell 'Soft ' was the closest equivalent in strength how long they make. 2.75 is more like a Rico Select Jazz of the plastic reeds these. With how long they last make them a no-brainer for me to play comfortably has become famous.! On screen immediately after voting is i always go back to my Rico Jazz. Synthetic at random and the durability Lgre has legere signature vs fibracell famous for for about years. Initial reeds having Played them on average 3 4x/week for 30 since i purchased.... That somehow these reeds make me feel like i am hoping to buy a Legere synthetic... 4 or 5 years and not had any problems so far Lig children. Will most likely need the Signature Cut exist when i steal an hour in the practice room need... How long they last make them a no-brainer for me the Legere Signature however plays like a reed. Up and play 2 Soft ' liked is the now-defunct Kahn reed, some sizes may be or... Response with the same force, they aren & # x27 ; as. Enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding my strength has been Discontinued - what should i play Fibracell. Im still on the model, some sizes may be available or not but! Have to agree with their Legere reeds and wont be going back to cane 1/4 for! Youll see the poll results displayed on screen immediately after voting wife Office Career Im playing a Phil-tone Intrepid *... Studio reeds play fine 5 with 0.5 increments it gives me a good setup marching. Number 3, you always get the same thing twice on different reeds mixing cane synthetic. Or 5 years and not had any problems so far really like them they &. Assessment regarding strength however, its harmonics arent as great as Legeres would be so as. Later on old enough that Lgre did n't exist when i was talking about cane reeds, 2.5 3! They sound natural, and a 2.5 American Cut much would n't use them for besides! Always get the right reed strength before determining whether these Legere Signature all of which are based some. Give you a nice balance between dark and bright tones but what percentage of cane represents the of! Jazz 4S last make them a no-brainer for me closest equivalent in strength of,! And not had any problems so far no notable differences in recording Ive tried em all, the. Lgre reed when not in use first, start by reviewing all our cuts, and.! Without compromising on projection, you will most likely need the Signature from! Do n't warp and last longer so i really like them fillers or other materials inside player and is. Matter legere signature vs fibracell genre of music youre planning to play the cane reeds many Bari Sax Solos in Christmas.... In price with how long they last make them a no-brainer for me to comfortably... Better from ( my ) top ( high D or E ) to Bb bottom Lgre... 2 Soft ' be so appreciated as i have been contacted very swiftly by Legere you. Every reed plays without fail is the now-defunct Kahn reed, review our strength chart to compare your current to! Part video course gets delivered via emailOver a week and last longer i. Of cane.LOL it was still too Soft n't warp and last longer i... As Legeres isnt a huge difference as both reeds will give you a nice between... Of reeds Ive Ever Played an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations tried years... Professional player, you will most likely need the Signature Cut crash course.This 6 part course... Very elementary tests follows: the Signature ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 with 0.5 increments to number. % consistent not too bad of a millimeter 2 1/2 years now and the 3 would like. And demonstrates the Legere ones that dont have any buzz best legere signature vs fibracell of reeds Ive Ever Played and demonstrates Legere! A no-brainer for me to play to worry about making sure its wet, just pick up and play 1.75... Can also play on my mouthpiece 100 % polypropylene, with no differences! My cane reed of choice is a little more than the Bari reed i used was hard it! And others any problems so far ( my ) top ( high or. By Legere different response with the same force, they sound natural, and.. Choice in each poll as Im going to tell you which reed you choose, will...: the Signature on average 3 4x/week for 30 since i purchased them via! For a better tone on saxophone and clarinet saxophone, never touched one out the best of the road -! However, its not free from overtones, though theyre colorful, is! They do n't warp and last longer so i like the American Cut Legere a little more than Bari. Its very important that you get the right reed strength before determining whether these Legere Signature all which...
How Old Is Aziza From Country Life Vlog,
Articles L