 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: annev
Date: 2011-06-01 16:59
I'm in the market for a ligature. Has any one tried the new Vandoren M/O (Masters/Optimum) ligature? Is it suited to a standard (not Masters) Vandoren mouthpiece? How does it compare to the Vandoren Optimum?
Thanks for your thoughts.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: NBeaty
Date: 2011-06-03 00:57
It would be more comparable to the masters ligature than the optimum, since everything but the scrrew is essentially the same as the masters. It's pretty much just a single screw masters ligature.
I would guess they would fit most standard mouthpieces, but haven't tried it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2011-06-03 01:26
Can't say, but I would suspect vandoren would have done themselves a GREAT disservice to make a ligature that ONLY fits two mouthpieces.....
You can email vandoren to be sure, but I'm 99% sure it'll fit pretty much any mouthpiece with the exception of VERY fat mouthpieces (pomarico crystals and gigliotti's for example).
I left the 1% in case there it was a bonehead engineer that designed it and DID design it ONLY for the two current VD Masters Mouthpieces.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Miller
Date: 2011-06-03 06:36
I have a couple of M|O ligatures. I don't really think they're particularly special, even on the CL4 and CL5 mouthpieces.
You'd be better off with a Klassic, IMO.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-06-03 07:08
>> It's pretty much just a single screw masters ligature. <<
Exactly why I'm considering it. A faster and more comfortable Masters, which is what I use on bass clarinet (preferring it over all other Vandoren models).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: annev
Date: 2011-06-04 02:46
I noticed on the Vandoren site today that there are two seperate order numbers for the M/O ligature - one for standard mouthpieces and one to match the new Masters mouthpieces. So they actually produce two sizes of ligature.
Thank you for your comments on this thread and on Joanna's ("leather ligatures"). I plan to order four ligatures from among those mentioned (two Rovners and two Vandorens) and bring them to my teacher for input. I like sfalexi's idea of having a ligature that doesn't reproduce what I'm currently using (the string) but compliments it, so that I can match the ligature to the characteristics of a given reed. As always, the suggestions offered on this site are very helpful!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony M
Date: 2011-08-04 12:30
Sorry to get this going again if it has run its course but I bought a Vandoren M/O ligature (replacing a Rovner dark) a few weeks ago in London. I liked it a lot and then managed to leave it in the UK when I returned to Australia so went back to the Rovner. It came in the mail a couple of days ago and I've been playing on it since and learned two things: one, I like the ligature, it's easy to use and anchors the reed well but manages to be fairly light on the mouthpiece (impressionistic but those are my impressions) and two, it's not a trial process that I recommend to anyone.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2013-10-30 13:10
I got to wondering how my old vd Optimun would work with the screw on top and to the left. Tried it and found no difference. I think BennyG did that years ago with a conventional 2 screw lig.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-10-30 13:27
BG turned his standard metal ligature about 30 degrees to the side so that only the two horizontal bands touched the reed. He started doing this after he studied with Reginald Kell, who did the same thing.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2013-10-30 15:58
Thanks Ken, perhaps the photo I saw was askew.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: beejay
Date: 2013-10-30 18:32
I have a feeling the M/O ligature was designed only with the VD masters mouthpieces in mind. On a standard mouthpiece, the holding rods are not parallel as they are on the Masters. Not sure this has any effect on the sound, however.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ChuChu
Date: 2013-10-31 05:39
I have used the M/O black and pewter ligatures for a while now and they are good ligatures. The different plating does seem to make a difference in the sound quality. I have the CL5 mouthpiece and the ligature is required unless you can fit some other ligature onto it. I have the Luyben black plastic ligature that fit well with the double screw.
One thing I don't like about the M/O is that it makes a noticeable dent on the reed even when it is not tightened so much. This is the main drawback with this ligature and other metal ligatures is that reed is deformed easily. A dent in a reed can hamper the response and sound quality from a reed.
Luyben black is my favorite ligature after I tried many of this and selected one out.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2013-10-31 13:23
The M/O is available for sax.....therefore, it wasn't designed just for the clarinet Masters mp......
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: NBeaty
Date: 2013-10-31 20:26
The "only fits Masters mouthpieces" or "Masters requires this ligature" is hogwash.
I had one (since sold it) and it fit every mouthpiece I tried it on (none were the masters series, or vandoren).
Seriously, they want to sell as a set (so you don't have a chance to try other mouthpieces with the ligature..etc.).
Masters series ligatures were originally two screw, nickel plated, and cost $15.
Again: What is this awesome new ligature??? Wait, they just took off a screw (not an improvement, in my opinion) and added some new plating options. And tripled the price.
Works fine, but the older works better (as well as 4 or 5 other people found in a blind test).
Always a good idea to know the market before the market knows you...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2013-11-02 11:22
"they just took off a screw (not an improvement, in my opinion)"........
Not disagreeing with you Nate as I still enjoy shifting gears , but I find a single screw so much more convenient.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: cigleris
Date: 2013-11-02 14:31
Two types are sold. Those purely for the Masters mouthpiece and those that can be used on any other mouthpiece. Just check you have the correct one.
Peter Cigleris
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
