Légère Synthetic Pro Oboe Reed

AMERICAN-SCRAPE REED UPDATE: The American-scrape reed is getting closer to being finished. They had prototypes at the IDRS Conference that were tried by many and one was almost universally declared the best by everyone who tried it. They offered them again for people to try at the 2020 NAMM Show. At that they said they were having some trouble with narrowing the quality control margin enough and they wouldn't release it until they knew every one would work within a certain level.

Description

Légère Pro oboe reeds are now available in three strengths, medium soft, medium, and medium hard. They are still made with the European scrape but the easier strengths make it easier for Americans to play.

Click here to read a helpful review of the medium hard reed by American oboist Aaron Lakota.

Designed by Guy Légère in a collaboration with Christoph Hartmann of the Berlin Philharmonic, these reeds will last for months with proper care, providing a beautiful  tone with no pre-moistening required.

Top symphonic and jazz musicians have been using the Légère single reeds for more than a decade. From the principals of the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic orchestras, to jazz greats like Gerald Albright and Hamiet Bluiett, their reeds have been tested at the highest possible level. Now this same exceptional quality is available in a Légère oboe reed.

Like their single reeds, Légère oboe reeds have all the depth and warmth that elite players demand. Because they are made from their specially prepared synthetic material, they deliver all the advantages of a traditional Légère reed; consistency, durability and an instant response.

The Légère European Scrape Oboe reeds have been specifically designed to work for instruments and players that have used European scrape cane reeds in the past.  Players accustomed to American scrape reeds may find their oboe reed to be too resistant or otherwise less than ideal.  They are developing an American scrape reed in collaboration with some very prominent players in the US, but it is not ready for release, and they do not have a target date.

At present, they are making oboe reeds in three strengths; they do not recommend scraping or adjusting Légère reeds in any way. However, if one wants to try, the ReedGeek Bullet has been found to work well scraping the polymer.

They use an o-ring system to ensure a good fit between the reed and the well, but this system is a bit less flexible than conventional cork.  Some players have had fit issues with older instruments, but their reeds should fit most oboe wells.

They recommend that you visit a shop in person to make sure that they reeds are right for you. Hodge Products will send a reed out on trial but if any adjusting has been done to it, it can't be returned.

Read a comparison of all our reed options in our oboe reed blog. Oboe Reeds: Which oboe reed should I buy?.

Process

Légère oboe reeds are cut from their own unique polymer on 3-axis, computer controlled precision cutting machines. They can also measure their reeds with extreme precision using computer controlled equipment, and this allows them to maintain very tight quality control.

The reeds are cut in halves using their own customized profiles which are based on a mathematical description of a reed profile rather than a model or prototype. The halves are then bonded together again using a digitally controlled system. The result is a reed which is perfectly balanced in both blades, and has just the right combination of tip thickness, heart, and flexibility.