Klarinet Archive - Posting 000177.txt from 2005/08

From: "Geoff & Sherryl-Lee Secomb" <gsecomb@-----.au>
Subj: Re: [kl] Ah, ligatures....Gold vs. Silver
Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2005 19:19:48 -0400

Dear Dan,
Have you tried them objectively, or as objectively as you can?
Some time ago, I acquired a trial/comparison box of BG ligatures to try them
all out. I normally play either a Harrison or Vandoren Masters (black.) I am
as wary of these claims as anyone, but there was a noticeable difference in
feel and response between the 'leather' ligatures in gold and silver, and
between the 'Tradition' model in gold and silver. My favourite was the
Tradition gold, which was a pity, because I didn't really want to spend that
much on a ligature!
We must also remember that the ligature has a great effect on what it allows
the reed to do, especially when considering how much of a damping effect it
has on the vibrations. So is it unreasonable to expect that different
materials, including different metals and thicknesses of metals, *will*
create a very real and discernable difference in the output of the
mouthpiece and reed.
If we're prepared to admit that changing mouthpiece material does have an
impact, then why not the ligature, which is also in direct contact with the
vibrating piece of cane?
Geoff Secomb.
Australia.

----- Original Message -----
From: "dnleeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 3:03 AM
Subject: RE: [kl] Ah, ligatures....Gold vs. Silver

> Jacob confuses me. On one hand he says that the golden ligature
> (I presume gold plated something or other) produced a "warmer
> tone, and better response." (I also presume "better" than the
> silver plated ligature, though Jacob does not say so.)
>
> In the same note, he then describes how he broke the golden
> ligature and had to revert to the silver one which he now says he
> is "enjoying it equally as much." In effect, Jacob contradicts
> himself.
>
> Finally he inquires from the list that members give their opinion
> on the advantages or disadvantages of gold vs. silver ligatures.
>
> I will give an opinion, since he asked for one. To ascribe gold
> plating on some base metal as being capable of creating greater
> warmth and better response, is a misperception run amok. Jacob
> needs to rethink the entire question of the purpose of a ligature
> and, all other things being equal, come up with one intelligent
> reason why the ligature's plating could affect anything, except
> maybe the price of the ligature.
>
> Dan Leeson
> DNLeeson@-----.net
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jacob Boyle [mailto:jacobjboyle@-----.com]
> Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 9:51 AM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] Ah, ligatures....Gold vs. Silver
>
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I'm currently using a silver Harrison ligature I found
> in a high school band room I was helping out at. They
> had evidently been sent some sort of 'trial' package
> awhile back that consisted of one gold and one silver
> plated Harrison clarinet ligature. I tried the gold
> and found it to be favorable over the silver: warmer
> tone, and better response, I thought. But it was a
> bit too large for my Selmer C85 mouthpiece and when
> I'd tighten it, the screw housings would meet before
> it was sufficiently tight around the mpc./reed. I
> consequently had to push it lower on my mouthpiece
> than I personally prefer. Anyway, long story short,
> one day I got a little over-zealous in my tightening
> and the poor thing snapped at one corner of the "X"
> (or "H", I suppose). So I switched to the silver one
> (and am being more careful needless to say) and am
> enjoying it equally as much. So my questions are,
> what can I do to prevent this lig from going through
> the same warpage and caused the demise of the previous
> one (my prof suggested filing down the screw housings
> so they don't meet when tightened) and what are some
> characteristics others have observed between gold and
> silver plated ligatures? I'm specifically considering
> buying a BG Classic and would love to hear peoples
> opinions. Thanks everyone!
>
> -Jacob
>
> P.S. I'm shipping my Signature out on
> Saturday...anybody have any packing tips??
>
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>
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