Soprano Saxophone French Cut

good reed

I’m not a professional player but I love this sound I get from my French cut reed.
It makes me sound like a pro even when I’m just doing my long tones

I’m just an intermediate player at best but this reed makes me love playing even more. Found my setup and that feels like a million bucks.

I had bought a 2.5 French Cut alto reed for my Jody Jazz HR 6. It’s a bit too hard. I bought the 2.25 and it is just right and works great for me. I wanted to get one for my baritone where I also use a Jody Jazz HR 6, but 2.5 is the softest made. I bought it anyway and it is too hard. Please make a 2.25 French Cut for the baritone. I tried another cut in the past and it didn’t work for me. Unless you want to send me a complimentary one that you think would work for me, I don’t want to spend anymore money on chances.

I love the new French cut Legere reeds! Finally, the synthetic reed I’ve been hoping for for years now, a nice dark warm tone. I play a 1957 Selmer Mark VI and my go to classical mouthpieces are Concept, C* and S190. I play on either a 3.0 or 3.25

I have been a strictly cane reed player. I have always been skeptical about synthetic reeds. I did try a couple when synthetics first came out. They were awful! So, I only truly believed in cane (Vandoren traditional). I saw an advertisement for Legere reeds about 5 years ago. I thought I would try again. WOW! what a difference. I believe that technology has really made the Legere reeds sound like cane. With this said, I also find that holding phrases longer (breathing) and immediate response is so much better. I am a classical player in a fine community group. I just purchased the French cut! This is my reed! I am not sure I will be going back to cane.

I am a classically trained sax player (degree in ‘92) who started learning jazz about 6 years ago. It has been a struggle for me, despite my love for jazz. My sound is too “pretty” and improvisation is a challenge. However, with Legere reeds I have my horn out on its stand with the mouthpiece and reed ready to go at all times. Looking back on the hours of my undergrad, and the following years, spent struggling with cane reeds, it’s amazing the difference I have in practice consistency with this product. It’s so easy to pick up my sax before work and blow through some scales and exercises because 100% of my time is in playing, NOT finding the perfect reed. In addition, with the purchase of my French cut reed, I am better able to manipulate my sound. For the first time in my life I am succeeding at learning the altissimo register, learning how to growl, and bending my tone. My professor, who has been my jazz teacher for 6 years, said that I finally made a breakthrough with the French cut reed! He can hear me starting to rough up my sound, and said that I am even making fast progress with my improvisation because I am not held back by a cane reeds. My low notes come out with ease, and I can keep the horn better in tune. All of my students have these reeds now and they rave about them. Thank you so much for creating the incredible product that has taken my playing to a new level and opened up the music of jazz for me!

- Vikki Iannelli

I've been using Legere Signature and American Cut reeds on my tenor for about two years and I love them . But the new French Cut is so nice . The French Cut gives my slightly bright Yamaha sax a nice fat sound . I suppose "classical," is the correct adjective. This reed works well in my concert wind band . But, also, in my jazz band, the French Cut helps me come through a nice vintage Jazz sound, ala Dexter Gordon. So again, I'll say a big ,"fat," sound . This is my new favorite reed.

I’m so sick and tired of The inconsistency of Reeds!! How many good reeds in a box of five?? 1? 2?? And how long does that reed last? A week?? I suddenly fell in love with Legere Once I put the reed on my horn. They much more crisp and clear sound at a fraction of the effort. Much more positive audience response, And quite frankly, the horn just sounds better! From here on out, I am with Legere!!

I've been playing American Cut #2 for a few years and wanted to try the French Cut. Current setup- R54 with Vandoren V16T6L.
They sound different- more of a pure, clean tone with fewer harmonics. On classical pieces they are excellent but I prefer the American Cut on jazz.
The French Cut reeds play harder than the American Cut. They feel more like a 2.25 - 2.5 but may change as they are broken in.
I'll continue to cycle through them and see how they break-in.

This was the first French Cut reed I have tried. It had a nice tone but a little darker than I am used to. I was also had the misfortune of getting a defective reed that spit the second time I used it. I have been playing mostly with Studio Cut reeds for several years and they usually perform problem free for four to six months. I am not greatly concerned because I am sure Legere will likely replace it.

I switched to Legere (American cut) a number of months ago after visiting the Toronto studio. Like I’ve been telling everyone since, even a quarter strength too hard or soft, as well as position of the reed on the mouthpiece could easily lead you to write them off as a useable option. Once you find the right strength and position though… it’s as good as it gets. For me the French cut feels just enough softer compared to the American cut, that I was able to go up .25 and find the perfect amount of rich buzz in the bottom and just enough push for the high end to speak cleanly. I’m playing a Sebastian Knox bronze .107 tenor mouthpiece and for me the French cut is as good as the best Roberto’s reeds I played over the last 10 years. I couldn’t be happier.

Amazing reed!

I like the French cut mostly for its warmness and lack of edge that I get with other cuts. I find a 2.25 is about the same resistance as a 2.5 in signature cut, but warmer and darker. I now only use French cut on both my tenor and alto sax. I think I found the sound I've been looking for.

The reed quality is great just like they all are. I am simply finding 2.5 to be a bit too strong, while my signature 2.25 is a bit too flexible, with high notes getting choked off. I've never found the strength comparison chart to be all that accurate, at least when it comes to the Boston Sax Shop cane reeds that I otherwise play. Légère reeds in my experience tend to be a lot stiffer, a 2.75 is almost unplayable for me but most BSS 3 reeds are fine.

I think the company needs to fine tune their comparison chart a bit better, and perhaps offer even more in between options. I think it would mean making adjustments to the scale to avoid strengths like 2.375, but adjusting that scale would actually put the numbers themselves more on par with what's expected from other reed brands. Just my two cents.

excellent!

Easy to adapt.

Very consistent an a beautiful tone

I am a new tenor sax player and I have been using the American and French Cut style reeds. I also use the French Cut on my Bb clarinet. I recently tried the tenor sax French Cut on my bass clarinet and have been very impressed with the quality of my tone and playability from low to altissimo notes.

I was using the signature cut, and it was great. I decided I wanted a warmer sound so I tried the French cut in the same strength. It blew just as easy but I noticed for myself a less buzzy or edgy sound. This is the reed I am now purchasing for my alto, and tenor sax.

I really enjoy the sanding and scraping to get a reed just perfect. If you just want a reed that you can put on and play with no adjustment, these are great. I do not hear much difference between Legere and cane. The French Cut is a slight bit narrower than the Signature. On some mouthpieces, this matches the curve at the tip a little better.

For those times when I just want to pick up the instrument and play, or if I am doubling on another instrument, these are my go to reeds. Very consistent and great sound.

My reed was shipped with a small chip at the end making it play airy, and after messaging a support specialist they were able to send me a brand new reed without hesitation