Klarinet Archive - Posting 000072.txt from 1996/09

From: "Lorne G. Buick" <lgbuick@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: Rovner Ligatures
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 17:04:23 -0400

Dennis:
I've been playing "the world's greatest ligatures" for about ten years now
- a few years ago I tried a couple of the new models, with another
clarinetist to listen. I preferred the standard dark over the light or
whatever the other one is called - i found it slightly but noticeably
darker sounding (and other player confirmed my impression). The other
person, on the other hand, found the light more to her taste - with her
mouthpiece/ reed combination, she found the Dark a bit tubby, the throat
tones fuzzy. (Sorry I don't have more precise terms...)

So those were my impressions, for what they're worth. Someone else
mentioned stretching problems - it's never happened to me, I guess I don't
tighten them that hard. As for scratching the mouthpiece, that happens if
the ligature is too small for the mouthpiece - they do make different sizes
for Bflat clarinet to accommodate skinny or fatter mouthpieces, and also on
my current one (maybe all the new ones) there's an unthreaded section on
the screw so it won't scratch even if it's touching the mouthpiece.

> Has anyone had some hands-on experience with the various Rovner
> ligatures. Can you compare the models in terms of response, intonation,
> tone, quirks, etc.
>
> I've used an original model (now called "Standard Dark") on both
> clarinet and tenor since they first came out. They've been very good,
> but it's time for a change. Rovner's literature says all the new models
> are great, of course, so that's no help. Any recommendations?
>
Of course I can't make a specific recommendation, especially since you
don't say why you feel you need to change your ligature... is your current
one "blown out"? ;-)

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LGB Lorne G Buick St. John's
lgbuick@-----.net Newfoundland
Canada