 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jonathan Farquhar (Aus)
Date: 2001-09-03 05:18
G'day,
Around two weeks ago I was reading David Pino's book on the Clarinet and Clarinet Playing written around 1980. Within the chapter about ligatures he stated that he used a shoelace instead of a metal, leather or other type of ligature. Upon reading this I thought to myself "well this is a good book but this point is rather stupid and anyway there have been alot of advancements in ligatures over the past 21 years". I am aware that German clarinet players still use these ligatures but I am not a German clarinet player and do not have a German sound. After a while i thought to myself well i suppose it wouldn't hurt to prove the book wrong, went on an exploration through mum's sewing drawers and found a few spare shoelaces and cut one of them up to the appropriate length and attempted to put it round the mouthpiece. After a few goes I worked out the easy way to put it on (which upon timing myself took round 5 - 10 seconds longer than my BG Super Revelation - 15 seconds and 25 for the shoelace - I'm pathetic I know). I then proceeded to play and couldn't believe it!!! It actually for my taste is better than my BG which was chosen as the best for me from the ranges of BG, Vandoren, and a few American ones such as the Spriggs and rovner i think.
The Shoelace is slightly freer blowing yet at the same time has in my opinion produced a more even tone across all registers with the high notes (ie. above high A up to Super C) being easier to produce and more mellow (if its poss to be). Also in a piece I'm doing there's a gliss from high F down to B (register key, thumb, and 1st finger of the left hand) and up again to high G which with my old ligature is ok but with the shoelace is not really a problem at all.
As far as changing between clarinets is concerned everytime in orchestra i changed with my BG ligature it would come off but the shoelace stays in place. The only problem is that in the opera i'm in at the moment there's like a few hundred bars rest at a time so i breath down the clarinet every so often to keep the reed moistened.
I also used it in a concerto performance (the Little Licorice Concerto by Meyer Kupfermann for clarinet and clarinet choir) 2 weeks ago and was very happy with it.
The setup that i'm using is a pair of Festivals, Viotto B3 mouthpiece, and Rico GC Evolution Reeds.
So after boring everyone immensely I can recommend that it is at least a good idea to try the old shoelace just to see if u like it - After all it is not exactly that expensive and you might find that you really like it.
Jonathan (from Aus)
P.S. the shoelace wraps round the mouthpiece about 5 times so it is not one of the string ones and not one of the really wide ones but inbetween the two. Also it is made from cotton as some of the synthetic shoelaces i tried didn't work so well or hold the reed in place.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-09-03 07:32
Jonathan -
German mouthpieces which are made for cord-wrapping reeds to them have grooves around them in that (ligature) area to facilitate winding. That also prevents slippage and it takes only a few seconds to wind a reed that way. Traditionally a heavy (black) cord, somewhat like a pull through chamois swab cord, is used.
- ron b -
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Author: ~jerry
Date: 2001-09-03 12:21
I tried Pino's shoelace (I know the shoelace came way before he used it) method as described in his book, and yes, it is impressive that you get so much for so little.
Being a novice, I am not quallified to attest to its specific performance characteristics but if you haven't tried it you could be amazed.
My $0.02, as they say.
~ jerry
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Author: Katfish
Date: 2001-09-03 12:55
Jonathan; I'm glad you like it. It had seemed to the few of us that were extolling the virtues of the shoe string that our exortations had fallen on deaf ears. Glad to have another convert! Keep wrapping, you will get faster. My average time is 15 seconds.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-09-03 14:28
So, wear shoes with laces? What about those of us who wear those cute little black pumps with our dresses?
Pyne makes a string ligature that works pretty well with his mouthpieces. Of course, you have to buy those.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-09-03 22:24
You can successfully substitute 'Scrunchi' ponytail holders (the ones without metal stays) for shoelaces, too.
Many pump owners will already have these rolling around.
Me, I like the Rovner which emulates the grip of the string ligature and goes on the same way everytime.
anji
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-09-03 23:41
I agree with anji. I have yet to try the shoestring ligature concept, but the mental picture and sound of that with my contralto reminds me of the Rovner I already use.
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Author: John Scorgie
Date: 2001-09-04 17:56
Jonathan --
I sense that mixed in with the excitement of discovery of a better ligature you would like a little reassurance that you are not just imagining things, so here goes.
Most of us who have experimented with all of the various types of ligatures feel that string is at least as good as any other, and certainly better than most. The reason so few of us actually use string on a regular basis is the inconvenience of wrapping it, especially when a rapid change between B flat and A clarinet is required. If you are willing to deal with the problems associated with string, then your search for the best ligature is over.
A simple well made two screw ligature such as a Bonade is so easy to use that
many of us lazy types choose it in preference to other types of ligatures (string, fabric, plate) which may play slightly better but are not as easy to use.
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Author: Werner
Date: 2001-09-04 22:36
What I would like to ad is that only a black string gives the right
dark German sound of course.
But seriously: I prefer a somewhat thinner string because it is easier
to build up the necessary pressure with 12 wraps than with 5 wraps.
The next thing: I wouldn't start a 6 - 11 year old with a string ligature.
Something with two screws works better in that case (necessary pressure).
While the topic is on ligatures again: Could someone help me to identify the
ligature Mr. van Spaendonck is using on this picture:
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0000007GG.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg
TIA, Werner
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-09-05 02:02
If shoelace is so nice, an inevitable question is: why very few professional clarinetists use shoelace?
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Author: Katfish
Date: 2001-09-05 03:22
Hiroshi; They all probably get ligature indorsements! Seriously, I think the idea of a shoelace is too tacky and low tech for some people. After spending 2000 for an R13, 250 for a Greg Smith mouthpiece and barrel, and 16 bucks for a box of V12s, can't you find something better than a 50 cent ligature? It insults some people's sense of propriety.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-09-05 05:50
From one north American's point of view...
Last time I was in Germany, which was a verrry long time ago (late fifties, early sixties), that's all I saw among German clarinettists - black string ligatures. I never saw a German clarinet player using a metal one. The German musicians I saw/heard and a few I met were adults. I don't know what young (German) players used. To the best of my knowledge back then, only us 'Amerikaner(s)' used metal ligatures. They might have thought our ligatures were tacky and low tech but, if they did they were much too polite to say so. It was remarkable to us just how quickly they could tie a reed on like that. I mean, it took only seconds. All depends on what you're used to, I guess.
I've experimented with string, still have a grooved German mouthpiece after all these years, and have found that it works quite well. I use a Bonade just from force of habit, I suppose, and I like it - it's what I'm used to. I have no compelling reason to change. For all I know, German players are still using string.
After all, why change when you have a good thing going?
- ron b -
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-09-05 07:04
Someday if I can find a grooved Greg Smith, I may try shoelace.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-09-05 17:42
A shoelace (or cord) will work on a mouthpiece without grooves. The grooves just help keep the winding uniform and there's less chance the string will slide off. If the winding is snug it should be okay. Winding from the heel end to the tip, leave the last loop loose and poke the end of the string back under the loop. A firm pull on the end then keeps it in place. I'm not sure if this is the 'correct' way to do it but it works for me. Maybe our German friends will clarify.
(Alexa, bist Du schon da?)
- ron b -
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Author: Werner
Date: 2001-09-05 20:03
Yes -- works. You can see on this picture how it starts:
The tumb holds the reed, the forefinger holds the beginning of the string.
Now the (free end of the) string is circled / winded downwards in direction barrel, and fixes the reed and the beginning of the string simultaneously.
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2001-09-06 01:38
I used shoelaces for many years. For some reason, I was always losing them. More recently, i have made simple ligatures out of 3/4" velcro (not the sticky back type). Overlap a half inch and sew it together, and then trim so that both arms wrap all the way around. Wrap it together around the mouthpiece without a reed in place and then slip it over the reed. that way it is plenty tight.
Confession: I got a rovner for my contra alto and that seems to work well, too. I will have to get some 1 1/2" velco and do a comparison.
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Author: Jonathan Farquhar
Date: 2001-09-06 05:50
"leave the last loop loose and poke the end of the string back under the loop"
After having wrapped the shoelace, rather than tucking the string underneath it is quicker to make a reverse loop of the shoelace which slips over the top of the mouthpiece - automatically holding itself in place.
And yes my mouthpiece doesn't have grooves but the shoelace and reed both stay perfectly still when changing.
Thank you all for your replies, now i've just got to go and buy myself an assorted range of coloured shoelaces. :-)
Jonathan
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Author: Bob Curtis
Date: 2001-09-10 02:59
To All::
I don't know if any one posted this or not, but using a wide shoe lace, and sewing velcro on both ends solves a lot ot the quick change problems which many of you have mentioned. I have a firend recently retired form the Houston Symphony who introduced me to this concept not too long ago and I am impressed with the idea. I plan to have several made for myself and see just how they work for me. They worked for him and others whom I know. By the way, it also saves a lot of money.
Bob Curtis
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