Klarinet Archive - Posting 000284.txt from 2004/08

From: "Steve White" <bass.clarinet@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Ligature
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 14:03:57 -0400

Left handed or right handed string ligature...

:)

I couldn't resist.

S white

-----Original Message-----
From: Karl Krelove [mailto:karlkrelove@-----.net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 10:38 AM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: RE: [kl] Ligature

Well Tony's post was generated by my question of Steve Hartman. Steve had
posted about using a string ligature, and I asked (based on my own
experiences with some ligatures) if he ever had a problem with the string
slipping when he needed to make fast instrument changes. Tony Pay's
suggestion was for a way to avoid gripping the ligature itself while
removing the mouthpiece, thus avoiding the problem of ligature/reed
slippage. I wouldn't think most players (students or not) would need
anything like what Tony described. Most players who have trouble with a
commercial ligature would just shop for a different one. And of course, the
cork should fit properly and be greased as needed. But the idea could be one
more arrow in an experienced player's quiver who wants to use string or a
particular commercial ligature and wants the extra security.

Karl

> Re. Tony Pay's suggestion, to put some sort of lever on the back of the
> mouthpiece in order to insert it or lift it off without moving the reed:
> Several people have had good construction suggestions, but with any such
> device, a student would have to be taught to be very careful to lift or
> push *straight up* or *straight down*, not at an angle. I can imagine a
> strong student breaking the mouthpiece tenon otherwise, if s/he lifted the
> mouthpiece halfway (or more) out and then forced it, with pressure at an
> angle. Old clarinets for sale sometimes include a mouthpiece
> with a broken
> tenon, an accident that seems to happen fairly often. Probably the
> mouthpiece got dropped, but maybe not -- maybe somebody was too vigorous
> about rocking it back and forth to insert or remove it. Adding a lever --
> adding to the strength of the fingers -- would increase that
> risk. I think
> I'd opt for sanding down the cork and greasing it well. Thinner cork will
> need to be replaced more often as it packs down with age, but replacing a
> cork is easy and cheap -- especially compared to replacing a mouthpiece!
>

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org