Should I Switch Reeds? Legere French Cut Saxophone Reed Unboxing & Review

[@DynamixWarePro]

On your setup, the French cut has more depth than the American Cut and its not as bright and I liked the sound you got on the 2.5 strength but hearing them back to back at the end, I think I preferred the American cut. I tried the French Cut reeds on my alto sax when they came out. I have tried all Legere reeds they have made for saxophone so far. I liked Signature and American Cut but I sometimes needed more resistance and wanted a darker tone. I tried Classic cut in 2.5 and it was better but slightly too resistant for me. Legere's chart says the French cut is more resistant than their Classic cut, but when I tried the French cut in the same strength as the Classic I had, it wasn't as resistant. I now use a 2.75 strength on a couple of mouthpieces when I want the more resistant darker tone and when I don't, I use American cut.

[@ScottPaddock]

I think the French Cut will break in over the next week or 2 and give me some of the warmth that it's missing. We'll see!

[@donlambert1096]

Thanks! Yes, the 2.5 has cleaner, articulation and fuller tone for you with good projection. Please do an french cut open box video for tenor sax.

[@bobblues1158]

It´s on you my brother!!! Good review!

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks!

[@m.w.]

French Cut? Just unbelievable good.....!🙏🌿 Brilliant.

[@billducker7404]

Thanks Scott. You sound great on both. I have recently started playing Legere French Cut on clarinet and have not yet tried it on saxophones yet. I have been playing American Cut on saxophones which I like. I agree that the French Cut plays a little softer. and it is a bit narrower, feeling more like a traditional French Reed. I am going to try one on alto. Thanks for you great video Scott. God bless you. Bill. Uk. 🎷🎷🎷

[@knowledgeofthepast7650]

I’ve been playing a tenor 2.5 French cut on my alto and it is an amazing reed

[@marksantos557]

French Cut 2.5. You sound better on that strength and definitely cuts some of the brightness yet projects really well.

[@gordondennis4820]

I switched from American cut #3 to the French cut #3 on Tenor and love it. I play in a concert band with a Selamar C*80

[@ScottPaddock]

I haven't tried them yet on Tenor. I'm going to do that later this week.

Thank you for the thorough comparison! You (of course!) sound very good across the range but the French Cut 2.5 is definitely jumping out. We didn't expect brighter jazz players to like this reed so much, but it does deliver a fullness that can be lacking in the American Cut, set up dependent. Looking forward to your follow up post 😄

[@pfalcon626]

Great video! Thanks for playing the exact same licks with the exact same articulation to give as close to an “apples to apples” comparison…it sounds to me like the French Cut offered a bit more clarity in articulation as well as a slightly noticeable increase in the roundness for your tone. I’m curious to know how it’s held up from the time of posting until now… I play the American Cut 2.25 on Alto and Tenor. I feel like it’s dialed in on Tenor, but the Alto feels a bit more resistant than I’d like, however, the 2 feels too soft, and the 2.5 too strong. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated 👍🏽

[@ScottPaddock]

I liked the French Cut for about 2 days, and then it blew out on me. So, I ended up staying with the American Cut

[@seanking7163]

Of the French Cuts, the 2.50 had the most body, and it can take what you give it, in terms of breath, but that American Cut has a lot of sparkle, which was great for the more contemporary sound. Why not both?

[@djstixtrix]

Hi. which levers reed should I buy for a beginner. im wanting to play along with DJs, if that makes a difference.

[@dalemccullough5693]

Thanks, Scott. I've been playing with Legere American Cut (2.25) for quite a while and like it a lot. Varying moisture levels in cane reeds often are problematic, although I usually have an easier time hitting all altissimo notes with them. Maybe mouthpiece baffle is another factor that I've not really explored. I'll give the French cut a try. I'm also curious about the fiber reed.

[@judeDeit]

I use Legere American Cut 2.5 they are great. If it ain't broke won't fix. Lovem ❤

[@ScottPaddock]

I'm generally in that camp as well, but they sent me these reeds to try, and I really liked them, so I'll play on them for a week and see what happens.

[@aljerones99]

Scott you sound great on the 2.5 French cut. Your sound on the French cut sound (at this strength) rivals the American cut at 2.25.

[@svLimones]

I use the thinnest cane American Cut 1.5. This cane has no analogues, it is extremely unusual. I hope Ledger will continue experimenting.

[@gssax85oficial.59]

A qui tem o Som pop ! E a qual ?

[@pb5690]

I have to admit , I'm not a fan of the "buzzy" tone thou it is quite unique;. In a couple of spots I hear a very course tone similar to a growl but much more subtle. What is that called and how did you do it? Thanks!

[@theanimeconnoisseur8629]

I was wondering on your opinion of the Studio Cut Legere for playing jazz

[@ScottPaddock]

I've tried them and they weren't a good fit for me. I played Signatures for a few year, then switched to American Cut.

[@MarkCasey-ub8sp]

Cannot relate to this experiment as I've been using Legere Sig. 2.25 exclusively. Tried an American cut one time but didn't get along with it. Therefore no idea how I would fare with a French cut. One thing I dislike about Legeres though is that they are hideously expensive.

[@overthetarget9401]

It's obvious you are very familiar with the American cut, the French cut sounds ok on your setup, but not necessarily better. Would be interesting if you, like you said, continue to play on the French cut for a while and then do another comparison, I find it always takes a little while to hone in on the sweet spot when I change mpcs or play a different type of reed I haven't played before.

[@ScottPaddock]

Yeah, I need a week or two to break in the reed. I'm hoping that it warms up a little bit. I also just need some time to figure out how to get the air in the sax with that reed. I'm interested to see what happens over the next couple of weeks. It might be a good solution for taming down my sometimes too bright sound.

[@patrickkelcey2435]

Can we sub crisp for bright...and the projection and clarity (#clarity) ARE there with the lows,mids being full and super nice with the crispness ( brightness ) there to boot...yeah the top end is not shreaking but bright ( crisp )....that's it...a bright ( crisp) full-bodied ....tone...let's roll.....🎉

[@cezarzadunajska4684]

I would say that 2.5 is best, even low tones are great.

[@ScottPaddock]

I was surprised at how well all of them played the low notes... especially the 2.75 that I was struggling on.

[@anta8330]

French cut 2.5 sounded just right

[@ScottPaddock]

I'm excited to break in the French Cut 2.5 and see how it sounds. I'm playing it on a gig tonight.

[@saschaklein2472]

Hi Scott, i like the Legere and Forestone Reeds a lot, but the plastic reeds have more saliva rushing in silence playing than wood, do you have good advice to reduce that? Thank you very much, Sascha

[@ScottPaddock]

I haven't had that issue with cane or synthetic reeds. Are you sucking out the spit from your MP every now and then? I know it's gross, but it's a part of playing the sax. We don't have spit valves, and if you don't you will always have a spitty sound.

[@saschaklein2472]

@@ScottPaddock Thanks, that's probably the difference between professional and amateur...🙂 Of course I suck, but sometimes it's not possible if no brakes on the sheet or in a silent curch...🤫

[@cjfl1962]

American cut was the best one.

[@benhostetler268]

The French one gave your sound a little more body

[@ScottPaddock]

It definitely tamed down my brightness a little bit, but still has a punch. I'm hoping it warms up a little over the next week.