 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: hrm8879
Date: 2003-10-20 20:57
Hello again guys...
I wondered if any of you who have tried a rovner ligature or an oleg could tell me which one you prefer, if you have a preference between the two. Or perhaps you prefer something else?
Thanks,
Hollie
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2003-10-20 21:37
The classic Rovner "dark" creates a very good seal between the reed and the mouthpiece. If your sound is metallic or "bright" it's an excellent match, since it cuts back on the overtones. Many people find the sound dull, but you have to try it.
The Rovner "lite" has thinner fabric and a cutout, so that only two fairly narrow bands of fabric touch the reed. I find it a good middle-of-the-road lig, which lets the reed speak freely.
Rovner also makes an expensive version, which I don't think is worth it.
The Oleg is a flexible mesh. You have to put it on very tight, which hurts my fingers, since the screws are small and have sharp edges and corners. Also, the adjustment of the tightness is critical, and the slightest lossening or tightening one screw or the other makes a big difference. It's hard to get adjusted right, but when you do, it plays as well as anything I've tried. Overall, I find it's more trouble than it's worth.
You need to experiment with string, which is the best of all, and match everything against that. My opinion is that the lighter the ligature, the better. Most of the time, I use an inexpensive Martin, adjusted with needle-nose pliers so that the metal doesn't bind the edges of the reed.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: cujo
Date: 2003-10-21 02:12
Rovner is easy to use and not too expensive and sounds good. The Vandoren optimum I dont think is worth the money but sounds very nice. I have never tried a mesh ligature. And Runyon makes some plastic lig that is just horrible, seems very cheap compared to the mouthpiece it came with.
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Author: Karel
Date: 2003-10-21 02:57
I like the Olegature. Bought mine from <www.bill-lewington.com> for less than I have seen anywhere else.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-10-21 03:20
Ligatures should be compatible to the specific mouthpiece being used and the tone quality desired.
A "brighter" sounding mouthpiece with a bit of an edge can be tamed by using a Rovner type ligature which dampens some of the higher frequencies.
Conversely, a more covered sounding mouthpiece can often be brought more into focus by using a lighter metal type ligature with minimum reed/mouthpiece contact (Bonade, Spriggs, Harrison, etc...)
A ligature should also not hinder your tonguing speed. Many feel that the Rovner dark ligatures are not as responsive as the ligher metal ones mentioned above.
Try many, under different playing conditions before deciding... GBK
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2003-10-21 03:38
My experience is that no ligature is going to be perfect all the time. I keep a couple ligs in my case. A rovner, a BG traditional, and a Mitchell Lurie Springboard (I think that's what it is... my teacher loaned it to me).
In general, I use the rovner to darken the sound and a metal one to brighten it (which seems pretty much in line with other posters). I also find the reed I use often requires a different ligature to make the sound I prefer.
DON
theclarinetist@yahoo.com
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-10-21 13:16
The "expensive" Rovner is the Eddie Daniels. I like it.
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Author: hrm8879
Date: 2003-10-22 01:33
thanks for all your help, guys.
I currently play with a light metal bonade (which I do not care for.) I have a tendancy to play almost too bright and am looking to darken a bit. I seem to still sound like I am in high school marching band, only I'm 24! Perhaps a rovner might serve my desires.
Thanks again,
Hollie
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2003-10-22 06:18
my personal favorite is the vandoren optimum with the vandeoren master's series as a close second. i've tried rovner, BG, whatever came with the R-13, and the vandorens are much better.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-10-22 13:13
Hollie: Why don't you try putting a piece of tape on the underside of the Bonade first......
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-10-22 13:43
The way I like to use a "Rovner" type lig, is to reverse it so as to grip the reed on its edges only, like the Bonades, otherwise its too dull for me. For big reed security, I use a Bonade on alto mps and a Lurie on my bass. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-10-22 17:11
Dear BB freinds;
Having just played a batch of concerts, I can honestly say the ligature is one of the sole sources of trouble for any success in a concert a clarinet player may have. I think alot of players generally go with what is cheap and forget the aspect ligature must work securely and not become a source of trouble.
I tend to prefer two types. The Bonade Inverted and the Rovner dark. My own Bonade inverted is about 30 years old and does not impinge or mark my mouthpieces. As to the newer batch I have been quite dissastisified with the way they work. The screws are quite hard to work with and there is a tendency among the new inverted Bonades to strip and even cut the mouthpiece to shreds at contact points.
One thing for sure, any player who over tightens a Bonade lig is making a huge mistake. Be sure to have the lig contact the reed in an area where the ligature will not slip as on many crooked reeds. I am of course talking about the bark...give some thought in to what sounds best with the screw tightening process...is the reed more resonsive with the upper screw or lower screw tight, or with both? Sadly, a great many a player does not give any forethought to these elements and no wonder they can't find the right sound or response on a given reed.
As to the Rovner Dark I generally find this more responsive...the only trouble I have with the Light Rovner is the sound is a bit airy and shrill in certain instances when the ligature is too loose. I have a very little bit of space between the vamp cut and ligature when I use the Rovner light.
I am not quite impressed with the overall response of the Rovner Light because I find the sound will spread a bit in the upper chalumeau...do consider the fact the reed must also be secure quite well in order to obtain even response over the entire range and you too may become less trustful of only two little bands of fabric holding down a reed that will need even pressure on the table....these are thought that I present only on the basis of playing a great amount.
As to the Bonade, I find that a good one is an asset and can make many reeds play really well. As to cane I use Zonda Classico and Vandoren #4 as of late. Not really any trouble with finding reeds out of either box.
Make sure you wet the entire reed before playing and you ;may also find harder reeds more responsive as a result.//
David Dow
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