Klarinet Archive - Posting 000288.txt from 2005/01

From: "Karl Krelove" <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Ligatures--Important?
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 22:44:03 -0500

You've left out plastic.

Also string (which is cloth reduced to its origin).

It's much more than just metal vs. cloth. I find a noticeable difference
between a stock inverted Bonade ligature and one I've altered by cutting out
the middle (solid) area in the back. It's the same material - the same
ligature, in fact, but less of it. Each ligature because of its design holds
the reed slightly differently to the mouthpiece surface. Some of the
differences may come from the direction(s) in which the force is exerted,
some may come from the density of the material (and its consequent ability
to damp the reed's vibration) and some may come from the area in which the
force is exerted. All of this is, I'm sure, considered by ligature
designers.

Each ligature you try side by side, especially if you keep the reed and
mouthpiece constant, will produce differences in the setup's response and
tone color, some seemingly more evident and some less (to your perception).
The two issues are: does it make enough difference in your comfort level as
a player to warrant the expense? and does it sound different enough to a
listener who is not influenced by the feel of the response to warrant the
expense? How much in either case is "enough" is a judgment you have to make.

Karl Krelove

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ormondtoby Montoya [mailto:orm1ondtoby@-----.net]
>
> Jane Hur wrote:
>
> > Does anyone know whether ligatures make a
> > huge difference in sound, and if so, which
> > types are best?
>
> You will, most likely, hear a difference in your sound with a metal vs.
> a fabric ligature.
>
> "Better" is your own subjective decision. Your preference may be
> (probably will be) different than the person who is sitting next to you.
> You may (or may not) decide (eventually) to use different ligatures in
> different situations (depending on the type of music, on which
> mouthpiece you're playing at the moment, etc).
>
> With some mouthpieces, a particular ligature may hold the reed firmly on
> the mouthpiece while another ligature does not, or may be easier to
> adjust, and so forth.
>
> ....and then of course there is *STATUS!*. Wouldn''t you feel better
> about yourself if your ligature had gold-plated (or platinum) screws and
> was endorsed by a big-name performer (whom you may never have heard
> play, but does this make any difference?)
>
> .... Seriously, the big difference in sound is metal vs. fabric. A
> local music store will let you try one of each. Then decide for
> yourself. Did it make enough difference to motivate you to spend some
> money?
>
>
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>
>

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