Always trying to find the holly grail of reeds and mouthpieces, I took a chance and bought a Fiberreed Onyx.
Based on strength charts I opted for the M which is roughly equivalent to a Legere Signature 2.5, which is the strength I feel most comfortable playing. After playing it for several days, my initial reaction is a positive one.
Please keep in mind that I am not a professional. But these are my impressions:
1. Response throughout the range of the horn is great.
2. Down low is very good and equivalent to the Legere Signature, which is one of its strengths.
3. Up in the altissimo range is as good as down low. These is where I find the Legere to falter. But please keep in mind that I can just reach E altissimo (11 tones above the normal range of the horn).
4. What I did notice is that the Onyx tends to soften a bit more and perhaps earlier than the Legere with continuous playing. For the same reason and to check the consistency from reed to reed I decided to order 2 more.
5. Both strength and response were very consistent with just one of them being a tiny little bit softer.
6. Almost imperceptible and not out of proportion to inconsistencies between individual synthetic reeds. As a matter of fact with other brands I have found that the difference seems to be greater.
7. On the plus side, I adjusted it by just filing the tip with sand paper at 90 degrees (like filing a nail) and it worked.
8. Of note, while I have been able to adjust cane reeds without problems this is the first time that I have been successful in adjusting a synthetic reed without ruin it.
I hope this helps anyone who is considering trying these reeds as I don't see too many reviews in the internet except for the one posted by saxophonist Johnny Ferreira in youtube.
If anyone else have tried these, please feel more than free to share your experience.
Based on strength charts I opted for the M which is roughly equivalent to a Legere Signature 2.5, which is the strength I feel most comfortable playing. After playing it for several days, my initial reaction is a positive one.
Please keep in mind that I am not a professional. But these are my impressions:
1. Response throughout the range of the horn is great.
2. Down low is very good and equivalent to the Legere Signature, which is one of its strengths.
3. Up in the altissimo range is as good as down low. These is where I find the Legere to falter. But please keep in mind that I can just reach E altissimo (11 tones above the normal range of the horn).
4. What I did notice is that the Onyx tends to soften a bit more and perhaps earlier than the Legere with continuous playing. For the same reason and to check the consistency from reed to reed I decided to order 2 more.
5. Both strength and response were very consistent with just one of them being a tiny little bit softer.
6. Almost imperceptible and not out of proportion to inconsistencies between individual synthetic reeds. As a matter of fact with other brands I have found that the difference seems to be greater.
7. On the plus side, I adjusted it by just filing the tip with sand paper at 90 degrees (like filing a nail) and it worked.
8. Of note, while I have been able to adjust cane reeds without problems this is the first time that I have been successful in adjusting a synthetic reed without ruin it.
I hope this helps anyone who is considering trying these reeds as I don't see too many reviews in the internet except for the one posted by saxophonist Johnny Ferreira in youtube.
If anyone else have tried these, please feel more than free to share your experience.