[cang559]

a clarinet friend of mine showed up with a plastic reed today but my sax friend said that they muffle sound or something like that, heres one i found.

http://www.wwbw.com/Fibracell-Synthetic-Alto-Saxophone-Reed-462666-i1143488.wwbw?src=synthetic+reed

 

[daigle65]

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showth...s-Legere-vs-Bari-for-Alto&highlight=synthetic

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showth...reeds-and-synthetic-reeds&highlight=synthetic

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showth...ssed-With-Fibracell-Reeds&highlight=synthetic

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?105571-Harry-Hartman-Carbon-Reeds&highlight=synthetic

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?42731-Is-cane-dead&highlight=synthetic

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showth...l-for-beginning-students.&highlight=synthetic

 

[Carl H.]

Bad synthetics aren't worth anything to a player, but there are some good ones out there. Much of it is dependent on what mouthpiece you are playing and your situation. For a kid who is more likely to break the read than wear it out, they are a poor choice, but for an experienced player who needs to be able to pick up the instrument and have it respond instantly they can be the best thing ever at times.

If you are a student, stick with cane, they will respond better and they are much cheaper.

 

[cang559]

last link kinda cold, im in high school, ty carl h, vandoreans are expensive but i can stick to it.

 

[Dave Dolson]

I've used Fibracell reeds on my clarinets for years. The trick is to match the right strength with the right mouthpiece. As an example, I used Fibracells (strength 1 1/2) on a Vandoren B45, a Vandoren 66 (sort of a rarity I suspect), and currently on my favorite, a Lakey 5*. Other mouthpieces I've used with Fibracells were a Selmer HS** and a Rovner 5. I refuse to blow into microphones and I can project right through my trad-jazz band with no problems being heard - certainly not muffled. DAVE

 

[Dave Dolson]

Irksome - double post - I replied on the other one.

 

[patmiller]

As Carl has pointed out, a little searching will find a LOT of discussion of synthetics.

In my case I've changed to playing Legere synthetics on ALL my horns: clarinet, tenor, alto and soprano. I can no longer be bothered about the inconsistency and fragility of cane reeds. As for the mumbo jumbo of preparation - forget it. I also like the sound they make. Far from "muffling" sound the main complaint I've heard is that they tend to be too bright.

They are expensive but they last a long time. It's also time consuming and potentially expensive finding the strength that suits you best. But there is a lively second hand market here on SOTW for the ones you reject.

 

[Pete Thomas]

a clarinet friend of mine showed up with a plastic reed today but my sax friend said that they muffle sound or something like that.

Some do, some don't. There is an enormous variance among the different brands. I like Legere.

Disclaimer: I am a Legere Artist (ie endorser), so I am biased. However I would not have put my name to them if they weren't great reeds, on a level with and above most cane reeds.

 

[dexdex]

Another Légère user here, on high horns, and Fiberreed on tenor and bari. Fiberreed Carbon reeds are all but muffled. But I would only recommend them to someone experienced, as they are very bright and ... unmuffled.

 

[Andrew D]

How do the Legere compare tone wise and brightness on a high baffel mpcs compared to the Vandoran/Rico reeds? Just thinking I might try as a backup. there is nothing worse than being on a gig and nothing works reed wise so it may prove a decent backup plan if the sound is full and not too bright.

 

[Little Sax]

How do the Legere compare tone wise and brightness on a high baffel mpcs compared to the Vandoran/Rico reeds? Just thinking I might try as a backup. there is nothing worse than being on a gig and nothing works reed wise so it may prove a decent backup plan if the sound is full and not too bright.

I find Legere reeds (not the studio cut) very similar to Vandoren Blue Box.

 

[mi000ke]

I have been using Fibracell mediums (or 2 1/2) on tenor for years. Every now and then I try to go back to cane (this week I tried some Rico jazz selects 2H and van doren ZZs 2.5) but always come back to synthetics. The sound of cane is more to my liking but the cane reeds are so inconsistent that it drives me crazy. I like the consistency of synthetics, the fact that they don't dry out or squeak, and don't go soft within hours or days - and I like their reliability for gigs.

 

[Benny]

I played fibracells for quite a while and went back to cane, wanting the variety of colors that various cane reeds give.
Then, I recently tried the legere signature after reading Petes posts about them- prior to him becoming an endorser.
They're a great reed, I would try some if you can.

 

[cang559]

what would be similar to vandoren blue 3 reeds,( im not sure what the mpc says, its old school sax so i cant read it but it is a yamaha)

 

[gary]

what would be similar to vandoren blue 3 reeds,( im not sure what the mpc says, its old school sax so i cant read it but it is a yamaha)

The Legere site is really quite complete with information.

http://www.legere.com/index.php?page=15

 

[Little Sax]

what would be similar to vandoren blue 3 reeds,( im not sure what the mpc says, its old school sax so i cant read it but it is a yamaha)

Notice that there are three separate types of Eb Alto reeds listed, the "regular", Studio Cut, and Signature. Each one has a different strength relative to the Vandoren Blue Box. The Studio Cut will NOT feel like a Blue Box and the "regular" will. I haven't tried the Signature so I can't comment.

 

[Bozman]

The regular Legere may feel like a Blue Box Vanoren,but the strength will be much harder for a given number. The studios also run much harder than indicated on this chart. The Signatures are harder too,but closer to a cane reed of the same numbered strength than the others.

 

[cang559]

well thanks to that i understand why the change from rico2.5 to vandorean 3 was so hard, but 1 more question, how long do the legere last, i would say 1 cane i might be able to keep for a 3 weeks( i know sad) so 6 months for 25 bucks( i know the math doesn't look right but im bad with reeds) if i can et an asured 8 months with synthetic ill buy.

 

[Little Sax]

well thanks to that i understand why the change from rico2.5 to vandorean 3 was so hard, but 1 more question, how long do the legere last, i would say 1 cane i might be able to keep for a 3 weeks( i know sad) so 6 months for 25 bucks( i know the math doesn't look right but im bad with reeds) if i can et an asured 8 months with synthetic ill buy.

You need to buy several and keep them in rotation.
I play sop more than anything else and I can keep 4-6 in rotation for 12-18 months.
I play bari the next most often. I've kept the current 5 I've been using for over 2 years. (One of them I only use for practice as I no-longer like how it sounds comparatively. I'm about to rotate a few more in.)

One other thing to consider is how you will store your reeds. You do NOT want to use any type of reed case that could compress or otherwise damage the vamp of the reed. Having a flat bottom (e.g. glass) is a big plus as well.

I use the Hodge brand cases for everything smaller than a bari, and I use the Selmer brand for bari.

 

[Pete Thomas]

but 1 more question, how long do the legere last, .

A Legere lasts me the best part of a year, as opposed to a cane lasting 2 - 4 weeks.