Légère Reeds - Tenor Saxophone Reed, Signature, Strength 3.50 (TSG3.50) - Premium Synthetic Woodwind Reed

I was super surprised at how good this reed sounds- still prefer cane reeds on gigs but in the practice room I’ll be super satisfied to use this reed and not pay an arm and a leg for reeds all the time!

I do not really know if more or less 'durable' than others. But right out of the box (and soaked) the reeds I've tried so far played very well. I ordered more

First, I'll start with a bit of a snarky comment to all of those reed purists out there...if you are reading this review, give up on cane as your primary reed!...it's ok, only the stuffy symphonic reed players will frown and sneer...it's ok...really...you are reading these reviews for a reason!After giving up on even finding 1-3 good reeds in a box, and then the tragic sense of loss when one of those good reeds meets their respective end of life for any reason, I initially started using the Bari brand of synthetic reeds. With a decent setup...and I will only talk tenor at this point, I got a decent sound at most levels of playing. From funk, rock, jazz, to church worship music, where the cutting edge is, at times, necessary and a sub tone, sweet sound is also needed, the synthetic reed is a valid option.Since, having a difficult time finding the Bari, brand, I tried the signature version of the legere reed for tenor sax. Again, for purposes of comparison, the current reed was a Bari med strength. (Horn is a Selmer SBA...pre mark 6, with a rovner eagle 6* metal mouthpiece and rovner lig and usually amplified with a AMT wireless sax mic) and had been in use for about a month of 3 nights a week...3-4 hours a night. So, the Bari was developing those stress cracks, which signifies eventual failure...First impressions of the legere was the sound has a bit less edge and volume than the Bari. The sound, however, seems a bit closer to a cane reed sound. Not having a decent strength comparison, and not enough of a big name player to warrant free reeds of varying strengths, it is clear that the 2.5 strength legere is softer than then Bari medium and probably even the equivalent cane reed. If play testing, I would have opted for the 2.75 strength vs. the 2.5 as these seem a bit on the weak side.The response of the reed falls in the 5 star category in my humble opinion. I cannot yet allude to the longevity, nor the difference between the signature, studio and standard. It seems you can push the reed to get a decent volume as well as very soft tones...so, I will continue to use. Altissimo notes were ok...though the softer than anticipated reed leaves the Eb and E a bit flat...could be me or the horn.I am glad the reed is out there...wish retailers would carry (Sorry Amazon) for those of us who double a lot (Sop, alto, tenor, Bari, bass and clarinet), the synthetic reed is the only choice for instant sound the moment you pick up the instrument. I say, perfection is a 5 of 5...and the weaker than anticipated strength is the main reason for a 4 of 5 rating...closer to 4.5 of 5.

Great when you want to play with out having to condition the reed.

I will preface this by saying i’ve already had several upgrades to my setup throughout my now 9 years of playing saxophone. I’ve tried many mouthpieces, ligature setups and reed brands and had settled and a wood reed that made consistently good jazz reeds for my setup, specifically vandoren zz for those who care. also for those who care my mouthpiece is a rousseau jdx6 with a 70$ metal vandoren ligature, don’t remember the exact kind. I am a college student who tried to get my wood reeds to last long and would always get complaints from my teacher that my reeds are dead. the inconsistency and degradation of wooden reeds was affecting my embouchure and limiting my growth in tone production. Long and frequent practice sessions would make my wood reeds different/worse every day. I had always dismissed plastic reeds as being unprofessional until my teacher (an incredibly talented musician who has played with many famous musicians) told me he uses plastic reeds for every saxophone except bari. He noticed the issues I was having with wooden reeds and let me try his 2.25 strength legere signature. I was floored when the tone I was getting from the reed was actual better all around and more consistent across the range of my horn (including altissimo) than almost every wooden reed i’ve ever played on. not only that but it is the same price as a box of vandoren zz which would only last me a couple months or so if that while the plastic reed does not suffer from such degradation in quality over time. The fact that the reed plays the same has allowed my tone production to become incredibly consistent and significantly improved because I don’t have to constantly readjust to different reed qualities. I would absolutely recommend this reed to anyone that has doubts about wooden reeds or can’t put up with the hassle. I won’t have to buy another reed for a long time if ever and my sound has never been better.

Granddaughter said they’re her favorite reed and loves them.

The Legere synthetic reed is superb to play. You do not need to wet them or suck them before starting to play. They all have a very consistent quality and can last a very long time (upto 6 months) whereas some cane reeds may not even be up to standard right out of their box. This is not uncommon but I've noticed some cane reeds in one batch are not as good as others. After a while cane reeds, because they are a natural product can warp at the tip and can split easily.The legere reed has to be looked after and gently washed with mild soap and tepid water each week although the manufacturers say that bacterial build up is extremely rare due to the material used. I'd definitely recommend. Also there's a strength exchange program if you feel you ordered the wrong strength. Check their strength chart for good comparison. There reeds are more expensive ( 1 reed = pack of 10 cane reeds) bt they last longer than 10 reeds if you are playing a lot. I would say that they are semi transparent so you may find it difficult to line up properly on the mouthpiece as you cannot easiky see the mouth piece edges.

Been using these reeds for a couple of years, the reed is reliable and remains consistent, so that you do not have to keep worrying about it having it to be changed. The tone also remains the same, using 2.0 and 2.5 for tenor sax and 2.5 for Baritone.The only downside to these reeds is that condensation is not absorbed by the reed as would normally happen and tends to find its way over the playing keys, so your fingers become wet after half an hour. This means you have to keep wiping the keys or you could wear cotton gloves to absorb the moisture.These now come in a grey plastic fold over case to secure the reed when stored, all good!

As a beginner this thing has been a godsend. It’s perhaps a little brighter than the cane reeds I’ve tried before, but I don’t care. The fact that it plays the same every time I strap it to my mouthpiece is invaluable as a complete beginner.Being brand new to woodwind and self taught, it’s impossible for me to tell if a cane reed is bad, or if I’m just playing bad. Is the reed too wet, too dry, worn out, or just a bad reed to begin with? Or did I unconsciously change my embouchure? I have no idea. I don’t know enough to know.Those elements of doubt are removed with a synthetic reed, and that allows me to focus 100% on improving my technique.It is quite expensive, but the thing is near indestructible. Well worth the price.

My first ever Legere synthetic reed arrived on the 17th and after playing it for just 2 days, I will never go back to playing cane reeds again. These reeds are brilliant......you don't have to worry about wetting it, just put it on the mouthpiece and start blowingI play a Meyer 6* mouthpiece and I love the tone this reed gives me. It doesn't sound 'plasticy' at all. I normally play a 2.5 Vanhoren for practice and 3.0 for gigs, but followed advice and bought a 2.25 and find this easier to play throughout the range of notes5 stars all the way!

They seem expensive but I’ve used mine for months. I’m really pleased with it. Takes the uncertainty out the natural material in my opinion. I’m sure there are people who know more than me but personally it’s improved my playing and my enjoyment of playing. Buying another soon.