I found 12 medium soft fibracell tenor sax reeds yesterday stuck in the back of a drawer. The matrix is as follows: The Signature ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 with 0.5 increments. Legere signature synthetic saxophone reeds, The Best Box of Reeds Ive Ever Played., 3 Easy Songs for Beginner Saxophone Players, Xvive Review- Make Any Microphone Wireless. 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. They respond immediately and are satisfying to play, but they may not be suitable for classical or ensemble music, which requires a smoother sound. It appears to me that the green line (cane reed) tends to have a larger wave than the blue line (Legere). A cane reed can be ruined a lot quicker with heavy handed sanding. My first impression of Alta Vivace Cut is its futuristic designed packaging and reed. It also has a very resonance lower register which makes the clarinet sound louder than the rest. I bought one soft and one medium soft fibracell reed in 1997 0r 1998. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. 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. It looked the weirdest of any synthetic reed I ever saw because its totally black in color. Wet cane loses about 25% of its modulus of elasticity when wet, so Legeres reeds are set for the strength of wet cane, not dry cane. Its innovation and design is very intriguing to test and play. You should be able to tell if a few of them are not up to snuff. The nice thing about Legeres reeds is their consistency. The feel and sound sold me though. My experience has been that Fibracells work way better for me than any other synthetic. The sad truth, is that amongst a box of reeds, there will be some excellent quality reeds and some that have slipped through quality control, and are not worth playing. I still like the sound of a good cane reed better but it seems that in most of my playing situations cane isn't an option. Legere Signature vs. Rigotti Gold Reeds. Slapped on the Fibracell and honked away the rest of the night, but still can't get high harmonics off it. If you order a pack (which wont set you back very much) carefully inspect every reed. Legere also allows you to return your reed (to them) and they'll replace it with a different strength as you're trying to find the "right one" for you Make sure to consult a stiffness comparison chart before you buy. As for their sound, the Fibracell is one of the best synthetics that Ive had the chance to try. the hemp sounds like you could go up a reed strength (imo). Note that discoloration on the shiny bark is not an issue. The truth is, your favorite brand will depend on your personal taste, your saxophone, and the type of music you play. This take a little practice to spot, but with time youll get a feel for what to expect of a reed. Among the best synthetic reeds are Fibracell and Legere, and in this article, Ill compare the two brands in order to help you choose the one that would suit your purposes more. The Carbon you used in your video is my favorite tone but i have found it is the most difficult (in my case) to control the Altimisso range. I think its just a matter of time. Jazz players looking for a more vintage or retro sound may also choose these reeds for their dark quality. However, the Legere reed strength chart is off for me. Fiberreed company also experimented with many organic and synthetic materials to make new reed models. Other reports from personal friends and online reviews have been anywhere from a few to six months. Hold the reed up to a light source, and look for the slightly thicker heart of the reed. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Chip easily, and the chip part will hurt your lips (experienced myself), and need to be careful with the tip, because if can be sharp. Also used are the materials polystyrene, polycarbonate, carbon fibers and fiberglass. Somebody may have mentioned this already, but you may want to try the Legere rather than the regulars on your jazz setup. In both of my bands I play a lot of altissimo notes. The American Cut ranges from 1.5 to 4 with 0.25 increments. It doesnt have that buzz like the hemp but is the fullest all-round sound of any reed. The front side also feel like a cane reed with a cane friction feeling. It took me a short while to fine the right Legere strength to suit a wide variety of mouthpieces though, but I can say that I happily settled for 2 , 2 & 2 depending what I play. I use one sax (Silver Yamaha Custom Z82ii) for the songs such as URGENT by Foreigner where I have to play the upper range with a new reed. Read More 5 Best Electric Guitars For Fingerstyle 2023Continue, Every drummer needs a drum throne, but different drummers have different needs. Thanks James. I've tried the studio cut and it was responsive but had this weird high pitched whistle harmonic that I just couldn't get over. So that would seem to make them ideal for more closed-tipped mouthpieces since I'd have to probably buy a 1.5 at least to be comfortable on a .115 tip. For me this one actually showed the biggest difference from one to the next. I am a new player. Some are bigger. With strength 4, it is on the hard-side compare to others, but a simple change of mouthpiece solved the problem. Easy to control dynamics, can play both exaggerated and very soft. Then get our free 5 Steps To Profitable Youtube Music Career' ebook emailed directly to you! The have a shorter vamp for darkness and a balanced, thin tip for response and playability. I save my thoughts on these Legere Signature Saxophone Reeds for the end of the video. Most are made from several types of polymer-composites such as fibers and then held together with some type of epoxy resin. Many here have played or tried either one or the other brand. Thanks for all the great videos. I just didn't want to spend the dough with out some positive feed back. My first impression of the reed is that it does sound like a cane reed, and it has the right amount of resistance. Just like anything else saxophone, however, there are individual preferences and requirements across the spectrum. I keep one handy but dont use it nearly as much as my other reeds. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. My review is solely based on personal trial and professional clarinetist standpoint. The light strength almost guarantees its playability. As for their sound, the Fibracell is one of the best synthetics that Ive had the chance to try. The 3 Legere feels more like a Rico Select Jazz 4S and the stronger reeds are much too hard for my setup. 00:00. All reeds are around #4 hardness and played with Vienna Woodwinds Gleichweit Mouthpiece #8 and #9.5. I've tried both on various horns. want to make a donation? This actually makes it an all natural reed. Ive conducted tests such as playing the reed in different genres, octave response, hardness and softness, tonguing, sliding and pitch dropping, sound, quality, taste/comfort, price value, altissimo, low notes, dynamic control, material.. Love the videos, and wealth of information you share. So, they both have their time and place for me. Rico by DAddario Tenor Sax Reeds are by far the most popular choice on the market. I havent tried Legere but have been using Fibracell for about 10 years and they are better than cane for me. This is the secret to creating Lgre reeds.. However, its harmonics arent as great as Legeres. The 3 Legere feels more like a Rico Select Jazz 4S and the stronger reeds are much too hard for my setup. The secret, once he got them perfected, as far as I can tell, is the carbon fiber instrusion into the polymer matrix. My tone never changed and cost saving great. I have a legere studio cut 2 that I use on my JJ DV NY. If so, buy one and enjoy making music! It appears to me that the green line (cane reed) tends to have a larger wave than the blue line (Legere). These are the least expensive reed on our list, but that doesnt mean they are necessarily of poor quality. While the reeds are often associated with jazz, Legere also makes synthetic classical reeds, proving that any brand can be for any player. Good intonation and good all the way up and down the horn. However, consistent playing on the Legere reeds will cause them to soften, but it may be hard to do so, given that blowing these reeds requires more effort. Its well established as one of the most popular and best selling synthetics. I started out only comparing the Fibracell to the Fiberreed Carbon Onyx but then also included the Fiberreed Hemp. Great front reed surface texture, it feels like the surface of a bamboo, and very comfortable on the lip. Filed vs. Unfiled Reeds: Whats The Difference? I'm using a Selmer C120/85 mouthpiece on my bass. Just not in the natural sense as we would think of a cane reed. regarding soprano, yes fiberreed do make them but not yet with the new onyx. Ive played both. Somebody may have mentioned this already, but you may want to try the Legere rather than the regulars on your jazz setup. I have one of those as well and it its way too resistant for me. It is very versatile in all registers, and it is very comfortable to play without resistance. Ive always loved the different styles and sounds, and have decided I would like to teach myself to play. This is easiest to spot by hold it eye level and looking at the blunt end, not the shaved tip. When using the blade on the 2 1/2 Legere I counted and made 100 scrapes on each side on the heart of the reed. I sometimes use Rico Plasticover 3's as well, but once again they feel a bit buzzy. Nate, that is perhaps the best reason to use the Legere. Im afraid I dont have any suggestions for this. Dark sounding in the mid and low register. Somebody may have mentioned this already, but you may want to try the Legere rather than the regulars on your jazz setup. I have not tried the newer Legere cuts. Legere reeds come in quarter-sizes. The Carbon is all around best? E1 is fine. I am not skilled enough to voice it down at will or not. Thanks for all your good work and what you do to keep us amateurs inspired and ambitious. (The Rigottii reeds seemed to have deteriorated in their quality. WebThe American Cut represents the next-generation of Lgre saxophone reeds. Has some micro fiber sticking out over time. With the main goal of producing superior clarinet sound with human synthetic materials and technology. This way you will still have a reed to use while youre making the exchange. Recently I have found some of them losing tone and vitality after 3-4 weeks, and the $30 per reed cost doesn't seem justified any more. Youre not going to know which reed Im playing. WebThe comprehensive strength charts below compare popular cane strengths to the matching Lgre reed strength and cut. The Studio Cut ranges from 2 and up to 4 or 3.5 with 0.5 or 0.25 increments, depending on the saxophone size. I went out and purchased Legere Signature Synthetic Reed for my tenor. 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. The light strength almost guarantees its playability. I also have a Fibracell 2, and while it is about as easy to play as the Legere, I don't like its buzzy sound. I think the Legere Signature reeds are great, and every saxophone and clarinet player should give them a try. I've tried the studio cut and it was responsive but had this weird high pitched whistle harmonic that I just couldn't get over. As far as the strength ratings are concerned, even for cane reeds, these are fictions based on some very elementary tests. Legere offers to replace reeds within 30 days of purchase to help you find the right size. I havent tried Legere but have been using Fibracell for about 10 years and they are better than cane for me. i have a problem with the very high pitches, a couple notes really bugged me, Legere Tenor Saxophone Signature Series Reeds 2.0, 6. At least for now anyways. You shouldn't need to modify them. Going through the cane reed process prior to practicing takes time. Very versatile, good dynamic response and sounds great in jazz or classical music. However, I live in the middle of nowhere. Choosing a good clarinet reed is hard, especially when you are finding the right one for a concert or performance. Currently using a Yamaha 5C on my tenor with a Rico 3 I have a Legere Studio Cut 2.5 but I am having some issues. I was talking about cane reeds and he was introducing his plastic reeds. Just because they are popular and inexpensive, does not mean they are bad. A lot of people love them, but I never liked Fibracell. Legere makes one of the most popular synthetic reeds on the market. On the alto (Yamaha 4C MPC), I very strongly prefer the Legere Signature 2.25 over the Forestone 2.5 I have. The biggest difference between reeds lies in whether they are designed for a classical or a jazz tone. Consistency is very important when youre performing. I would still recommend playing with the traditional reed for some years then switch to synthetic reeds. Rarely do I find one that is less than 85% consistent. Im still on the initial reeds having played them on average 3 4x/week for 30 since I purchased them. Want to learn how to do that? Well balanced to play both classical and jazz music. The Legere ones are more diverse and give you more options to choose from. They now ship 90% of their product internationally to over 100 countries.