 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Selmer'53
Date: 2007-10-21 14:35
Anyone know where to get an original (not Rico copy) Harrison ligature for Bb clarinet?
I've been having a devil of a time finding it online.
Anyone have experience with it?
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-10-21 15:00
Keep tuned for Hank....
I treasure mine so much I'm afraid to use it....kidding. There is some info you can only get with private email.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-10-21 15:04
Had one, long gone ! Can give you the US patent #. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Selmer'53
Date: 2007-10-21 15:13
What about the Spriggs?
I've read many good things...any comparison?
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Author: seafaris
Date: 2007-10-21 15:30
I have seen them on ebay at various prices and condition. They are pricey. Depending on what you are looking for there are a lot of nice ligatures out there. Besides the Spriggs I like the Bay Silver and Eddie Daniels Rovner.
...Jim
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Author: Ed
Date: 2007-10-21 15:43
They show up on ebay quite often. They are popular, but a bit often break at one weak point. I have tried many of the ligatures out there over the years. I currently have a Spriggs and think it is a great ligature. The response is very good in all registers, nice and even. Tone is great with no added coloration from the ligature. Reeds work very well with it. It may be a little pricey, but it is well worth it.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-10-21 16:17
I just pulled out my Harrison to answer this question...what a great ligature, why did I ever get away from it?
I find that the response is very similar to a Spriggs. However, I have been promoting within my studio the Luyben ligature which I have found to be equally good. I have questions about its durability in the long haul, but after it has been molded to the mouthpiece I find it equal to both the Harrison and Spriggs.
And at $10.50, it's a steal.
Anyone else had experience with these three lig's?
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-10-21 16:36
Harrison gave me two of his ligatures in trade for my old Chediville mpc, at a TBA convention years ago. They are good, but I have settled on Lubyens, which have the additional merit of being mpc friendly, durable, and inexpensive. My Lurie Springboard, mentioned a few weeks ago here, works very well too, but is difficult to position and tends to scratch the mpc.
richard smith
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2007-10-21 18:29
Hi,
I use a Harrison exclusively on tenor, alto, and soprano sax. The clarinet ligatures have never quite been as responsive as my very old original Luyben, a modified Gigliotti, an old Lurie, or a VD Master series (this a really a good one).
Hey, maybe I'll give the clarinet one to Draz so he will not be afraid. Or, put it in a safe until the auction site prices reach a higher level:-). I have seen some pretty amazing prices for sax Harrisons; maybe they are another cult piece of equipment like a Kaspar?
HRL
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-10-21 18:55
When those gold Rico Harrison imitations came out I bought a few because the price was so reasonable but I've never given one a real evaluation test. I've tried the Luybens (and the people there are great) but never developed confidence in them ( stretchy and plastic thread pull out). I am led to the belief that a ligature must have some "give" to it as opposed to a rock solid attachment....but it must be elastic stretch and not permanent. I'm also led to believe that the "blown out" ligature effect must be due to progressive permanent stretch during repeated use. Perhaps the shoe string is the final solution despite slow attachment.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Selmer'53
Date: 2007-10-21 20:11
Draznik,
David Pino has a nice shoestring bit in his book "The Clarinet and Clarinet Playing", which I'm sure you've read, but if you haven't...
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Author: Bubalooy
Date: 2007-10-21 20:59
I played on a Harrison for years and loved it. Unfortunately, the cross bar of the "H" is very week and mine broke last year. I wanted another, but couldn't find one. The only ligature that has worked as well for me is.... a shoestring. I would use it exclusively if it went on faster and easier. I'm playing a Rovner with the screw on the reed side and find it quite good but don't like it at all with the screw on the back, as most people play it. The Spriggs would be interesting to try, but I'm a little loathe to pay so much money for something that probably doesn't play any better than a shoestring.
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Author: Selmer'53
Date: 2007-10-21 21:20
Makes sense.
I picked up a Bonade inverted, but haven't even tried it yet as my clarinet is getting a tremendous overhaul at the moment.
Anyone use these?
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-10-21 22:11
The Pyne woven is probly as close to shoestring with convenience as you can get.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-10-22 02:07
If you are going to use the Bonade ligatures then you should BB search Greg Smith's reccommendations to fixing them.
They are wonderful ligatures once they are reshaped to functional use. The production of them is horrible.
The crux of the matter is that the rails are to be the only contact points with the reed...so the band should NOT touch the reed at all. Instead, they are made so that the band will not only touch the reed but aid in damping its' vibration.
Of course, Luyben did study with Bonade, and his lig is half the price.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-10-23 18:36
You can make a velcro ligature on a shoe string, so to speak. They have all the merits of the string, and are easy to adjust and use. I find them superior to any other for use with plastic reeds. "My" velcro design may be new to you. I'll be happy to send the instructions. ( You can make one in a few minutes).
richard smith
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Author: William
Date: 2007-10-23 20:45
I've tried Bays (silver & gold), Harrisons (silver & gold), Laurie "springboards", Bonade (inverted & not), string, Winslow (old & new), pressure plate, Luyben and standard issue ligatures. However, what I find to play best on my Chicago Kaspar is a Vandoran Optimum ligature with the parallel insert. It's like a Bonade ligature without all the readjustment hassels.
Anybody using an original Kaspar ligature?? If so, how does it compare to our modern selections?
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-10-23 21:45
There are Harrison style ligatures made in Japan that are more like the originals- much thinner metal than the Ricos. I have never played an original so I don't know how they compare, but they are quite good and run about 70-90 dollars depending on plating.
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Author: Selmer'53
Date: 2007-10-24 00:26
Tobin,
I saw one bit from G. Smith saying one needed 2 needle-nose pliers to bend back the metal bands so only the rails touch the reed.
Is this what you meant, or is there a more elaborate/detailed account by Smith somewhere that I'm not finding?
Thanks!
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Author: genekeyes ★2017
Date: 2007-10-24 01:39
Hi...the broken Harrison can be silver soldered by a good jeweler. I've had several fixed that way. When repaired it can be re-plated and should be as good as new. The place where it broke is originally a solder joint and it's a weak spot.......not uncommon for that to happen after a time.
Another suggestion.......... re. the Bonade inverted ligature. Using a jewelers saw (or again going to a jeweler) carefully cut out the vertical band that comes in contact with the reed. This leaves two horizontal bands touching the reed (also works with the Luyben but is not as strong as the Bonade).
Post Edited (2007-10-24 01:40)
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-10-24 02:12
Selmer 53
Yes, that is what I'm speaking of. Only the inner two rails should touch the reed, and not the band that holds the ligature to the mouthpiece.
No there is no more detailed account...just fiddle with it until you're satisfied.
Genekeyes: you can buy a Bonade inverted "cut out". But this doesn't insure that the rails will be the only contact points for the reed.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Selmer'53
Date: 2007-10-24 03:59
Thanks Guys!
A question about mouthpieces...
For a '53 Selmer, for that "Goodman" vibe, will a Selmer HS** do the trick? I find the Vandoren 5RV I use some of the time to be too airy, and a Bay Chedeville copy too muffled in the extreme upper & lower reg.
Any suggestions, beyond trying many first hand?
I don't have many opportunities to play new ones in shops, they are usually used ones that are so banged up that determining what they truly sound like is tough.
Maybe if I had a few hints about what may be suitable for that model, it'll narrow down the field.
Thanks!
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Author: Selmer'53
Date: 2007-10-24 22:12
The Bay isn't as bad in the upper & lower registers as I'd thought, but it still lacks the character that I'm looking for. It is very focused and the tone is clean, but it aint givin' me that "thing".
Any ideas?
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Author: SVClarinet09
Date: 2007-10-24 22:28
Try an old Table HS** or Oval HS**
they show up on the auction site alot
Clarinuts has a few Table HS* but not HS** and some Oval S's.
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Author: Selmer'53
Date: 2007-10-24 23:45
SVClarinet09,
How old? What year range?
Is there a problem with new ones?
And finally, what does "table" and "oval" mean?
Thanks!
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2007-10-25 09:22
Selmer53 - take a look at these pics of various Selmer mpcs
http://www.saxmaniax.com/CLgallerympc.HTM#Selmer
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Author: rostaing
Date: 2009-12-26 17:51
I find rtmyth's suggestion of using velcro to make your own ligatures a marvellous inspiration. I play clarinet, soprano, alto and tenor sax, and I find it works for all of these (playing jazz anyway!). My impression is that the velcro (simply use two overlapping pieces) results in freer blowing AND (can this possibly be?) a more centred sound. Plus, it makes it easier to play the low notes on tenor.
The effect is similar, possibly even superior, to the effect of using string (a much underrated method among non-German musicians).
Musicians should not reject this idea out of hand simply because it costs almost nothing. I think it possible that the metal parts on commercial ligatures have a negative effect on both tone and ease of blowing.
I would like to hear of other musicians' experience.
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Author: LKKlarinet
Date: 2011-12-11 01:03
I used Bob Harrison ligature, since 1978. It is my routine set up for classic. It is quite different as comparred to the new Vendoren version. It is quite fragile, so I never forced it really tight.
Sometimes, the ring size and screw is a little bit too small for a thick reed. Recently I made a longer screw for it, so it can hold the reed better.
LKKlarinet
Borbeck V12 Bob Harrison S-1Buffet
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2011-12-11 02:08
Don't like them. They are beautiful looking. too heavy for my liking and the reeds don't vibrate as well as something like a bonade.
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