The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mathias E
Date: 2003-11-05 12:30
I have a completely standard vandoren metal doublescrew ligature and I am thinking about buying a new one. Now I need to know what to buy. Please post which ligature you think is best and why.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-11-05 13:21
Any Rovner. Single screw is easy to tighten and they do the job.
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Author: William
Date: 2003-11-05 14:20
I currently use the VanDoran Optimum ligature on my soproano and bass clarinet mouthpieces. It is pricey, but comes with three easily changable pressure plates, eash one with its own playing characteristics--you get to pick the one you like best, or switch "at will" as reed conditions change. I like the parallel rail insert that plays like a Bonade reverse, but without the constant readjustment hassels of Bonades originals.
However, John Bruce-Yeh, associate principal clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, recommends "any" metal ligature--so maybe there is no reason for you to look any farther.
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Author: Bryan
Date: 2003-11-05 17:34
About a year ago I switched from a Bonade inverted to a Joue Jolie, which I think gives a lightly (though not hugely) better tone. I think it's a good value for the price--11 or 12 bucks, much cheaper than some of the fancier ligatures.
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Author: Rick Williams
Date: 2003-11-05 22:06
I use a Rovner Dark, but then I'm the guy who used scotch tape for a 2 hour concert when I changed cases and left my ligerture at home .
Rick
Best
Rick
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2003-11-05 22:07
Given that you play/ used to play on a metal Vandoren regular, I'm not sure whether you would probably prefer another metal, or want to get away from metal ligatures period.
I play on a Rovner Eddie Daniels II and sometimes on my Leblanc "L" silver ligature.
Bradley
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-11-05 22:11
Rick william said:
> but then I'm the guy who used scotch tape for a 2 hour concert
I thought you just wanted to be authentic when playing Mendelssohn's 3rd Symphony and the Hebrides Overture...GBK
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Author: Rick Williams
Date: 2003-11-05 22:23
You know the stuff makes a pretty good ligerature, but repositioning the reed means getting a new lig. But I need to buy some Scotch Dark Tape for that more sombre and dark woody tone. Don't get me wrong, Standard see through Scotch tape is fine for concert band and jazz, but for the classics..not quite right just a tad bright.
RW
Best
Rick
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2003-11-06 03:43
i use the optimum by vandoren but only because it's the most easy to use ligature. the best ligature in my opinion, weird as it may sound, is the 'standard vandoren metal doublescrew ligature' :-)
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Author: wyatt
Date: 2003-11-06 04:45
i purchased a Peter Spriggs about 4 months ago and really like it. it has one screw, easy on easy off.
the price was a little high $70 plus but worth the money.
bob gardner}ÜJ
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2003-11-06 05:09
I would say Rovner. There are some extremist who say that rovners are useless and completely worthless because they muffle the sound and kill the "ring". I've gotten that on more than one occasion (though it's usually the case that people who take extremist positions are usually wrong).
I have a rovner with a little hole in it. I doesn't look exactly like the Rovner Light (the one I have is an older one my teacher gave me), but I think it's the same principle. The hole SUPPOSEDLY lets the reed vibrate more than the Rovner "Dark" - Even though I have the light (or at least it resembles the "light" model), the dark, and the Eddie Daniels and I can't tell a sound difference between any of them (however, the eddie daniels is cumbersome and more trouble than it's worth for me, considering there is no sound difference - and I tried ALL 6 "positions"!).
If you are looking for an upgraded metal one, I also use a BG Traditional that I like a lot. My only complaint with it is that it's really delicate. I'm afraid it'll break or warp if I tighten it to much or something like that. A Bonade Inverted gives me about the same sound, and it's more durable a little cheaper.
BOTTOM LINE - for me, the reed and mouthpiece are much more important than the ligature (I have an extensive ligature "collection" - I call it a collection because 1) I have a bunch of them and 2) I keep most of them in a box under my bed and only take them out periodically to look at them. I seriously cannot tell a significant sound difference between most of them, and any difference I do hear is more likely a manifestation of my expectations and not an actual difference. I think the the Rovner is a good, inexpensive one which (as another person said) "does the job". However, if yours is working, why mess with a different one?
DH
theclarinetist@yahoo.com
PS - I've always been intrigued by Bay ligatures because they are very beautifully made. I'd like to add one to my collection! However, they come in multiple sizes (S, M, and L, I believe) and I know I'll somehow order the wrong size, so I haven't even bothered with one.
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2003-11-07 16:48
You're probably going to think me weird....velcro ties. Get them at home depot. About 6 inches long.....have a pull through on one end and come in colors. Red...Yellow...Orange...Blue....green.....neat thing is....once you determine the tightness on the reed.....and cut the excess length off.....about two inches.....all you do to change the reed is slide the velcro off. Then slide it back on.....
I have used Harrison....Winslow....Vandoren Optimum....B & H....original "L" Leblanc....and many more names than I can remember, and though I really like the Optimum and Leblanc....oh yeah and the Olegature.....I really fine this velcro strip lig much better. You get all the colors mentioned in one pack and it's only $3.
Liked 'em so much, I considered marketing them.
Maybe I should attach some pictures later if you guys want to see.....
John Gibson
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Author: Mathias E
Date: 2003-11-07 17:48
Rovner, Optimum, Velcro ties... I would very much like to see some pictures of the last one, it may be worth trying.
Mathias E
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Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2003-11-07 19:21
I'd like to see pictures of the velcro strips too! I bet I wouldn't be able to buy them here though....
Joanna Brown
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2003-11-08 17:54
Tell you what....son has my camera....should have it back late this afternoon.....when I get it back I'll post pics of the velcro ligs.....and post it under a seperate thread since this one seems to be dying.....
look for VELCRO LIG PICS....
john
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