Klarinet Archive - Posting 000088.txt from 1994/08

From: Joshua Proschan <0004839378@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Bonade ligatures
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 1994 01:02:00 -0400

Elaine Thompson <eethomp@-----.EDU> writes:

>Actually, rather than mess with rubber, plastic, etc., I have switched to
>a Bonade ligature. They are inconsistent, so you have to try lots of them
>to find one that works with your setup, but once you do, you are set.
>A Bonade does give a brighter sound than a Rovner (those KILL my tone), but
>it balances my open Selmer C85-120 quite nicely. I especially like it
>for orchestral playing when I need lots of projection.
>
>------------------------------
>
I have used Bonade ligatures for quite a while (my teacher was a student
of Bonade's). They are *very* inconsistent, as of the last time I
stocked up. They also have an unfortunate habit of stretching over
time, so that the ligature you spent hours auditioning gradually loses
its good qualities. I have found you have to have two; one to use, and
one as a reference standard.

On the plus side, the flaws in the factory ligature are easily
corrected. The critical things are:

1) making sure that the bars lie flat on the reed;

2) file off the sharp edges so they do not dig into the reed;

3) make each bar touch the reed in a single line.

1) As shipped from the factory, the ligature does not always have the
same taper as the mouthpiece-reed combination; bending the sides near
the reed will lower that end of the bar. (If the ligature has a bent
bar that is high in the middle, reject it.)

2) The last batch I examined had concave bars, so that they pressed the
reed on both edges. These were very sharp, and if left alone would dig
into the reed. This probably affects the sound, and certainly makes it
impossible to shift the ligature relative to the reed.

3) I have had success filing the bars to a convex cross-section; but
have also used beautiful ligatures that were convex. I think--but could
not confirm--that those only touched the reed on one edge.

They are well worth the effort needed to find a good one, and have the
advantage of staying on the mouthpiece when you change instruments.
Many of the fancier ones sound great but fall off at a touch.

Josh Proschan