Klarinet Archive - Posting 000287.txt from 1995/03

From: Bruce Hudson <HUDSONB@-----.COM>
Subj: ligatures
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 1995 08:43:38 -0500

fred cicetti <cicetti@-----.com> wrote:

>>I thought everyone knew about Rovner rubber ligatures. They are
>>string ligatures without all the wrapping and binding. They
>>produce a dark sound, they have only one screw and, instead of
>>getting only 4 or 5 decent reeds out of a box, you get eight. I
>>don't have any financial interest in the company. But I'd never
>>play another metal ligature.

A history of top quality horns or mouthpieces isn't exactly a
discussion we recent proselytes to the clarinet can join with any
sense of confidence, but ligatures: even those of us still spending
most of our practice time with long tones and scales can recount
ligature experiences. But all attempts at drollery aside, the
Rovner ligatures comment evokes my enquiry/observation concerning
BG ligatures.

As my teacher is something of an "old school Gigliotti student"
(his term not mine), the first move away from the standard issue
metal ligature was to a Gigliotti, and I was suitably impressed
with the difference. However, after breaking off my first screw
some two months later and learning from the local woodwind shop
that the problem is sufficiently endemic to the design that the
shop discourages people from buying them (and thinking that 13
bucks or so every few months for a replacement screw was a little
steep-- evidently they don't sell the screws individually) I called
Phil Muncy of Muncy Woodwinds for some ligature advice, and he sent
me two BG's, the "Standard," and the "revelation" as well as one of
the afore mentioned Rovners.

First there was the shock that I'm sure all more experienced hands
know full well: the difference that ligatures make in going from
the three I was testing as well as another four my teacher had on
hand. He had had no experience with the BG's, but we both agreed
that the BG Standard was a definite keeper-- much freer, more open
tone than the Rovner. It features a similar ribbing over what I
gather is referred to as the "stock" of the reed as the Gigliotti,
but with a robust, apparently indestructible construction. The
Gigliotti might produce a wee bit brighter sound, especially in a
contained space, the brightness wasn't necessarily an improvement.
And best of all, the single screw configuration looks like it would
remain serviceable after being backed over by a delivery truck.

Any comments?

Bruce Hudson, HUDSONB@-----.com

Raleigh, NC