French cut reed has a very nice sound. Is nicely responsive, and much easier to deal with to start playing. Good for intermittent playing during an event where you are switching instruments or duties in a performance (pit orchestra for musicals, alternating between conductor and player, long intervals during church services or programs). For long gigs, you do have to take a break and swab the reed and mouthpiece dry as the reed dies not absorb the blowing moisture but a better tradeoff than preping a different reed completely.
Carolyn
Bb Clarinet French Cut
Bb Clarinet French Cut
This is a wonderful reed that is able to produce a rich, dark sound and is also extremely responsive. I love everything about it and can't wait to play with it some more.
I’ve been using the European Cut for several years, and it’s ok… liked (but didn’t love) the sound, but did love the no-hassle nature of these reeds. So, I would bounce back and forth between cane and Legere. The French Cut plays like a good cane reed to me, so I think my cane days are over.
The strength chart is pretty accurate. I was comfortable playing a European Cut 3.75, and the 3.75 / 4.0 French Cut pretty much straddle the European 3.75. Took me a bit of experimentation with French Cut 3.75 and 4.0, before settling on the 4.0. Just ordered two more!