The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-06-05 06:20
No, this isn't swamp land time shares, rather a seemingly unpatented idea whose marketspace is limited enough that I just don't have the motivation to do it myself.
Envision a mouthpiece cap/ligature duo where the mouthpiece cap is connected to the ligature as follows:
Players can pull the mouthpiece cap, against spring loading, up, and lock it into place out of the way of and directly above the mouthpiece, and then the player can use their cheek to push the mouthpiece cap out of the way as it angles (to the left of right I don't care) out of the way, also spring loaded, but not an automatic locking mechanism like the aforementioned up movement of the mouthpiece cap.
When the player (who is invariably a child) breaks contact with the mouthpiece, the aforementioned spring loading that isn't locked causes the mouthpiece cap to come back to a position immediately above the mouthpiece, which then releases the first locking mechanism and the mouthpiece cap returns to its place on the mouthpiece.
Of course this happens slow enough that no injury results. And yes, the mouthpiece cap can be locked out of the way through an optional user applied second locking switch (the first lock is not optional) if they are resting between passages and don't want to take the otherwise quick step of pulling the mouthpiece cap up again (and moving it over with their cheek))
Now, if we can get the kids to put the reed away right away, surely a reed or two will be saved.
Ligature quality, interference with circular breathing...? it's marketed to kids.
Has it been done, should it BE done?
Inspiration: the plastic tie the manufacture designed that binds my wife's car's gas cap to the car's body so it can't be separated from same.
Defend, refute, embellish, correct, modify: be my guest.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2017-06-05 18:22
It has been done before, and mentioned on here. A few years back such a cap/ligature was sold on EBay, and I have seen something similar since.
Tony F.
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-06-07 21:09
Tony, if you come across a link please share. I've been trying to find said device online, at your suggestion that it exists/existed. Thanks.
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