Saxguy's Full Review: Legere Ontario Cut Bb Clarinet Reed
Review of the Legere Ontario Cut Clarinet Reed, strength 2
In the spring, through a number of fortunate circumstances, I was offered an opportunity to "sit in" with the house band for the ELCA Youth Gathering, an event with 37,000 attendees, primarily high school youth, performing community service and attending transformative activities, culminating in Sunday worship in the Louisiana Superdome. Well, I wasn't about the squander what would likely be my first and, quite possibly, only opportunity to perform arena rock with a crowd in the tens of thousands. I was performing volunteer financial services for the Gathering as well, and that is why they were willing to send me down there for only two action packed days, July 25 and 26 2009. They also were not willing to pay for an extra ticket for my Selmer tenor, so it was clear to me that I was going to perform on straight soprano, which I could carry on.
I was happy with my incumbent reeds, the La Voz Clarinet reeds, strength medium soft, but I'm always looking to get better. I was intrigued with the description of the new Ontario Cut reeds from Leger, which said that they had excellent response in all registers, with less resistance. The reeds were billed as freer blowing, focused and consistent at all blowing levels.
I felt like they were worth trying, as their softest clarinet reed would be only slightly harder than the La Voz. Legere's softest soprano sax reed is quite a bit harder than the La Voz reeds I was using, so much so that I did not think they would work. My mouthpiece on straight soprano is a fairly open Gary Sugal model and so, I need the softer reeds. I was looking to see if I could get better. Since Legere offers a one-time exchange for a different within 30 days, I figured that if this didn't work on soprano, I could exchange it for a harder reed which would work on clarinet. I also had a very positive experience with Legere's standard clarinet reed, which had worked well for me on clarinet. Plus, the Legere reeds have generated some acceptance among professional classical clarinetists.
As a player, I have discovered that clarinet reeds work on soprano sax. My first private teacher told me that, and I never forgot it. Now, the synthetic (non-wood) reeds which this one is cost about the same as a box of wood reeds, but last about as long. Plus, they do not require break-in or wetting or warming up to get them to work. This is an advantage over wood reeds. The advantage is so pronounced that the director of bands for one of the local high schools recommends synth reeds for students without private teachers. He was wasting too much band time with players who had dry or bad wood reeds.
For me, my experience had been that, while the advantages of synth reeds were clear logistically, a very good synth reed would be slightly outplayed by a very good wood reed. I had used the analogy of being able to get a 95 on a test with no studying (the synth) vs getting 100 with lots of effort (the wood reed). And I believed that. Until now.
I bought a couple of boxes of the La Voz to take to new Orleans because the Legere's were on backorder at Music123. I had gotten a nice price of around $18 on the Legere Ontario Cut Clarinet Reed, strength 2 with free shipping, but I ordered in May and I had not received it as of mid-July. They finally came on July 22.
I tried them, thinking I had already practiced and was fairly set for my trip. I figured these would have to wow me to get me to move away from the 4 "A" La Voz reeds I had ready. Well, wow they did. The difference was palpable. Brighter highs, more dynamic capabilities, yet the lows were easier to play. This was remarkable as the Legere Ontario Cut Clarinet reeds, strength 2, graded out on reed comparison charts as a little harder than the La Voz medium soft reeds. Generally, lower notes are more difficult on harder reeds.
I compared this reed to the prepared La Voz reeds over exercises, play-alongs, different feels and dynamics and it was clearly better than the La Voz. Frankly, I can't remember playing on a better reed on straight soprano. So, I packed the reed and off I went.
Playing in the house band was a special experience. It was a large band, assembled for the Youth Gathering. Led by Peter Mayer, who you might know as the longtime guitarist for the Jimmy Buffet band, there were 3 lead singers, 4 background singers, two keyboardists, drum set, two violinists, one who doubled on percussion and vocals, guitar, rthythm guitar, bass, and a horn section with a trumpet/flugelhorn player and an alto/tenor sax player. All were incredible, national class musicians. That is why they were brought in. They had rehearsed all week. I was playing for the Saturday night and Sunday morning sets and Sunday worship. The other horns were very patient and helpful in finding songs and sections where I could contribute. The act of sitting in is playing with a band without being a regular member. That is very common in the music world. However, it's not common in a band of this import and I was really given an unusual opportunity. When the leader introduced me as "John, special guest on soprano sax", and the crowd roared (a little), I really did feel special.
The reed played well. It was responsive in all registers and volumes, particulary in sections where the horns had to put out volume. Clearly this reed was an upgrade from what I had and it was the right choice for me to use in New Orleans.
I've ordered a few more, so that I won't be without when the reed eventually wears out. Based on the other Legere's I've used, that might take 7 - 9 months.
I ended up getting a 3.25 Ontario cut reed to use on clarinet and that has functioned reasonably well. I'm liking that and the Vandoren V12 clarinet reeds, strength 3, about equally.
I can enthusiastically recommend the Legere Ontario Cut Clarinet Reeds, strength 2, for use on soprano sax. They are a viable alternative and, now, my reed of choice on straight soprano.
Do check reed comparison charts available online at Legere.com and elsewhere to make sure you are selecting the right strength.
Anybody who has questions about this epinion or saxophone and clarinet performance in general can reach me through my user page.
5 stars. The Legere company is headquartered in Canada and so this epinion is now part of Elvisdo's Canadiana writeoff. Please surf over to his member page for details.
Thanks for reading. God bless!
I have a new live CD out, with samples on my profile page.
The Bb/A "Ontario Cut" clarinet reeds are the newest offering from Legere. They have excellent response and flexibility in all registers. The new prof...More at Musician's Friend
The Bb/A "Ontario Cut" clarinet reeds are the newest offering from Legere. They have excellent response and flexibility in all registers. The new prof...More at Musician's Friend
The Bb/A "Ontario Cut" clarinet reeds are the newest offering from Legere. They have excellent response and flexibility in all registers. The new prof...More at Musician's Friend
The Bb/A "Ontario Cut" clarinet reeds are the newest offering from Legere. They have excellent response and flexibility in all registers. The new prof...More at Musician's Friend
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