Has anyone played both, and could they share what they thought of them? I play in my church and I try to practice everyday. Lgre is made purely from one material, which is 100% BPA-free, non-toxic and food safe. These are practical questions for player and there is no best answer. Among these reasons are materials used, manufacturing methods, and others. I second this. Once you know which cut you would like to try, review our strength chart to compare your current reed to ours! 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. So the jury is still out for me too. Studio Alto Saxophone 1.5. :shock: What? It includes backing tracks with and without the saxophone for each etude which are based on standard chord progressions. Legeres reeds are the best of the plastic reeds, because they closely mimic cane reed. Whether you opt for the alto or tenor reed, the strengths available for the Studio Cut reeds start from 1.50 and increase in 0.5 increments up to 3.5. The best strategy is to try one half strength higher or lower than what you are using to see if it makes a difference. 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. There are a lot of advantages. Your email address will not be published. Do Lgre reeds contain BPA or other harmful chemicals? Sirvalorsax said it was extremely bright which is awesome. After practicing with them I have 2 deep red marks on my lips. Give Fibracell a go. Any suggestions? It could be in my head. Theres a quick little mash up to make it easier, at 04:27. AS a Legere endorser I have made them aware of this thread. I have one of those as well and it its way too resistant for me. My strength has been discontinued - what should I play now? This one is the third one in the comparison video here. Hoping the strengths are good, if not, I will use the exchange program. now play fibracell # 2's and love them . There are many advantages to synthetic reeds, and we find the Legere to be the most popular amongst top players. 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. The Classic ranges from 2 to 3.5 with 0.5 increments. Thanks Thierry, glad you found reeds that work well for you all the time. To sum up, both the synthetic Legere and Fibracell give you the consistency that any saxophonist needs when theyre looking to maximize their practice sessions. Fibracells fell a lot like cane but they don't warp and last longer so I really like them. 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. Generally speaking, there isnt a huge difference in price -which is around ten bucks more for the Signature- or experience level for either reed, so youre looking for an all-around option, which is why Id recommend the Signature over the Studio Cut. Why Are Alto Saxophone MPCs So Expensive? I filled out the Exchange of Strength form but can't hit "Submit". I know many great players who are very happy with their Legere reeds and wont be going back to cane. On alto Im playing a vintage Selmer Scroll Shank mouthpiece that has been refaced and opened up to a 6 by Phil Engleman and a Yanagisawa 991 alto saxophone. On alto, the bari reed wont let me play lower than like an A. How long will it take to get my new reed through the Exchange of Strength Program? When it comes to models, Fibracell doesn't leave much room for confusion as it only has the Premier line. Fibracell Alto Saxophone Reed (FCASP3.5) $22.61. 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. I equally don't abuse reeds, but I felt reluctant to spend about 30 on experimenting further. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. What is a good setup for classical chamber and solo clarinet? I get quite a different response with the same reed on metal mouthpieces for example. Rarely do I find one that is less than 85% consistent. Tone is great, there's nothing missing in it. But the Fibracell reeds are a little buzzy compared to the Legere ones that dont have any buzz. Why do some players prefer stronger reeds? Free when you order books, DVDs or CDs More JavaScript is disabled. 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. (But it doesn't squeak with a metal mouthpiece, which is why I bought it. This pairing feels comfortable for me, I can play in tune and . As a matter of fact, the Signature and Studio Cut are two of the best alto saxophone reeds out there. To begin, Lgre Reeds are made from 100% polypropylene, with no added fillers or other materials inside. I find it difficult to believe that the flat ridges can cause splitting, unless there's unevenly distributed pressure on the reed. in the last 5 years I have split one older Signature. Lets move on to example number 2, you can hear it around 02:33. Lets kick it off straight away with example 1, flip to the video around 01:32 for this example. I think my comfort level on that one comes through clearly in the recording. Check out The Best Box of Reeds Ive Ever Played.. It's also worse for the higher the register of the saxophone, so appropriately enough, Bari reeds work really well on baritone saxophones (I'm pretty much on alto exclusively these days). I've played Fibracells on my alto Ponzol piece for about a year now and haven't looked back. Plenty of saxophonists commend its performance, no matter the genre of music youre planning to play. Stop bombarding me with your facts and sciences! 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. Ive got one coming tomorrow and ill be able to test it myself. What strength reed should I play on my mouthpiece? 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. This provides full control over the density and directional stiffness of the reed. Fibracells (the new one, Premium) are great, work really well with the Jody DV alto and my Lamberson 6M "I'll play it and tell you what it is later. 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. The American Cut ranges from 1.5 to 4 with 0.25 increments. In this video top UK pro Alastair Penman discusses and demonstrates the Legere Signature #3.25 vs Vandoren Traditional #3 Alto Sax reeds. 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. 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. Im a bari player, and the reeds any brand are so damned expensive. I'm new to Lgre, what reed should I buy? However, if youre looking for higher resistance without a huge concern for response, you should opt for the Studio Cut. and Ill give you my thoughts on these at the end. I would recommend them in that order. I wonder if this has anything to do with the recent dificulty in obtaining them. There is also the commitment to innovation and development that Lgre has, to continue working on new and exciting products. What is a good saxophone setup for beginners? Lgre Tip: If youre an advanced or professional player, you will most likely need the Signature. A forum community dedicated to saxophone players and enthusiasts originally founded by Harri Rautiainen. Ive tried em all, and the only artificial reed Ive liked is the now-defunct Kahn reed. 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. How do I store my Lgre reed when not in use? To me the Legere reeds sound good, they sound natural, and they dont sound synthetic. Now of course if you didnt want to lay out the expense for 3 reeds, you can just get 1 and hope for the best. However, their response isnt as good as that of the Signature reeds, though they spare you the overtones, which is a huge benefit. What is the difference between Classic, Signature and European cuts? 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. Particularly for doublers but also for more casual players who play their instruments less frequently. On tenor Im playing a Phil-tone Intrepid 7* on a Yanagisawa WO2 tenor saxophone. Advantages of Synthetic Reeds On the plus side, every reed plays without fail. What is the playability of a Lgre reed? How do I store my Lgre reed when not in use? 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I've submitted my exchange form on the website, but haven't heard back. Legere Studio Cut vs. Signature: Short Answer In terms of tone, there isn't a huge difference as both reeds will give you a nice balance between dark and bright tones. Your email address will not be published. Fibracell, and Vandoren. Once youve found your strength, youve got a reed that sounds like a cane reed but doesnt need to be kept wet, doesnt warp, doesnt change very much from day to day and lasts for several months. I am proud to be a Saxgourmet Endorsing Artist ! 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. My ear detects richer, more complex overtones from cane than from synthetic. 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. Having used it, I have to agree with their assessment regarding strength however, it sounds totally different to the cane reeds. Playing the Yamaha 5C on tenor, thinking to upgrade to How do you practice and not annoy neighbours? Tried the signature and saved a lot of time I normally need to feel good with a reed. 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. I have to drive over an hour one way, just to reach civilization. My tone never changed and cost saving great. Thanks for the heads up. However, the Legere reed strength chart is off for me. I regularly play Fibracells and Legeres. Theyll get back to you with instructions on where to send your reed and then they send you a replacement. On the legere website it states that reed clippers will just damage their synthetic reeds. My strength has been discontinued - what should I play now? I also like the feel of it. So I like the American Cut Legere a little more than the signature cut. 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. 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). 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. These machines cut using spinning blades and cut the material to within tolerances of fractions of a millimeter. They are like a fixed point on the bell curve, whereas cane reeds shift all over the place. Your email address will not be published. Do Lgre reeds contain BPA or other harmful chemicals? You can find out more information about that here. So, to my question I sent away for three of the Legere reeds. These changes make the Signature Series reeds more flexible across the tip, producing a full spectrum of overtones and a beautiful sound with minimum effort. Legere Studio Cut head-to-head against Legere Signature. Mr Lucky, Big Midnight in the Naked City and more A huge collection of tutorials & guides in PDF format. 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. I usually dedicate the different brands to different mouthpieces. Aldous Huxley. Bari's are "middle of the road" - okay, not great. There are many adva. You mention reed strength and this is important. 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. How long will it take to get my new reed through the Exchange of Strength Program? For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. As a matter of fact, its the choice for both jazz and classical players of all experience levels, whether novices or pros. Go ahead and listen with your headphones or speakers to get the best results. Haven't played the Bari. Can I wear lipstick/ lip balm with Lgre? Strength: #3. PPT mouthpieces. And that is what I think everyone needs to think about when choosing between synthetic and cane reeds. Well thanks for all the responses so far. The material, length, and cut of the reed affect how the music sounds, and thats why understanding how each of these factors plays a role can help you choose between different models. The manufacturing of a Lgre reed is on par with some of the most delicate machining possible, cut on 4-axis CNC (computer numeric controlled) machines, like one might find in aerospace or other manufacturing with extreme tolerance requirements. How do I fix leaking on my Lgre Oboe reed? Can you guess which one? Perhaps it is because the legere has worn in a bit? Saxophone tutorials - beginners to advanced. Mike. This is important because as a rule synthetic reeds are not cheap. This pairing feels comfortable for me, I can play in tune and all the notes across the range speak easily. On the other hand, if you want some medium-bright tones with focused playing, youll love what the Signature has to offer. More reed comparisons: Legere Studio Cut head-to-head against Legere Signature. What is a good setup for marching band clarinet? Well it is the Better Sax alto saxophone. Im back on cane. I play Vandoren Java size 3s on tenor and i found that legere size 3s felt softer. Commercial Supporter . On the other hand, as is with the sizes, the strengths available for the Signature are much more diverse, and they go as follows: The Studio Cut reeds use the same material as the Legere Classics ones, which resembles moist cane. New reed through the Exchange of strength Program BPA-free, non-toxic and food safe felt to! Taking part in conversations about when choosing between synthetic and cane reeds shift all over the place find difficult! 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