Klarinet Archive - Posting 001332.txt from 1997/08

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Ligature allergy?
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 1997 22:49:39 -0400

At 09:19 AM 8/30/97 +0600, you wrote:
>Good morning,
>
>Recently I had a student that developed an allergic reaction to her Bonade
>ligature. Her lips got swollen up, but she did not tell me any other
>symptoms. I put her on a Rovner and that seemed to clear things up.
>
>I have been practicing a lot lately (5+ hrs a day) and recently started
>having similar problems (inflamed lips, a "numb" feeling inside my mouth).
>My question is, does anyone know what Bonade ligs are made of? And, what
>component could be causing me this problem? I don't want to use a Rovner
>(I've tried them, not my cup of tea). Any suggestions for other ligatures
>without the materials that are causing the irritation? TIA
>
>Frank Garcia
>
As far as I know, and I have a couple of them, Bonade ligatures are made of
the same sort of nickel-plated metal others are made of. Allergy to nickel
plating is not unheard of, but usually only applies when your mouth is
right on the metal (such as on a flute). Chances are the clarinet keys are
also nickel plated (unless they are silver plated), so I don't quite
understand the mechanism causing the allergic reaction. But try the Luyben
plastic ligature if the Rovner is unsatisfactory.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.