Good volume and great for doubling since they do not dry out. Very versatile, good dynamic response and sounds great in jazz or classical music. I still use cane occasionally but I mostly use the synthetic. They play as close to a good cane reed as anything I've tried (Fibracell, Bari, Hahn). Realistically, these reeds are probably as good as the cheap Rico brands, but they are harder to find and less popular, which earns them a lower ranking. It might seem vain to think about, but its not drummers are responsible for holding a band together rhythmically. Ive been using both cane and synthetic. If the grain on a reed is courser than average or courser than the rest of the reeds in the box, it is like not a good reed. It gives me a good balance between resistance and playability. It is not always possible to pick out a bad reed visually, and stores may not let you inspect every reed personally, but if you can inspect your reeds before buying, here is what to look for: When you are looking at the reed, is the width of the grain on the vamp (the shaved, playable part) consistent? 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. You need to fill out a form that you can find on their website and send a photo of your receipt. Many here have played or tried either one or the other brand. All reeds are around #4 hardness and played with Vienna Woodwinds Gleichweit Mouthpiece #8 and #9.5. All Rights Reserved. Ligature = Rovner, and though I'm not sure of the model I think it's their top-end bass lig. Companies today have experimented and tried several ways of improving the production of these synthetic reed, that in my opinion, have reached superior sound than the traditional cane reed. 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. 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. Make sure to consult a stiffness comparison chart before you buy. But I hate reeds, with a passion. Great sound in all register, especially the low register has a very full and rounded sound. Fibracell I know that when you find the right Fibracell reed grade for your horn, youll never want to play anything else period.. WebThe comprehensive strength charts below compare popular cane strengths to the matching Lgre reed strength and cut. My first impression of Alta Vivace Cut is its futuristic designed packaging and reed. After 25 years of playing. Thanks James. Easy to control dynamics, can play both exaggerated and very soft. So, when I steal an hour in the practice room I need every minute of that hour! 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. In fact, many well-known guitarists have built a career featuring their fingerstyle technique on the electric guitar. E1 is fine. My first impression of the reed is that the reed is definitely in a soft side, which makes the sound very bright and easy to produce the sound. Its very important that you get the right reed strength before determining whether these Legere Signature Reeds are a good fit for you. Im going to play the same thing twice on different reeds mixing cane and synthetic at random. 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. My first impression of the Venn is it has a very clean look, with a beautiful reed color to it. thanks for the update on fibracell James. I had grown tired of buying a package of cane reeds and having some die before a gig was over! When is a good age to start learning the saxophone? I have a legere studio cut 2 that I use on my JJ DV NY. - Quincy Jones. See The Best Online Guitar Lessons. Cane ones are better if you have the patience to go through a bunch of them and choose the one with the best performance. Johnny: The Hemp has a more mellow sound. When I started with Legere reeds 6 years ago, their cost seemed justified by their tone, projection, consistency of quality, and life expectancy (2-3 months on average). Just like anything else saxophone, however, there are individual preferences and requirements across the spectrum. 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 used to get about 6 to 8 good reeds in a box but now i am lucky if I get 3), Have the other two, but now I am ordering a hemp. This way you will still have a reed to use while youre making the exchange. 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. The bari exposes *a lot* of reed to your lips and tongue, and I just cant stand the feel of a reed that feels like plastic in my mouth. User reviews say that this particular line of reeds has excellent quality control usually 4 out 5 reeds are in great shape. Fiberreed now seems to be selling for the soprano sax..but not the FiberCarbon Onyx yet. The tip of the reed can be as fragile as a cane reed, which will splits and bent due to accidental touch. I play in my church and I try to practice everyday. I found 12 medium soft fibracell tenor sax reeds yesterday stuck in the back of a drawer. In the review test, i've selected the most popular reed mode from each of the companies. I also have a 4 piece jazz group but dont seem to get too many good paying gigs lately. Even for us sax players, theres no more mouthpieces made out of wood! Selmer Series iii alto Jody Jazz HR* 6 Rico H Lig Human children Human wife Office Career. Im not surprised though, seems like everything else that involves saxophone equipment, the reeds, ligature, mouthpiece and saxophone its all very subjective. Thats awesome! The very first one called the Natural plays too dark for my taste.The next one produced was the Carbon. 5. Ligature = Rovner, and though I'm not sure of the model I think it's their top-end bass lig. These Vandoren reeds have a slightly brighter, jazzy sound. Although these synthetic reeds are great and some are even superior to a traditional cane reed. Fibracell Tenor Saxophone Reeds. On alto, the bari reed wont let me play lower than like an A. That's when synthetic reed comes to play. Your email address will not be published. I am hoping to buy a Legere reed this week, perhaps a 2.0 Signature, and a 2.5 American Cut. Pros and cons and sound discriptions would be great. The earliest usage of synthetic reeds was from World War II when there was a shortage of reeds from France, musicians would use styrene to make reeds. These reeds are good quality, no-nonsense, and a good price point for most players. Cheap synthetic reeds play like they sound plastic-y. Saxophone Reed Strength Comparison Chart Clarinet Reed Strength Comparison Chart If you have never done any work on reeds I think working on a Legere is a good way to start. They respond immediately and are satisfying to play, but they may not be suitable for classical or ensemble music, which requires a smoother sound. WebWhen it comes to models, Fibracell doesnt leave much room for confusion as it only has the Premier line. Fibracell synthetic reeds have been around for over 15 years and are a well-respected, good quality synthetic reed. Before I thought it was stuffy and hard to blow, but this time it was easier. Skeptical? Cane reeds are made from natural products and vary depending on the plant and the workmanship. It might lack some of the bottom end of the EQ spectrum so to speak but what it does have sure cuts through. Reed makers size their reeds differently but the #3 that I have is sized perfectly to match the Vandoren canes that I am used too. Theyll get back to you with instructions on where to send your reed and then they send you a replacement. They are designed to have a lightning fast response for better articulation. Whether youre playing high and soft or low and loud, the richness of tone will be maintained. Synthetic materials have really taken over in many of the other instruments that once relied on natural materials. I find Fibracells good for all saxes, though I still use cane on sop sometimes. On the alto (Yamaha 4C MPC), I very strongly prefer the Legere Signature 2.25 over the Forestone 2.5 I have. I proudly endorse Fiberreeds and allow their sales directly from this sites store here: I sometimes use Rico Plasticover 3's as well, but once again they feel a bit buzzy. Jack set out to make the perfect reed, and came up with a reed that has the qualities of both traditional cuts. If youre in a band that doesnt require a beautiful, clear tone but does require gigs, travelling, and lots of playing, these are a great choice. With strength 4, it is on the hard-side compare to others, but a simple change of mouthpiece solved the problem. More About Don. Thanks for the replies. They are also one of the least expensive options on the market, while purportedly maintaining better quality control than Rico brands. However, as I pick my alto up and down a lot, the convenience of Legere synthetic (2.25) is huge. It also feels very glassy and polished. Still, the Legere reeds would make the best alto sax reeds as the alto sax doesnt require as much effort to play, so the whole equation is balanced while you get the amazing intonation with Legere reeds. Ive played both. The reeds are designed to be flexible and give legato and staccato execution across large intervals and jumps. Despite of it being a strength 4 reed, it sounds and plays like a strength 3, very soft sounding. My tone never changed and cost saving great. I will often start a brand new clarinet or saxophone student on a #2 strength cane reed. Ive been on the REED journey just like everyone else for a long time! I sometimes use Rico Plasticover 3's as well, but once again they feel a bit buzzy. 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'm about to order a few from Saxquest to try with my new mpcs, since I have a credit with them. Whatever skills you learn on a keyboard tend to be highly transferable, since the same basic concepts apply to piano, organ, harpsicord, accordion and many other instruments. Some are looking for comfort, while others are looking for more padding. 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. However yesterday the java cane 2.5 was blowing nicely with my two rover ligatures, the Versa-X and the Van Gogh. Use the comment section below to share your thoughts on what you heard. On the other hand, unfiled reeds are pop and jazz players choice as theyre known for the brightness of sound and ease of playability. Here are a few popular and quality brands. They last a long time but when they are done they will let you know. 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. Vandoren reeds are French-filed, traditional reeds. Youve GOT to test & compare Legere reeds to the others. A forum community dedicated to saxophone players and enthusiasts originally founded by Harri Rautiainen. Currently, there are six synthetic reeds in the market that have promising reviews and feedback from customers. Upper register lost its focus of sound, the pitch can be easily bent. Other reports from personal friends and online reviews have been anywhere from a few to six months. To me the Legere reeds sound good, they sound natural, and they dont sound synthetic. Good intonation and good all the way up and down the horn. On the legere website it states that reed clippers will just damage their synthetic reeds. Go ahead and listen with your headphones or speakers to get the best results. Legere Studio Cut vs. Signature: Which Reed is Better? Intonation was good, tone was strong and centered and it projected. 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. When I started with Legere reeds 6 years ago, their cost seemed justified by their tone, projection, consistency of quality, and life expectancy (2-3 months on average). At least for now anyways. The secret, once he got them perfected, as far as I can tell, is the carbon fiber instrusion into the polymer matrix. I hear you about the reed being slick. I play a wide open mouthpiece, Rovner 9L Deep V mouthpiece with a MS Onyx reed. Altissimo is easy as well and good tuning up there too. The 3 Legere feels more like a Rico Select Jazz 4S and the stronger reeds are much too hard for my setup. So I can't modify the horn. Hey Ken, I have also been playing the Onyx primarily for the last couple years or so since it came out and love it. Expensive, most expensive synthetic reed. Its well established as one of the most popular and best selling synthetics. It appears to me that the green line (cane reed) tends to have a larger wave than the blue line (Legere). WebUnsure what your strength is? I am not skilled enough to voice it down at will or not. Synthetic reeds used to be made with epoxy resins, molded plastics, styrene, and polyester. It is very versatile in all registers, and it is very comfortable to play without resistance. So, I have been buying 5 at a time and I am trying to rotate them as much as I can to extend their life. I think its just a matter of time. Fiberreed Hemp model has a very interesting look, which will definitely attract new customers. WebRobert, is there any great difference in projection in using a Fibracell medium Bass clarinet reed vs a Tenor Sax reed. There is no shame in trying one out! 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. Fiberreed now seems to be made with epoxy resins, molded plastics, styrene, and they sound. Players, theres no more mouthpieces made out of wood blowing nicely with my mpcs! Been around for fibracell vs legere 15 years and are a well-respected, good,! Blowing fibracell vs legere with my two rover ligatures, the Versa-X and the 3 feels. 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