HAVE A GANDER! - Traditional Reeds VS Legere Reeds Comparison - Tenor Saxophone 

I will never play a cane reed again- You have to get used to these synthetic reeds- But it's all I use now on everything - I haven't played a cane reed for over three years - I play here in Las Vegas and my buddies can't tell the difference and neither can the recording studio - the nice thing is the reeds are easy to clean they don't stink and they stay true to shape

This just opened up a whole new world and ballgame between reeds.

Was I supposed to get a legere reed ad before watching this video? XD

Synthetic is much better. The tone is really clear. Most audience members don't have an opinion on dark vs. bright tone but they can definitely hear when a sound is fuzzy or not.

I tried synthetics and I never went back to cane reeds

I've been using the same traditional reed for 9 months and i still sound great with it.

I like the sound of the cane reed vs the synthetic reed. The cane reed sounds brighter, the synthetic stuffy.

legere reed commercial before a legere reed video

Just ordered my first Legere, after watching/listening to a LOT of these reviews, and not caring for the Plasticover that I was given to try. Even if I don't use them in concerts, this would save me a ton of money from not wearing out my cane reeds during near-daily practices! Thanks again for all you do for us!!!

Very helpful video - thanks. I have been playing for less than 10 years and as I am now 70 years old, have decided that I don't have enough time left to mess about dealing with the frustrations of cane reeds - hah hah. I played at my daughter's wedding using a cane reed and spent ages fussing over the reed instead of enjoying the pudding. I have tried most types of synthetic reed by now including Fibracell, Plasticover, Hahn and Legere and like them all in different ways. Even so, many people look down on them as somehow being inferior - I am always surprised at how reluctant some people are to try something new. I haven't played Legere since the early days of learning to play and am going to give them another go having seen your videos. Just need to make some choices about strength, cut etc - currently use 2.5 Plasticover and 3 Fibracell on a 6* metal Florida Link tenor. Thought I might start by ordering a 2.5 Studio Cut. Please keep the videos coming - it's so encouraging to hear your common-sense enthusiasm and great playing.

I have had my plastic reed for 2 years now and it still plays like new!

Thanks Pedro. Great video. Very helpful.

I think there is a time and place for both but I feel like the cane reed has a beautiful dark sound but I also like the convenience and the cost effectiveness of the synthetics- a random bass clarinet player

Thank you I'm definitely going to try synthetic breeds and see how they work for me.

I play very infrequent; and I guess you’d say I’m a few steps above a beginner. My horn sits on a stand, assembled and ready to play...next to my other instruments for weeks on end without being touched. But when I want to play it, I just want to pick up and go. The synth reeds are fabulous for this purpose alone. No wetting, no hassle. No need to visually inspect it before playing. Simply Slip off the mouthpiece cover and GO. They are a little pricey..... but if you take care of them, I think they are fabulous.

Thanks Pedro, love the advice as always and appreciate hearing the side-by-side comparison :D

I made the switch 25 years ago when tripping on outdoor gigs. For me it's Fibracell. Love em and will never go back to cane. Thanks for the video.

The reverb was annoying when you were talking. Glad you caught it.

I bought a Légère Signature series bass clarinet reed for my older daughter two days ago so I'm anxious to hear her play on it versus a traditional cane reed. When I used to play B flat clarinet, it was in the early to mid 90s so before the era of synthetic reeds as an option. Thanks for giving your opinion in the video. It is cool to hear the difference between traditional versus synthetic just to get an idea. Nobody likes walking into a music store and stare at the reeds section feeling overwhelmed with selection and choices. I may go out and get some B flat Légère reeds for my younger daughter who is starting band this autumn. On a side note, I smiled because you slightly resemble my boyfriend's eldest half brother José. Unsure if sax is a strength for him, just knew him for being a guitarist and drums.

i used a rico cane reed throughout an entire school year and my tone just kept getting better haha

What I like about the Legere/Other Synthetic reeds is its way more durable. I mainly play baritone sax and one time I accidentally hit the mouthpiece and Legere reed on my forehead and it didn't show any damage and played fine. But when I played Vandoren Blue, I tounge it for 10-20 minutes and the reed starts showing small chips and sometimes tears. Pedro for baritone sax I find 1 Legere reed around 1/2 the price of the Box of 5 Vandoren which expensive and yet the Legere feels like a immortal reed because my cane reeds die very fast.

First off your Tenor setup sounds great. What mouth piece is that? As for the reeds... I feel like you had more control over the plastic reed but couldn't get that altisimo at the end. I was wondering if you can grab those altissimo notes easier on the cane. I have been playing Alto for nearly 30 years. I have used pretty much nothing but Java Green the whole time. Looking to experiment.

So I picked up a "classic" legere reed and I like it much better! Thanks for the advice. I still like my fiberreed but I'm using this one for now on

I really like the sound of the cane reed for jazz or blues solos because it sounds sultry compared to the synthetic reed but i can definitely see using a synthetic reed when playing with a group or band. Thanks for posting this video.

Well i didn't even knew synthetic reeds existed. Ive heard many teachers (I play clarinet) speak about cane/wood reeds like the v21s (vandoren) but never have i heard about synthetic reeds. i found the video quiet interesting :D

IM SO HAPPY, THE MINECRAFTER I USED TO WATCH PLAYS SAX. OMLLLL

I played for my band teacher on a cane and legere reed and both times he he said the legere sounded better ( it was a blind test). I also got first chair and the highest score on my chairing test overall

You make me want to learn a single reed instrument, but I physically can't. I used to play clarinet 7 years ago, but my jay pops out of place when I play it. Anyways, keep up the awesome work. You have an amazing talent, and you inspire many people including myself

What kind of effector do you use for the reverb?

I have been curious about the synthetic reeds. I have heard and read that they were expensive. When I used cane reeds, getting them wet was required. My instructor taught me a trick by taking a piece of sand paper and briefly sand down the top and sides of the cane reed. It improved the sound and getting it wet enough to play didn’t take long. I remember buying a box of Vandoren medium reeds and sanded down the whole box. It was different, but it worked.

Great video. Thanks. Quick comment that may not be obvious: The Legere folks service is outstanding. I broke my Legere reed somehow (i.e.., me being plain clumsy is not ruled out...) and they replaced it for free.

I also use a 2.5 Vandoren blue box...would a 3 be what I'm looking for?

What harness are you using in this video? I’ve searched the interweb and haven’t found one that looks like what I THINK I’m seeing over your shoulders. My neck needs some relief. Many thanks.

Would a synthetic reed do well with a metal mouthpiece?

Is it easier to slap tongue on a synthetic? I haven't gotten to try it yet

Right now I play on fibracell reeds do the Legere Reeds sound any better in terms of the overall sound and can you play on the Legere Reeds for a longer time without losing any quality of tone? Right now I'm using a medium soft reed on a Soprano Saxophone. Also how much are they in Canadian funds, and how do they compare in the reed strength as compared with fibracell reeds?

I play guitar,and having to set it up each time i play would be a huge turn off,similarly i have an alto sax,but i have not touched it for about two years,i was learning it and the reed care just hacked me off,i have the vandoren blue reeds ,2 i think,to not have to mess around wetting a reed and all that stuff would be so much better,after which it comes down to are they harder to blow,as a total beginner the cane reeds were bad enough and knowing the cane reeds need to be broken in to sound good just added to the frustration,as long as the sax can sound the proper notes without squealing,the tone of the reed means nothing at this point. Think i'll get a synthetic reed and start practicing again.

Hai Pedro my favorite reeds are fibracell they have a more focused sound than cane and it also have a Buzz to the sound my setup on bari is Jody Jazz HR 7 and a 2.5 fibracell reed

Can I still use your code for the reeds?

I got a legerdemain reed ad to, RU-vids algorithm gives you ads that pertain to the video, lol when I get my saxaphone though I’m going to get one of these easy to clean and reusable synthetic reeds

I might pick one up as backup, I try not to burn through reeds to fast and then sometimes I start to use one I've been using and it doesn't sound good and then I'm out of luck for the day.

This was helpful. Thank you!

have you ever plaid with a bamboo reed?

What’s your jazz setup in this?

Can u do it with the alto

thanks for making this dude.

I`m new to the sax and enjoyed your vid.... I found it very informative and handy for me. I am looking to move to a signature synthetic reed, I am currently using a 1.5 natural tenor reed(dont know the make).. What strength signature reed do you think would be a fairly close match?

Thank you this was a great help .

I'm interested in purchasing a legere but I'm not sure what strength to buy. Because I play tenor and for cane fees strength I use 2.5 so what legere strength should I play?

Do they chip at all?

thank you sir. I'm playing a soprano sax. what size can you recommend for legere?

I've played cane reed yrs. I going give it synthetic try. Think be good one . To have as a back up synthetic reeds.

Legere sounds good to me! I have Fibracell on my alto and they too are great to play, very nice for beginners to know if it's you or the reed that's struggling! I only have one decent cane reed at the moment despite having lots of them, different makes and strengths. :( Very tempted by Legere now as maybe the Fibracell is a little bright, but other people I play with don't notice the difference. Thanks for your video.

Uh I play a trumpet I don't know why I'm here

the cane Reed has a little more of a projected sound it's a brighter sound but the synthetic Reed has a darker tone with some loss of tone but still sounds good I use fabercell reeds my self may I will try these as well

Can a synthetic reed be satisfactorily adjusted ie if I buy a reed that is too strong can I 'sand' it down a little?

For the reason you mentioned, that cane reeds get dry and become unplayable, I've switched to Rico plastic coated reeds. I will give the synthetic reeds a try though.

How do you know when to change the synthetic reeds?And are they durable

I tried playing another brand of synthetic reeds many years ago and was disappointed in their performance. However, I now find myself in a position professionally where I have to be ready to perform with very little preparation time. So, to address that problem I want to look at the Legere reeds. I play Tenor Sax, Jazz with a hard rubber mouthpiece (Yamaha 5C), a lot in the low register (B flat to D sharp). In your opinion, what strength/size Legere synthetic reed should I try first?

Im also a van doren cane reed user. I really love the sound. I thinks it sounds better then the synthetic one. Maybe i can give it a shot. And try the synthetic one?

I like to leave my C Soprano on the stand next to my computer. It can sit overnight or for hours. When I want to play a lick, I pick it up and it is good-to-go. I use plasticoat #3 reeds.

I've been using the Legere Signature series for about a year.. And I definitely prefer it over the cane reed. The reed is much more consistent. With the cane i feel as is loosens up more and more through out my "jam" session

I play the bari sax on 3 1/2 reeds. I'm interested in synthetic reeds but I don't know which brand to get. I also heard that synthetic reeds tend to run either hard or soft so what brand and what strength should I get? any help would be appreciated!

I actually play a combo of both. I'm in marching band, which I play clarinet in, and everything is just tough on an instrument, so I switched over to a legere Reed and it works so much better in marching band circumstances. Life and cost felt like a stake in the heart, but I understand the value of it. I feel the sound comes out easier and not having to keep on top of wetness all practice or performance is a huge help. I've stuck with cane reeds for concert bands though because I've been told that they provide a better sound. With experience and your video I think I'm going to pick up another legere for my bass clarinet and maybe my tenor sax. Thanks for the lesson Pedro! And love your video style with the background and video inlay, keep it up!

was that a song or a freestyle that you were playing? If its a song I need it

Great video. Do you know how Legere reeds compare to Fibracell?

The difference in sound is greater than comparisons I've heard of professional model saxes versus student model saxes using the same mouthpiece. I think it comes down to what your priorities are but strictly from a sound perspective the Legere to me sounded much warmer and less resonant whereas the cane reed was just the opposite brighter and more resonant. Too bad because I prefer the tone of the cane reed but wish it were available in a synthetic for consistency.

As an engineer who works on plastics, I discovered you can bring a synthetic reed back to a half life by putting them in near boiling water for around 5 minutes and then keeping them flat with a book or something as they cool. I'll be experimenting with higher temps and longer times on used up reeds to see if you can make them like new again. The reason synthetic reeds wear out is because of the torsion forces acting on them as they flex or vibrate to create sound causes micro tears in the polymer. So the theory is that heat can sort of melt these tears back together but, you can never just completely melt the plastic without completely deforming the reed, so you can only ever partially seal up all those micro tears, therefore while you can patch it for the moment, they'll open up again and also you'll still be creating new tears. I'm considering getting a reed shaped aluminum cavity CNC'd and experimenting with that and running electric heat through the alluminum. maybe then you could completely remelt the reed without it loosing its shape. But that's going through a whole lot just to not have to buy more reeds. XD

What mouthpiece are you using? Inderbinen?

I might have to see if there's a place in that sells the synthetic reeds in the UK since the Legere website says they only sell direct to Us and Canada at the moment, but it definitely seems like a good investment given how quickly I need to set up most of the time and it's my reed that slows me down.

Do you have any advice I just switched to a tenor saxophone in my 6th grade band and I'm learning how to play?

Do they have the synthetic for alto?

Thank you!

Vandoren or légère, whoever will it be

Hey Pedro I'm totally new to sax's instruments , I love instruments but never had a saxophone and I got a sax soprano as a b day gift just a couple weeks ago , it came with a mouthpiece number five and reed size 2 1/2 , I managed to blow all the high notes but I couldn't blow anything lower than low A , people recommended me to start with a lower size reed, I went out and bought a size 1# and it helped so much that I could actually go down from A all the way down to C , but I still can't reach the low B or Bb MY QUESTION: is there anything else I can do ?should I change mouthpiece size ?will a synthetic Reed help me? . People say that I should start with the alto but I really love the soprano, Thanxxx love ur videos Thanx

Do you recommend synthetic reeds to beginner students?

So Pedro, I play Bari and was looking into them I play a 3-1/2 cane Reed, what would you say in size wise a synthetic Reed would be

so Pedro, i play tenor sax and i was wondering if the brand of reed matters to get the right tone for jazz type songs, or is it all just skills with the whole mouth/jaw/whatever-else?

mai provato le rogerreeds?

Hey Pedro what about a plasticover reed, cane coated with plastic, thoughts?

can you do a traditional mouthpiece and a steel mouthpiece comparison. I'm curious about the minor differences

Cool comparison. The synthetic reed sounded a little darker to my ears. Have you ever tried different synthetic reed brands, like the Forestone Hinoki? I got one for free when Forestone was doing a promotion. Unfortunately, I got a M when I should have asked for a MS. So, I didn't get to appreciate it as much. The sound and tone was good, though. But I did find my current reed (a Vandoren ZZ 2 1/2) much more vibrant and lively. Maybe if I got the Hinoki in MS, I would have gotten a different sound.

honestly liked the cane reed more. It had a more subltle sound than the synthetic.

Words can be difficult describing sound. Somebody described the Legere as darker. I don't hear that at all. You're getting an Ernie Watts tone with the plastic read which makes sense since that's what he uses .

Please like this if you think a legere reed would be good for a clarinet player in marching band. I’m trying to decide if I want to get one or not.

Thanks 🎷

what song are you playing?

my section is making fun of me just because i have better reeds now what do i do

I was one that figured the synths would suck. Changed my mind. Changed my mind in a big way.

I will Never go back to cane reeds. I want a consistent sound - which is exactly, what I get with my legere reeds.

Would synthetic reeds be relevant in a marching scenario? I'm our only bari sax

Thinking about playing soprano sax.... Never played a wind instrument. Would you recommend it?

do they have synthetic reeds for bari?

Dear Pedro do you prefer Legere to Fibracell reeds?

I've always wondered. Does the strength of the reed affect your tone quality? I currently am playing on a Vandoren size 2 on alto. I'm considering trying out size 2 and a half, but I don't know if it will affect my tone quality. Thanks!

il n'y a que quelques mois que j'ai essayé ma 1ère anche synthétique et je les ai adoptées définitivement . Je trouve mes sons mieux détachés , mieux centrés , plus précis et je gagne aussi grâce à la + grande vitesse de leur réponse. Si on ajoute à ça leur solidité et leur comportement régulier très sûr par tous les temps , à l'intérieur comme à l'extérieur ainsi que leur insensibilité aux changements de température , pour moi , il n'y a aucun doute : elles sont bien meilleures que les roseaux !!! J'ai choisi la marque "legère" , c'est celle qui me convient le mieux !

Hai Pedro there is a special tone of synthetic reeds vs cane i play on fibracell, if the goal or purpose is that synthetic reeds must sound like cane then there is no point they are equal in the tone let synthetic reeds sounds synthetic and cane like cane thats what make the reeds so personaly and different i onley play fibracell 2.5 on tenor baritone soprano and alto sorrey for my bad inglish im Norwegian

Hey Pedro. Thanks for this video. I've been playing tenor for about 40 years and have tried many different cane reeds (who hasn't), as well as the Rico Plasticover reeds. My tone has always been dark. Dark is great when playing in a classical wind ensemble and blending with brass like french horns, baritones, and trombones, but most of my work has been with amplified rock bands. I'm always looking to brighten up my tone for more presence. Would love your thoughts on cane vs. Plasticover vs. synthetic reeds.

Love the video.

Hola Pedro !! la caña sintetica produce un sonido ligeramente nasal !! se recomienda ajustarla como las cañas tradicionales con lijas y navajas ? muchas gracias