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 Leather Ligature. (backwards lig.)
Author: MusicalAyame09 
Date:   2009-05-10 02:42

I was talking to a friend of mine who plays clarinet and she said that leather ligatures are bad for clarinet. That they dont really hold the reed on properly and are bad in general. Does anyone else think this?
I love mine. I have a vandoren leather ligature with the pressure plates. My tone is better and i am better in tune on the upper register and the higher notes are a little bit easier to hit. Is the ligature just a preference thing or are the metal ones better? Every time i try to go back and play with a metal ligature it just doesn't play right for me.

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 Re: Leather Ligature. (backwards lig.)
Author: Ed 
Date:   2009-05-10 03:34

There are many types of ligatures. You will find many opinions. Go with what works for you. That is the only answer that matters.

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 Re: Leather Ligature. (backwards lig.)
Author: BobD 
Date:   2009-05-10 12:49

Maybe clarinet players really ARE delusional, Dave.

Bob Draznik

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 Re: Leather Ligature. (backwards lig.)
Author: kdk 2017
Date:   2009-05-10 12:59

I wonder in what way "they don't really hold the reed on properly?" And what your friend says is better?

I'll echo Ed's comment. What's important is how the ligature works for you. Any ligature - metal, plastic, leather, cloth, string, 2 screws or one on the reed or inverted - is capable of holding the reed flat and still against the mouthpiece table while you're playing. The differences among them in the sound that is produced and the response that is felt by a given player are subtle and often not detectable to another listener.

Choose the one that makes playing easiest for *you* and, if you're happy with what you're using, stick with it.

Karl

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 Re: Leather Ligature. (backwards lig.)
Author: cxgreen48 
Date:   2009-05-10 13:09

I disagree with "...they don't really hold the reed on properly..."

However, I do not like the ligatures that only have the fabric contacting the reed, such as the Rovner Dark; this is because it seems to make fast articulation more difficult. For me, the Bonade Inverted and Luyben made articulation A LOT easier for me when I switched from the Rovner Dark.

MusicalAyame09, what plate are you using with your Vandoren leather ligature?

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 Re: Leather Ligature. (backwards lig.)
Author: weberfan 
Date:   2009-05-10 13:34




...and I'll echo Ed and Karl. What works for you is what counts.

I have a Vandoren leather ligature, and i like it. It was certainly a vast improvement over the anonymous metal lig that came with the first used clarinet I bought. I alternate now between a Bonade inverted and a Rovner dark. I like the Rovner, especially for practicing, because it's easy on, easy off.

If my reed is good, I'm not all that worried about the ligature. As some have written here before, a shoelace will work just fine.

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 Re: Leather Ligature. (backwards lig.)
Author: alanporter 
Date:   2009-05-10 14:52

I use an old TRU-BLO made of plaited leather. I wish I could find a source for more, as they seem to be no longer made. Mine is better than any other lig I have tried.

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 Re: Leather Ligature. (backwards lig.)
Author: 78s2CD 
Date:   2009-05-11 03:34

I have a Vandoren leather ligature and like it very much. But I prefer the Vandoren Optimum. Both are very predictable. There are so many variables in one's setup - reed, mouthpiece, embouchure, etc. - that I favor a ligature that is predictable; that can't be tweaked by squirming it this way or that like many of the Rovners.

Just my $0.02.

Jim Lockwood
Rio Rico AZ

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 Re: Leather Ligature. (backwards lig.)
Author: Brenda Siewert 
Date:   2009-05-12 14:30

I agree that a ligature is a personal choice. I've used all kinds. For years I used Rovners and then went to the BG Super Revelation at the suggestion of my clarinet prof. Now I use the Pyne String ligature almost exclusively. I love the flexibility of sound it allows me so I can do "bends" if necessary. It's also super easy to use...just slip it on and off. Mine is about 3 years old and has not stretched out.

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 Re: Leather Ligature. (backwards lig.)
Author: ABerry 
Date:   2009-05-12 18:02

Courtney,

I wonder, is your friend is speaking from experience or from someone else’s experience or opinion?
As Ed stated earlier, there are many types of ligatures…and for each one, you’ll find many opinions both pro and con. So go with works for you.

Personally, I used a Bonade inverted for about 12 years, switched to a Bonade “cutout” inverted for a couple of years, and for the past year I’ve been using a Vandoren “Klassic” string ligature and loving it.

Just remember, whether it’s ligatures, reeds, mouthpieces, etc…use what works for you…

Allan

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 Re: Leather Ligature. (backwards lig.)
Author: Ed Svoboda 
Date:   2009-05-16 03:27

I have generally found that the various leather ligatures do not work as well as metal ligatures. On sax and clarinet I find Rovner ligs to be unnecessarily stuffy.

www.woodwindforum.com/forums

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 Re: Leather Ligature. (backwards lig.)
Author: bulldoggy2 
Date:   2009-05-25 15:19

I have a Tru Blo ligature for Bb clarinet. Could I ask you whether the "Tru Blo" plastic band is supposed to be taken off, or does it fir on top of the mouthpiece or on the reed side?

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 Re: Leather Ligature. (backwards lig.)
Author: alanporter 
Date:   2009-05-25 15:35

Don't take off the plastic film, it is meant to be there. Also that part goes onto the reed, centered very carefully. You will note that it touches the bark right in the center only, it doesn't squeeze the edges.
Alan

tiaroa@shaw.ca

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 Re: Leather Ligature. (backwards lig.)
Author: Ed Palanker 
Date:   2009-05-26 00:49

Ask ten clarinet players the same question and chances are you will get ten different answers. I agree with those that say it's different for everyone. Try as many as you can and buy what works best for you. It depends on your mouthpiece, your reed, your embouchure, your concept etc. Does anyone really think that if one type of anything clarinet wise had the same faulty effect for everyone that that item would actually last very long on the market. People don't buy what they don't like, or at least shouldn't. The reason there are so many ligatures on the market today is because there are some players that like them. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com

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