Klarinet Archive - Posting 000342.txt from 2005/01

From: "Karl Krelove" <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Ligatures--Important?
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2005 11:47:03 -0500

Jane,

I have two Rovners that are supposed to be identical and I hear different
things from the same reed from each of them. Same for three Bonade inverted
ones I have. You really can't count on X-brand of anything in the clarinet
world to have any specific, predictable effect on anything.

You haven't been here (on Klarinet) long enough to know what a hot button
you're pushing on when you ask about "live, bright, ...dark" sounds because
people here really don't know (or agree on) what those words mean or which
of them is really the "best" quality to go after. The bottom line is that
*you* need to try ligatures out and decide if any one makes a meaningful
difference that's worth its cost to you.

Your results will be relative to the sound and response you get now with
your current ligature, mouthpiece and reeds. But if your low notes tend to
be too dull, too buzzy or too anything else, you will probably need to look
elsewhere than the ligature to fix the problem. If your tone isn't resonant
now, a ligature will not add enough (if it adds any) to make anyone notice.
Resonance comes from other places, including (but not limited to) mouthpiece
design, reed choice, barrel design, instrument design, embouchure and
intra-oral approach, and breathing technique. That's a daunting list of
places to look for solutions to tone quality and response issues, but it all
works together. The ligature at best will make a subtle difference that may
be more in the feel you get than the sound you actually produce.

Go out and try whatever they have at a store that's convenient to you, and
if you find something that makes a difference you like, buy it. But don't go
to the store with a pre-conceived notion of what you want it to do - just
take each ligature on its own terms and decide based on what you hear and
feel.

My advice only, for what it's worth

Karl Krelove

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jane Hur [mailto:janemail100@-----.com]
> Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2005 10:42 AM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: Re: [kl] Ligatures--Important?
>
>
> So, it snowed and auditions got pushed back! I now
> have an extra week and a half to practice (and search
> for a new ligature) :-D
> I got a chance to call Sam Ash---they have regular
> Selmer metal ligatures, like the kind that I have, and
> Vandoren Rovners. How, exactly, do the Rovners affect
> sound (I think that they're leather ligatures; I know
> some people on this thread mentioned them)?
> Someone said that plastic ligatures create a "live,
> bright sound", while leather ones give a "dark" one
> (while metal ones are neutral). Does this mean that
> the upper register will be unpleasantly thin or shrill
> with a plastic ligature, and low notes will be
> dampened with a leather one?
> I'd like a more resonant tone, especially on the
> higher notes... if this is something that a mere
> ligature can help me achieve.
> Thanks for all the advice!
>
> Jane
>
>
>
> http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250
>
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