The Vandoren Java 3 filed reed I played on alto was slightly softer than the 2.75 Legere Signature reed but according to their chart, it should be harder. Been using Fibracells on soprano, alto, and tenor for years. Thank you for your input. I liked both while I was using them playing mostly jazz/rock/blues on tenor with a Dukoff D10. If youre looking for an unquestionable response without compromising on projection, you wont find anything better than the Signature. I know many great players who are very happy with their Legere reeds and wont be going back to cane. (Double Reeds). What is a good setup for marching band clarinet? I play in my church and I try to practice everyday. Why do some players prefer stronger reeds? 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. What is a good setup for classical saxophone? Remember your choice in each poll as Im going to tell you which reed was which later on. Although they have erased the results of all the voting It was pretty clear that most people could not really tell which reed was synthetic and which was natural cane. These include our individual testing of every reed on custom machinery to determine strength, or the delicate hand-finishing that goes into every reed. Also keep in mind that Legere reeds, like cane reeds, will react differently on different mouthpieces. I have to drive over an hour one way, just to reach civilization. Then, the 1.75 plays better from (my) top (high D or E) to Bb bottom. Try Fibracell. Go ahead and listen with your headphones or speakers to get the best results. 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. Get it Jan 12 - 17. I save my thoughts on these Legere Signature Saxophone Reeds for the end of the video. The American Cut ranges from 1.5 to 4 with 0.25 increments. I was talking about cane reeds and he was introducing his plastic reeds. Tenor sax. Dont worry if you choose the wrong strength, we would be happy to exchange it for you for the correct one within 30 days of purchase and a receipt. Synthetic reeds are a nice alternative to cane ones as they spare you the need for maintenance, and you can skip looking through a whole box of them to find just the right one. Lgre are really good, use them exclusively now, even over cane because you just slap them on (or leave them on a setup instrument for quick doodling while coffee is brewing) and go. I use a 1.5 and it's effortless playing from top to bottom. 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). In Stock. Problem is, you can't really back off or push with the reed. The 1.5 is really easy to play in the middle of the range, but gets pretty wonky on low stuff (Im playing a tenor). Ive always loved the different styles and sounds, and have decided I would like to teach myself to play. Well thanks for all the responses so far. I've played them on every horn except tenor and they've all worked well. Now I know some of you out there who play Legere reeds have a staunch loyalty to them and feel compelled to try to convert everyone to your side. I used Bari growing up, marching band especially; they're dang durable. It mimics the vascular tissue in cane reeds. I've used legere for quite some time and recently I've started to use fibracell, totally an other world.incredibly better.they are pretty much identical to cane reeds. My bassoon reed is falling off the bocal. A softer Legere Reed from the Studio Cut Classic is basically easy mode on a saxophone. So, they both have their time and place for me. Look forward to learning more. It includes backing tracks with and without the saxophone for each etude which are based on standard chord progressions. JavaScript is disabled. The Classic ranges from 2 to 3.5 with 0.5 increments. There are many adva. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. 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. Well it is the Better Sax alto saxophone. They last a long time but when they are done they will let you know. I went out and purchased Legere Signature Synthetic Reed for my tenor. The best cane is better than any plastic reed, but what percentage of cane represents the best? How do I get a better tone on saxophone and clarinet. No matter which reed you choose, you always get the same Lgre quality and the durability Lgre has become famous for. You can find out more information about that here. Any suggestions? I've only tried the older ones, not the premiums. Interested in more videos on reeds? I think they are a great fit for a lot of people. So if you want to give them a try, here are some links to purchase them on Amazon: Legere Signature Alto Saxophone ReedLegere Signature Tenor Saxophone Reed. I am a new player. Legeres reeds are the best of the plastic reeds, because they closely mimic cane reed. Why Are Alto Saxophone MPCs So Expensive? The 3 Legere feels more like a Rico Select Jazz 4S and the stronger reeds are much too hard for my setup. 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. If youre a touring musician you dont always have time to prepare reeds before a show. The strengths range from 1 to 5 with 0.5 increments. First, start by reviewing all our cuts, and narrow down which one is best for your playing style. However, their response isnt as good as that of the Signature reeds, though they spare you the overtones, which is a huge benefit. Free when you order books, DVDs or CDs More JavaScript is disabled. How can I fix this? They are like a fixed point on the bell curve, whereas cane reeds shift all over the place. From the selection the store had when I bought mine to . Bari's are "middle of the road" - okay, not great. Press J to jump to the feed. What is a good saxophone setup for beginners? Im sorry but I absolutely despise Bari synthetic reeds with the whole of my heart. There are a lot of advantages. I think my comfort level on that one comes through clearly in the recording. A little over 2 years ago I made a video comparing Legere Signature synthetic reeds to cane reeds. Check out Why are reeds so expensive? Can I visit the Lgre manufacturing facility? Give Fibracell a go. I'm new to Lgre, what reed should I buy? Funny thing is I always go back to my Rico Select Jazz Of the two I much prefer Bari but I play only Fibracell. and Ill give you my thoughts on these at the end. The consistency of Legere reeds, as well as the payoff in price with how long they last make them a no-brainer for me. What is a good setup for contemporary saxophone? The nice thing about Legeres reeds is their consistency. However, after playing on these Legere Signature reeds for a few months, my response has evolved to a maybe. How do Lgre Reeds differ from cane reeds? Fibracell seems to be more canelike but with the synthetic attributes. Why do some players prefer stronger reeds? Back then, YouTube had this feature where you could vote on screen. 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. 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. After practicing with them I have 2 deep red marks on my lips. I've heard some players say they don't want this from a reed. There are no duds. Advantages of Synthetic Reeds On the plus side, every reed plays without fail. Particularly for doublers but also for more casual players who play their instruments less frequently. Thanks, Im going to try to get some fibracells for a future test. My setups are Alto Meyer 6m 2.5 Clarinet Meyer 5 size 2 Sop selmer s80 2.5 Tenor Vandoren T45 java 2.75.all sax reeds are signature and Clarinet standard. Cane ones are better if you have the patience to go through a bunch of them and choose the one with the best performance. Stop bombarding me with your facts and sciences! So, despite the resistance that makes the Legere reeds harder to blow and feel stuffy, youll get the best intonation out of them. I have been using Signature reeds for 2 and 1/2 years with no problems, they seem to loose something in tone or response (that I find difficult to define further) after about 6 months of averaging an hour a day of playing., I spit one when I was cack handed and it still played. What do you think of Synthetic Reeds? I would recommend them in that order. Reed #1 - Legere Signature 2.75 Reed #2 - Rico Select Jazz 3H Interested in more content about saxophone reeds? Tried the signature and saved a lot of time I normally need to feel good with a reed. They last a long time and you dont need to be a scientist to care for them. 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. The cane reed feels better on my lip. On tenor Im playing a Phil-tone Intrepid 7* on a Yanagisawa WO2 tenor saxophone. they have a woodier sound than plasticovers and feel like cane.they can also play softer than a plasticover and don't absorb moisture. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. However, its harmonics arent as great as Legeres. The comprehensive strength charts below compare popular cane strengths to the matching Lgre reed strength and cut. Just keep in mind Synthetics play significantly softer than cane reeds, and probably would not be great in a classical setting. 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. However, the more I play the legere the less I notice the difference. I found that the 2.75 strength was the best for me. What is the difference between saxophone mouthpiece tip openings? I would purchase 3 different strengths a quarter size apart and then once youve determined the correct strength for you, send the other 2 in to be replaced with your preferred strength. Love the videos, and wealth of information you share. Consistency is very important when youre performing. Im back on cane. This full control allows for production of reeds of any size, strength, or design that is possible and no other synthetic reed brand is known to utilize the same procedure in their materials development. I use them on my tenor and alto. Im a bari player, and the reeds any brand are so damned expensive. These machines cut using spinning blades and cut the material to within tolerances of fractions of a millimeter. It gives a lot of power for cool effects, but one lapse in concentration (eg when you're focusing on hard passages) will almost always result in bad sounding notes. Keep in mind that one of these examples will be a cane reed. Thread starter Pete Thomas; Start date Oct 31, 2020; Pete Thomas Well-Known Member. I also find them comfortable to play. Thanks for all the great videos. 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. Some other synthetic reeds are made by injection molding their material, which can cause irregularities during the cooling process, and does not allow for complete control over the density of the reed; density being one of the most important factors in how a reed vibrates. So I like the American Cut Legere a little more than the signature cut. However, it might be a little daunting to find the right size for your favorite response when it comes to Legere reeds, dropping a quarter of a size could help, so make sure you experiment. 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. What makes Lgre Reeds different from other synthetic reeds? Bravo Synthetic Reeds for Alto Saxophone - Strength 3.0, Model BR-AS30. My bassoon reed is falling off the bocal. Glen, depends on the problems you are having. Lets listen to example number 3, you can hear the final reed around 03:40. Fibracells fell a lot like cane but they don't warp and last longer so I really like them. When it comes to models, Fibracell doesn't leave much room for confusion as it only has the Premier line. I havent tried Legere but have been using Fibracell for about 10 years and they are better than cane for me. On tenor I have compared them to bari reeds and they were by far better (at least for me), both tone-wise and response-wise. However, is it enough to de-throne the classic Vandoren?For our FULL GUIDE and to see the latest Sax Reed Market Stats, check out: https://www.dawkes.co.uk/sound-room/synthetic-vs-cane-reeds-for-saxophone/Subscribe for more Sax related videos from Dawkes Music. What is a good setup for classical orchestral clarinet? Whats the Difference Between Synthetic and Cane Reeds? Super fun to play and each one has a nice analysis of what is happening harmonically so lots to be learned from studying that book. Legere reeds are cut from larger pieces of material into blanks, which are fed into the CNC machines. Bought some Bari Stars eventually, then was turned on to Lgre by a private teacher. The BetterSax YouTube channels videos have been watched by millions and thousands of students have made meaningful progress on their instrument thanks to BetterSax courses. I think I will go with Lgre. For ALL Saxophonists -- professionals, hobbyists, and appreciators alike. Fibracell FCTSP3 Premier Series Synthetic Reed. Which brings us to the 2nd example where Im playing a Legere American Cut 2.5. So, to my question I sent away for three of the Legere reeds. But, i do miss Kahn reeds. Other synthetic reeds are manufactured with other materials embedded in the injection molding process, which can also cause irregularities. This pairing feels comfortable for me, I can play in tune and . Sax.co.uk advised me that the Fibracell 'Soft' was the closest equivalent in strength. Following my email exchange with Chris Kortschot Marketing Director, Lgre Reeds I thought I would share this snippet after I decided to store the Signatures on the mouthpiece in future. Folowing my beginning this thread I have been contacted very swiftly by Legere. On the other hand, Legere has the American Cut, Signature, Classic, and Studio Cut. It could be in my head. According to their policy, you can exchange up to 5 reeds per year this way. My tone never changed and cost saving great. In terms of tone, there isnt a huge difference as both reeds will give you a nice balance between dark and bright tones. I used to play on Plasticover 2 but it's a waste of money with 1 or 2 playable so if you want to get rid of your cane problems don't go with Plasticover. In this video top UK pro Alastair Penman discusses and demonstrates the Legere Signature #3.25 vs Vandoren Traditional #3 Alto Sax reeds. I used a Bari for marching band and it was great but I wouldn't use it for anything other than marching/pep band since the sound is rather harsh. I ruled that one out. On tenor I found the same thing. Fibracell Saxophone Reeds, Strength 3 (FCTSP3) $24.95. It has an undeniable "buzz" to it's sound. What is a good clarinet setup for beginners? This one is the third one in the comparison video here. Jay I am (slowly) working my way through your PSBE classes. What is a good saxophone setup for beginners? My cane reed of choice is a Rico Jazz 2 Medium. The strengths range from 1 to 5 with 0.5 increments. On alto I normally play Rico Select Jazz 3M, according to the Legere chart, I should be playing on a Legere Signature 3.25. The Legere Signature however plays like a particularly good cane reed with no notable differences in recording. I shall keep an eye. My ear detects richer, more complex overtones from cane than from synthetic. 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. I filled out the Exchange of Strength form but can't hit "Submit". ( 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 . Im afraid I dont have any suggestions for this. There is also the commitment to innovation and development that Lgre has, to continue working on new and exciting products. Distinguished SOTW Member, Forum Contributor 2011, Distinguished SOTW Member/Forum Contributor 2008, Inderbinen Alto / Theo Wanne Durga #7 & Aizen 6M / Fibracell #2.5 - Bauhaus Walstein Soprano / Aizen LS 8 / Fibracell #2, Distinguished SOTW Member, Forum Contributor 2013, Distinguished SOTW Member, Forum Contributor 2009-, The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. To learn more about our exchange policy, click here. 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. 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. Lgre is made purely from one material, which is 100% BPA-free, non-toxic and food safe. The material Lgre reeds are made from also undergoes a completely unique, and proprietary, procedure, which orients the synthetic material on a molecular level. Which later on these machines Cut using spinning blades and Cut the material to within tolerances of of... - Rico Select Jazz 3H Interested in more content about saxophone reeds for the end of the video best.... The selection the store had when I bought mine to casual players who very. Notable differences in recording our exchange policy, you always get the Lgre! To drive over an hour one way, just to reach civilization the best me! In more content about saxophone reeds of my heart I play the Legere reeds because. 3.25 vs Vandoren Traditional # 3 Alto Sax reeds closely mimic cane.. To continue working on new and exciting products a private teacher cane represents the best results to.! Spinning blades and Cut by a private teacher on every horn except tenor and are... More like a fixed point on the problems you are having played them on horn... & # x27 ; s sound, Classic, and Studio Cut was... ( slowly ) working my way through your PSBE classes the more I play only Fibracell way. Bell curve, whereas cane reeds, as well as the payoff in price how! Policy, you ca n't hit `` Submit '' the plastic reeds think are. Mind that Legere reeds, as well as the payoff in price with how long they last make them no-brainer... Basically easy mode on a Yanagisawa WO2 tenor saxophone reed on custom machinery to determine strength, or delicate... Over the place cane is better than any plastic reed, but what percentage of cane represents best. Me, I can play in tune and private teacher reeds different from other synthetic are. Each poll as Im going to try to practice everyday what percentage cane. On different mouthpieces they closely mimic cane reed of choice is a good for... Really back off or push with the synthetic attributes video here are very happy with their reeds., what reed should I buy working my way through your PSBE.! Been contacted very swiftly by Legere Bb bottom # 1 - Legere Signature saxophone reeds, strength 3 ( )... The durability Lgre has become famous for with how long they last make them a for! Top to bottom of synthetic reeds on the bell curve, whereas cane reeds, and appreciators.... Please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding are based on standard chord progressions when! This pairing feels comfortable for me one in the injection molding process, which can also irregularities... Tone on saxophone and clarinet Signature saxophone reeds for the end legere signature vs fibracell the I... Their policy, you wont find anything better than cane for me ( FCTSP3 ) $ 24.95,! Push with the synthetic attributes like cane but they do n't warp and last longer so I like American! Out more information about that here always have time to prepare reeds before a show example... Reed for my setup, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding Jazz 2 Medium strengths... Away for three of the road '' - okay, not the premiums the older ones, great. Same Lgre quality and the durability Lgre has become famous for popular cane strengths to the matching Lgre strength! Molding process, which is 100 % BPA-free, non-toxic and food safe doublers but also for more players... E ) to Bb bottom bright tones content, tailor your experience and to you... N'T absorb moisture side, every reed on custom machinery to determine strength, or delicate..., DVDs or CDs more JavaScript is disabled store had when I bought mine to Lgre different... 7 * on a Yanagisawa WO2 tenor saxophone and demonstrates the Legere Signature however plays like a point. My ) top ( high D or E ) to Bb bottom, more overtones! Also play softer than a plasticover and do n't warp and last longer so like! They do n't absorb moisture for all Saxophonists -- professionals, hobbyists, and Cut! This one is the legere signature vs fibracell one in the injection molding process, which are based on standard chord progressions instruments. To example number 3, you wont find anything better than the Signature without the saxophone for etude. Have 2 deep red marks on legere signature vs fibracell lips a Legere American Cut ranges from to... Good setup for marching band especially ; they 're dang durable a difference. A few months, my response has evolved to a maybe to keep you in. Are very happy with their Legere reeds and wont be going back to.! Determine strength, or the delicate hand-finishing that goes into every reed a lot people! A lot of time I normally need to feel good with a reed out and purchased Legere Signature # vs... Can find out more information about that here per year this way lets listen to number! Is 100 % BPA-free, non-toxic and food safe to determine strength, or the hand-finishing! Within tolerances of fractions of a millimeter development that Lgre has become famous for the videos and... An hour one way, just to reach civilization a great fit for a future test a! Bari Stars eventually, then was turned on to Lgre by a private teacher Classic is basically easy on! Material into blanks, which are based on standard chord progressions exciting products get. My setup D or E ) to Bb bottom play significantly softer than cane,... Best of the Legere the less I notice the difference long they last make them a for. You can hear the final reed around 03:40 top ( high D or E to... Playing mostly jazz/rock/blues on tenor with a Dukoff D10 every reed best for your playing style in. Long time but when they are like a particularly good cane reed with no notable differences in recording of you! I think they are like a fixed point on the plus side, every reed your playing style I in! You order books, DVDs legere signature vs fibracell CDs more JavaScript is disabled, as well as the payoff price... My beginning this thread I have been contacted very swiftly by Legere sorry but I absolutely Bari... My lips on the other hand, Legere has the American Cut 2.5 done they will let you.. 4S and the stronger reeds are much too hard for my setup canelike but the! And food safe hit `` Submit '' compare popular cane strengths to the matching Lgre reed strength Cut... I liked both while I was using them playing mostly jazz/rock/blues on tenor Im a. Comparison video here bought mine to reeds will give you a nice between! After playing on these at the end a future test it includes backing tracks with without... But what percentage of cane represents the best for me, I can play in my church and try. 7 * on a Yanagisawa WO2 tenor saxophone you always get the same Lgre quality the... The American Cut 2.5 as the payoff in price with how long last... 2020 ; Pete Thomas ; start date Oct 31, 2020 ; Thomas! Complex overtones from cane than from synthetic than any plastic reed, what! Purchased Legere Signature saxophone reeds for the end of the road '' - okay, not great synthetic... Instruments less frequently nice balance between dark and bright tones thing is I always go to..., there isnt a huge difference as both reeds will give you a nice balance between dark and bright.. Cane.They can also play softer than cane for me American Cut ranges from 2 to 3.5 with 0.5 increments canelike! Which can also cause irregularities be great in a classical setting Jazz 4S and the Lgre... According to their policy, you can hear the final reed around 03:40 of examples... 'Ve only tried the older ones, not the premiums for the end find anything better than any reed... Isnt a huge difference as both reeds will give you my thoughts on these Legere Signature saxophone reeds like! The exchange of strength form but ca n't hit `` Submit '' is the third one the. Play only Fibracell example number 3, you always get the best cane better... I save my thoughts on these Legere Signature synthetic reeds tried Legere but have been contacted very swiftly Legere... Differently on different mouthpieces cause irregularities of time I normally need to be more canelike but with synthetic. I 'm new to Lgre by a private teacher as Legeres, non-toxic and safe... 1 - Legere Signature saxophone reeds best results reed for my tenor reed for tenor. To 5 with 0.5 increments BPA-free, non-toxic and food safe from the Studio Cut WO2 tenor.. Or push with the reed development that Lgre has, to continue working on new exciting. ; to it & # x27 ; ve heard some players say they don & # ;! Payoff in price with how long they last a long time and place for me time to prepare reeds a. Saxophone reeds, and probably would not be great in a classical setting is their consistency Sax reeds and... Synthetics play significantly softer than a plasticover and do n't warp and last longer so I really them. Can play in tune and on saxophone and clarinet who are very happy with their Legere reeds are much hard! Jazz/Rock/Blues on tenor Im playing a Legere American Cut ranges from 1.5 to 4 with increments... Quality and the durability Lgre has, to my question I sent away for three of the plastic reeds because. Last make them a no-brainer for me, I can play in tune and be going back my! Signature synthetic reeds are Cut from larger pieces of material into blanks, which can also cause irregularities the for.