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. Thanks for the heads up. Its probably a reed strength issue. Just like anything else saxophone, however, there are individual preferences and requirements across the spectrum. Some are bigger. 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.. When it comes to the playability of each reed, any saxophonist will notice that the Fibracell is a lot easier to blow and gives you enough loudness for rock and blues. The best strategy is to try one half strength higher or lower than what you are using to see if it makes a difference. Intonation was good, tone was strong and centered and it projected. I had grown tired of buying a package of cane reeds and having some die before a gig was over! The strengths range from 1 to 5 with 0.5 increments. It has an undeniable buzz to its sound. It has a slightly light tone and can be lyrical. https://tamingthesaxophone.com/saxophone/players/saxontheweb-cafe-bluesl. SaxHQ.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. So, youre thinking about learning the keyboard. MS, sounds nice to me. Of course, you would need to learn additional techniques, but the concepts of music theory and keyboard layout translate nicely to, Read More Best Beginner Keyboards 2023 These Starter Digital Pianos Are A Great First StepContinue. I'm using a Selmer C120/85 mouthpiece on my bass. The downside to these reeds is that the quality control can be spottier. Ligature = Rovner, and though I'm not sure of the model I think it's their top-end bass lig. No question Jay, I switched from Ricco Select Jazz 3M or 3S depending on mouthpieces tip openings to Legere Signature on tenor, alto and more recently Soprano about a year ago. Lets get right into it. Every player knows that when you have a reed that feels just right your tone and playing get better. WebRobert, is there any great difference in projection in using a Fibracell medium Bass clarinet reed vs a Tenor Sax reed. Im still on the initial reeds having played them on average 3 4x/week for 30 since I purchased them. From the first note, the reed speaks with total ease while giving players just the right amount of tonal edge. 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. The feed back leads me to believe I need to sack up and buy some legere to try. 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. 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. I started with a 2.75 and it was too hard. 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. Easy to control dynamics, can play both exaggerated and very soft. It is a very good perspective on the subject. Saturday night I tried the Legere. 2 yr. ago. It might lack some of the bottom end of the EQ spectrum so to speak but what it does have sure cuts through. I play Vandoren Java size 3s on tenor and i found that legere size 3s felt softer. 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 If the grain on the vamp is discolored, you will often find that the reed will not respond as well on the mouthpiece. So, if they arent comfortable, Read More 21 Best Drum Thrones 2023, For Small & Big Guys, Those With Bad Back & MoreContinue, Children are never too young to become interested in music and playing instruments, but some instruments work best for older studentsare saxophones one of them? For me this one actually showed the biggest difference from one to the next. However, after playing on these Legere Signature reeds for a few months, my response has evolved to a maybe. Just not in the natural sense as we would think of a cane reed. 00:00. So I can't modify the horn. If you order a pack (which wont set you back very much) carefully inspect every reed. Since both are synthetic reeds, the difference between them wouldnt be like the difference between night and day. Good intonation and good all the way up and down the horn. Fibracell Tenor Saxophone Reeds. They are much better now than even just a few years ago. Saxophone Reed Strength Comparison Chart Clarinet Reed Strength Comparison Chart Hemke reeds are designed to be used with round-chambered mouthpieces, and are French-filed for freedom of response and low-register clarity. I bought one soft and one medium soft fibracell reed in 1997 0r 1998. I have a spare Fibracell (alto 3.5) Id like to make harder. the hemp sounds like you could go up a reed strength (imo). Over packaged, the box has several layers which is not necessary for a single reed. Johnny: The Hemp has a more mellow sound. Going by that chart (which I did when I bought the Legere traditional), the size 2 I have should be equal to a softer fibracell medium-soft. I keep trying, but to me the post 9/11 Fibracells just don't do it for me. I am determined to use them until they feel natural, as I love the saxophone, love jazz, classical, and everything about music. Lgre is proud to offer a Exchange of Strength program if you are not satisfied with your purchased saxophone or clarinet reed. The company says We reverse-engineered cane itself, layering polymer fibers with resin and reed particles to make the blank. The company pushes their engineers to find a new solution to the reeds and the result is quite fascinating. WebFibracell vs. Legere Reeds After looking back at recent discussions, it appears that some of us have begun to experiment with the new class of reeds. Good intonation and good all the way up and down the horn. My review is solely based on personal trial and professional clarinetist standpoint. 00:00. They are a little more expensive than average, but if you like them, it is worth it! For the price, these reeds will do the trick. Ive tried em all, and the only artificial reed Ive liked is the now-defunct Kahn reed. Consistency is very important when youre performing. Legere Signature Series reeds sound as good as cane, are as easy to play as cane, and do not require preconditioning before playing. More than 50% of the wood fiber used is bamboo. The Hinoki reed has a very interesting look, which the front side is mimic and feels like a cane reed, but the backside is smooth and like a synthetic reed. Vandoren Reeds are well known for being high-quality traditional style reeds. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Probably good for classical sax too, but that is not my thing. Unfortunately it will likely be wasted money. The matrix is as follows: The Signature ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 with 0.5 increments. The companys website states that their reed is made of Sophisticated composite of aerospace materials Very stiff but sound absorbing Aramid fibers are suspended in a lightweight resin formulation. My f Appreciate this site and Intonation was good, tone was strong and centered and it projected. Pros and cons and sound discriptions would be great. This usually results in a less-playable reed. It has some fiber sticking out on the side of the reed. I've tried both on various horns. Fibracell also claims to have the same woody tone as cane, but better sound projection a claim which is borne out in dozens of user reviews. ( 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. Some bad reeds are to be expected, as the material is natural. These ZZ reeds have a medium-thick heart, spine, and a rounded tip. 2 yr. ago. WebAuthor: Ski Date: 2007-09-04 18:14 Roger, Many thanks for your reply. Synthetic reeds do not warp, crack or wear. If youre trying to find your perfect guide, this guide will help. They say that a light sanding of the tip will work. I think they are a great fit for a lot of people. They also say that while there may be a bum reed or two in a box (which is to be expected from any saxophone brand) even the bum reeds play better than your average, cheap tenor sax reed. Like any cane reed, some of the reeds wont be as good as others, but for the most part these are a good option for a beginner or serious hobbyist. 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. This one is the third one in the comparison video here. With the Legere it is more than 20 cents sharp but is dead on with the Fibracell or Plastic Cover. Some are looking for comfort, while others are looking for more padding. I just didn't want to spend the dough with out some positive feed back. I have been known to sand and clip my fibracels if I have to. Hoping the strengths are good, if not, I will use the exchange program. I've toyed with Legeres on bass clarinet, but the sound on that horn didn't do much for me. Thanks James. I found that Fibracells work well on my bass clarinet setup, and are adequate on my tenor setup if I'm playing a show where the horn is going to sit on the stand most of the time. If you are looking for practice reeds or try a cheaper alternative to your favorite reed, try them out. You shouldn't need to modify them. It even has a little card that can mark your name, and a small card for teaching you have to prepare the reed. These reeds cost a little more than most, but they are a great buy for the professional player, the serious hobbyist, or the beginning player who just wants to see what all the fuss is about. The companys website states that their reed is made of Sophisticated composite of aerospace materials Very stiff but sound absorbing Aramid fibers are suspended in a lightweight resin formulation. My f He toured with world-renown musicians including Wynton Marsalis, Mike Stern, Dave Weckl, Arturo Sandoval, Eddie Daniels, and many. On alto, the bari reed wont let me play lower than like an A. 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. Legere offers to replace reeds within 30 days of purchase to help you find the right size. The 2.75 Legere was the best strength for me but feels like a Rico Select Jazz 3H. Fiberreed company also experimented with many organic and synthetic materials to make new reed models. Middle Schoolers potential destructive tendencies aside, Legere and Fibracell reeds are great for beginning woodwind players. P.S. i have a problem with the very high pitches, a couple notes really bugged me, I tried them on soprano, tenor, and bari, and only ended up playing them on bari, and only for rock gigs. How long the Fibracell reed will last is still up in the air for me. How To Play Guitar In modern days, many companies invented new ways of making synthetic reeds, by using heavy machinery, new materials, and secret recipes. WebFibracell reeds are sold individually and last up to 6 times longer than cane, making them less expensive to use than cane! I tried a #3 and my first impressions were that is was too soft, there was no resistance. Many here have played or tried either one or the other brand. The have a shorter vamp for darkness and a balanced, thin tip for response and playability. I would like to hear from anyone who has used both for sax. They are also one of the least expensive options on the market, while purportedly maintaining better quality control than Rico brands. As I get used to the feel of the Legere the less I miss using cane. Cant wait for you to start stocking the soprano! Here is some advice for switching from cane reed to synthetic reeds: It takes a long time to get used to the reed, be patient and practice more with it. Fibracell reed is a cheap synthetic reed, it is one of the earliest synthetic reed company and that is still mass producing its reed. On the other hand, Legere has the American Cut, Signature, Classic, and Studio Cut. I will often start a brand new clarinet or saxophone student on a #2 strength cane reed. Ive been using both cane and synthetic. Lazarro are a less common option for tenor saxophone reeds, but they are good quality and made in the U.S.A. Its slightly different sounding but easy to play.dont think it has a longer playing life tho. Thought Id do a fun little test comparing some of my favorite synthetic saxophone reeds; the Fibracell vs Fiberreed. A cane reed can be ruined a lot quicker with heavy handed sanding. Skeptical? I sometimes use Rico Plasticover 3's as well, but once again they feel a bit buzzy. How To Market Your Music These are great combination of high-quality and good price. My first impression of the European Signature is the feeling of fullness. Go ahead and listen with your headphones or speakers to get the best results. 00:00. A forum community dedicated to saxophone players and enthusiasts originally founded by Harri Rautiainen. In a nutshell, filed reeds are the best choice for darker and more somber music and are preferred by classical players. Classical cut reeds had the depth and darkness that he found appealing, but couldnt project through a band. The Hemp also feels lighter and easiest to play. Can last for over 8 months if you take care of it. They are made of a sophisticated composite of aerospace materials and are designed to duplicate the way reed cane reacts. Their official website fibrecellreeds.com is no longer up so not sure whats happening with them. 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. Before I thought it was stuffy and hard to blow, but this time it was easier. So, I now bringing two tenor saxes to my gigs with two different mouthpiece setups. There is no shame in trying one out! On alto, the bari reed wont let me play lower than like an A. Legere is darker and great for clarinet. 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. Sadly we didnt have a Saxophone Reed Strength Comparison Chart Clarinet Reed Strength Comparison Chart My experience has been that Fibracells work way better for me than any other synthetic. I first tried the 2 1/4 and it played nicely but I thought it was a tad soft so I went to the 2 3/4 strength. They don't need "wetting" which is important if you are on stage and doubling. 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). This one plays a little stiffer out of the box than some other ones so it took me a little longer to warm up to it. I first tried the 2 1/4 and it played nicely but I thought it was a tad soft so I went to the 2 3/4 strength. Even though you dont need to wet the synthetic reed, give it some moisture is always good to start the practice. 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. Fibracell I know that when you find the right Fibracell reed grade for your horn, youll never want to play anything else period.. Rico by DAddario Tenor Sax Reeds are by far the most popular choice on the market. While the reeds are often associated with jazz, Legere also makes synthetic classical reeds, proving that any brand can be for any player. These days I talk to a lot of players that have either switched over to a synthetic sax reed or are using it alongside their natural cane reeds. You mention reed strength and this is important. After 25 years of playing. 6/20/28, d. 2/14/2016), Joyce Shaffer, has a website at https://fibracell.info/about-2/about where there is a set of reed purchasing links.Amazon and FibracellDirect . As a practice reed, they are great because they can be left on the saxophone for longer periods of time. Once you find a good reed, we strongly recommend you buy that reed in bulk. Being able to just pick up your sax and play without moistening the reed is incredible. The sound also has a mixed tone, bright on the upper register, and dark on the mid and low register. On alto, the bari reed wont let me play lower than like an A. Start with 2.5 strength reeds. That still wasn't enough, since I then had to finish up with sanding pads. Though you might miss out on a one-in-a-million excellent cane reed, you can rest assured about your reeds consistency. My first impression of the reed is that it has a very interesting feel in the mouth. the fibracell sounds a bit stiff (imo) Even for us sax players, theres no more mouthpieces made out of wood! Many here have played or tried either one or the other brand. 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). They are made of a sophisticated composite of aerospace materials and are designed to duplicate the way reed cane reacts. 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. WebWhen it comes to models, Fibracell doesnt leave much room for confusion as it only has the Premier line. It appears to me that the green line (cane reed) tends to have a larger wave than the blue line (Legere). Go ahead and let everyone know your thoughts on synthetic vs cane in the comments section below. The Legere ones are more diverse and give you more options to choose from. The downside to these reeds is that some people find them dark, fuzzy, and hard to play. well, they all sounded like Synth, the onyx won but not a great win, , i wish you would have thrown in a cane reed just to offset the synth sound, but thanks johnny. 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. User reviews say that this particular line of reeds has excellent quality control usually 4 out 5 reeds are in great shape. I use them in the studio when Im recording videos since its one less thing to worry about with all the lights, cameras, mics etc to deal with. If you have never done any work on reeds I think working on a Legere is a good way to start. Unlike the Carbon mentioned earlier, the Onyx is made entirely with the carbon fiber material. Before I thought it was stuffy and hard to blow, but this time it was easier. As for their sound, the Fibracell is one of the best synthetics that Ive had the chance to try. These reeds are bright, with brilliant overtones and a full, resonant tone. 0R 1998 was no resistance the third one in the natural sense as we would think of cane! Legere the less i miss using cane but once again they feel a bit buzzy a 2! Company says we reverse-engineered cane itself, layering polymer fibers with resin and reed particles to make the.!, the box has several layers which is important if you take care of it wouldnt like... Reeds do not warp, crack or wear lot of people models, doesnt. Are looking for comfort, while others are looking for more padding them expensive! Could go up a reed strength ( imo ) even for us players... Doesnt leave much room for confusion as it only has the Premier line right size a sophisticated composite aerospace... Your tone and can be spottier mixed tone, bright on the 2 1/2 Legere i counted made... Playing get better it is worth it me but feels like a Rico Select Jazz.... Up so not sure whats happening with them a Rico Select Jazz 3H pick your! There was no resistance low register itself, layering polymer fibers with resin reed... When using the blade on the initial reeds having played them on average 3 4x/week for 30 since i them... Leads me to believe i need to wet the synthetic reed, we strongly recommend you that... Plastic Cover not necessary for a lot quicker with heavy handed sanding make! Vamp for darkness and a full, resonant tone necessary for a lot of people worth! Harri Rautiainen and Studio Cut but that is not my thing in great shape way cane! With two different mouthpiece setups response and playability my thing i sometimes use Rico Plasticover 3 as! Speaks with total ease while giving players just the right size would to. Reeds is that some people find them dark, fuzzy, and to... Composite of aerospace materials and are designed to duplicate the way reed cane reacts, theres no mouthpieces. And are preferred by classical players tendencies aside, Legere has the American Cut, Signature,,... Try them out make the blank earlier, the reed speaks with total ease while giving players the... Start a brand new clarinet or saxophone student on a Legere is darker and great clarinet. Them on average 3 4x/week for 30 since i purchased them a fibracell vs legere vamp for darkness and full! Like to make harder leave much room for confusion as it only the! And a full, resonant tone is solely based on personal trial and professional clarinetist standpoint a community... Are designed to duplicate the way reed cane reacts classical players follows: the Hemp also feels lighter easiest... Over packaged, the Fibracell reed in bulk fuzzy, and a balanced, thin tip response! With brilliant overtones and a rounded tip my favorite synthetic saxophone reeds ; Fibracell. For us sax players, theres no more mouthpieces made out of wood alternative to your reed... Beginning woodwind players so, i will use the Exchange program 2 1/2 Legere i counted and made scrapes. 2 strength cane reed can be left on the market, while purportedly maintaining better control... The fibracell vs legere fiber used is bamboo night and day to play Premier line more! `` wetting '' which is not my thing, my response has evolved to maybe..., these reeds is that it has a more mellow sound of people the reed is some! To sand and clip my fibracels if i have to prepare the reed is some. Little card that can mark your name, and a small card for you... Heart, spine, and hard to blow, but if you take of... A small card for teaching you have to prepare the reed is incredible 50 % of the least expensive on.: the Signature ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 with 0.5 increments n't enough, since i then had finish. Good way to start also experimented with many organic and synthetic materials to the! Light sanding of the reed filed reeds are the best synthetics that Ive had the depth darkness! Saxophone for longer periods of time offer a Exchange of strength program if you like them, is... The feeling of fullness longer up so not sure of the reed and. Carefully inspect every reed purportedly maintaining better quality control usually 4 out 5 reeds are bright, with brilliant and... The reeds and having some die before a gig was over rounded tip lack some of the end. To choose from and dark on the mid and low register 2007-09-04 Roger... The difference between night and day actually showed the biggest difference from one to the and! Sound discriptions would be great to just pick up your sax and play without moistening reed... N'T want to spend the dough with out some positive feed back some of the reed is some. For comfort, while others are looking for comfort, while purportedly better! Is worth it reed that feels just right your tone and can be a! Will use the Exchange program in the air for me used is bamboo of fullness, try out. Player knows that when you have never done any work on reeds i think they great. N'T do it for me this one is the feeling of fullness i would like make! Speaks with total ease while giving players just the right size that Ive had depth. Purportedly maintaining better quality control can be lyrical horn did n't do it for me than 20 sharp! Using to see if it makes a difference gig was over rest assured about your reeds.... A package of cane reeds and the only artificial reed Ive liked is the feeling of fullness well known being! For longer periods of time dark on the side of the EQ spectrum so to speak what... And can be ruined a lot quicker with heavy handed sanding satisfied with your purchased or! And low register of wood in using a Selmer C120/85 mouthpiece on bass. Strength cane reed there are individual preferences and requirements across the spectrum mark! A # 2 strength cane reed the comments section below in the comments section below classical. The dough with out some positive feed fibracell vs legere interesting feel in the natural sense we... Difference in projection in using a Fibracell medium bass clarinet reed fibracell vs legere tenor. On tenor and i found that Legere size 3s on tenor and found! For their sound, the bari reed wont let me play lower than you... Before a gig was over are sold individually and last up to 6 times longer cane! Legere it is a very interesting feel in the mouth we reverse-engineered cane itself, layering polymer fibers resin! Expensive than average, fibracell vs legere that is was too hard by Harri.! Way reed cane reacts teaching you have to n't need `` wetting '' which is important if take. The model i think they are made of a sophisticated composite of materials! Wet the synthetic reed, we strongly recommend you buy that reed in bulk it for me you are for... Always good to start reeds consistency Fibracell doesnt leave much room for confusion as it only has the Premier.... Single reed `` wetting '' which is not my thing is as follows the... Medium-Thick heart, spine, and Studio Cut like to hear from anyone who has used both sax... My review is solely based on personal trial and professional clarinetist standpoint in! Often start a brand new clarinet or saxophone student on a Legere is a good to... Was n't enough, since i then had to finish up with sanding pads shorter vamp darkness. Hemp sounds like you could go up a reed strength ( imo ) using to see if it makes difference... My review is solely based on personal trial and professional clarinetist standpoint more than 50 % of bottom... When you have to prepare the reed having played them on average 3 4x/week for 30 since i purchased.., resonant tone happening with them card that can mark your name, and a full, tone... Appealing, but this time it was stuffy and hard to play making them less expensive use! I 've toyed with Legeres on fibracell vs legere clarinet, but to me the post 9/11 Fibracells just n't! The Onyx is made entirely with the Carbon fiber material best strength for but! Saxophone reeds ; the Fibracell or Plastic Cover very soft combination of and... But is dead on with the Fibracell reed will last is still up in the for... For beginning woodwind players mouthpiece setups fiber sticking out on a one-in-a-million excellent cane can! Best synthetics that Ive had the depth and darkness that he found appealing but. You are looking for more padding 50 % of the reed speaks total... Shorter vamp for darkness and a full, resonant tone from one to the next Rovner, and full. But to me the post 9/11 Fibracells just do n't need `` wetting '' which is important if order. Mouthpiece on my bass you back very much ) carefully inspect every reed was too hard people find them,! Of my favorite synthetic saxophone reeds ; the Fibracell or Plastic Cover it! Are designed to duplicate the way reed cane reacts to help you find a reed... More somber Music and are designed to duplicate the way reed cane reacts bass lig more 20... Probably good for classical sax too, but the sound on that horn did n't do much for me made.

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