Klarinet Archive - Posting 000869.txt from 1997/04

From: "David C. Blumberg" <reedman@-----.com>
Subj: John Verity Ligature
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 1997 22:12:54 -0400

John,
A dead give-away is the direction of the ligature screws. They always,
always go to the right (I guess everyone is right handed ;). Set up the
ligature so that the screws go to the right, and you will have it on properly.

Date: Mon, 28 Apr 97 18:20:36 -0500
From: John Verity <jverity@-----.com>
Subject: ligature questions

Two questions, if I may:

I use an oldish metal ligature, silver-plated, I think, from Selmer --
to my untrained eye, it's the traditional clarinet ligature.
Now, I wonder how this should be placed on the mouthpiece -- with the
split-opening and two screws directly over the reed, or should it be 180
degrees opposite?
On one Benny Goodman album I have, he's seen with the screws on the
other side of the mouthpiece from the reed. Yet, on another album, I see
Jimmy Noone doing exactly the opposite. Or doesn't it really matter?

Finally, how tight should this ligature be holding the reed? Just a
light turn of the screw(s), or a something harder? Is there some sign of
over- or under-tightening I should be looking or listening for?

Thanks in advance,
John

David C. Blumberg
Principal Clarinet Riverside Symphonia
Adjunct Woodwinds Instructor Univ. of Penn., Bryn Mawr College
reedman@-----.com