Légère French Cut Clarinet Reeds
Légère French Cut Clarinet Reeds
The French Cut reed is by far my favorite cut Légère makes. (I especially like their Tenor Sax French Cut on the Bass Clarinet, but I digress...). The French Cut is also their newest variety, coming out a few months after Vandoren released the VK1.
If you have tried Légère reeds in the past, and have not found success, I strongly encourage you to try these. I think they are a step up from the European Cut reeds in one important way: I find the tip of the French Cut responds MUCH more crisply, especially when articulating staccato. It's nearly cane-like. Impressive. Oh, and Légère claims these are "darker" than its European Cut sibling. Your mileage may vary, but there is more "meat" in the vamp, which gives the sound more body.
By the way, if you are used to the European Cut, just note that these run a hair softer—like maybe an 1/8 strength.
Now, I do not carry all of the Légère varieties — I'm not a fan of the Classic or the Signature cuts at all — but I do carry these French Cut, and the European Cut reeds.
Important note: these reeds on this page, are not returnable to Earspasm, however Légère offers a generous exchange program. Just click that link, fill out the form, and they'll exchange your reed.
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Oh, to be the one village fountain man who declares, “The End Is Nigh!” Well, I can’t. The search for reeds is a process, like any other, to be undertaken with equal measures inconvenience and innocence. They aren’t like cane. They are, however, consistent.I’ll have to try a few strengths. But knowing where the 2.75 sits helps me adapt my process. Do I notice a subtle difference between these and my less consistent cane reeds? Yep. These are just what they say they are, not more or less. So cheers to you, cheers to the machines that shape these reeds, and as for the Luddites? You folks have real heart. Keep swinging.
I find these reeds to feel the closest to Vandoren and D'Addario cane reeds I am used to, in terms of overall resistance. Sound and response are excellent. These do seem a little darker than the European cut, which may or may not be to your liking. And I agree that these run a little softer than the European cut. I use these on clarinet and alto sax, along with other Légère reed types. Would be nice if they made a clarinet version of these that was a little brighter, as an alternative.
I have been using Legere reeds exclusively since September 2023, although I have tried other synthetic reeds. Until that time, I used Vandoren reeds exclusively--V12 and V21, but others on occasion. After reeding (pun intended) many reviews, and talking with many clarinetists, I gave Legere reeds a try, and all I can say is that I wish I had done this earlier. Legere reeds are the best synthetic reeds available today. They are consistent at any strength, and play right out of the box. They need absolutely no adjusting (compared to cane reeds), and can last many months. And there is one bonus often ignored. Legere reeds are 35-40% less expensive than other synthetic reeds. Any serious clarinetist or saxophonist should consider trying Leger reeds, and make their own comparison between Legere and competing cane reeds. In the end, I believe that you will find that Legere reeds are as good, and more likely superior than any reed available today.
Next best thing to a great Vandoren reed - you know, one that you should rotate, but is so much better than your other good ones, you play it until (and beyond) it dies. If you haven’t played in a lot of Legere reeds, there is a break in period A little bit for the reed and much more for the player. You probably need to play on the reed daily for a couple of weeks before you can make an educated opinion. This is especially true for the altissimo register. Many will have a tendency to try to force the reed to play like a good wood reed. Hard to fight that tendency, but will not help…
I had been using Legere Signatures which fit the long lay on my mouthpiece well and sound good. The French cut sound better and project much better. High notes speak more easily. European cut have a short lay and don't work on my mouthpiece well, as the vamp is too short. Thank you Earspasm for quick, good service and shipping. Also appreciate the single reed sales, as I do like to try other reeds from time to time.