 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: atl4413
Date: 2004-03-15 20:33
I've just ordered a Rovner ligature, which lured me in because I got tired of tightening 2 screws (I'm lazy).
Can anyone provide positive or negative feedback?
How much can/does a ligature effect your playing?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-03-16 00:22
The real facts about ligatures: (feel free to print this out and distribute to colleagues)
1. Different ligatures can have an effect on the response and overtones of the reed.
2. Some ligatures will work more efficiently with different mouthpieces.
3. Reeds can be adjusted brighter or darker to work in conjunction with various mouthpiece/ligature combinations.
4. Price has no relation to a ligature's functionality. Great players have used inexpensive stock ligatures, others have used the newest and most expensive generation of ligatures.
5. The ligature cannot be judged in and by itself - it must be tried with your primary mouthpiece and reed preference. Eventually, over time, your innate sound will re-emerge.
6. There is no absolute "right" ligature. Try a few different options. Don't play the ligature roulette game. Settle on one. Spend the time saved on practice
- and for a little (very little) humor, an oldie, but a goodie:
Top 7 Signs You Have Too Many Ligatures:
7. You only need ligatures beginning with letters "Q" or "Z" to complete your entire collection of the full alphabetical list of all ligatures.
6. You belong to Ligatures Anonymous, but are only half way through their 12 step program.
5. Your computer home page is "EBay - Clarinet - Ligatures"
4. You replace all your ligatures every 3 years due to "ligature blow out".
3. Your homeowner's insurance has a separate rider covering your ligature collection.
2. You have 3 pairs of shoes that are curiously missing their laces.
1. You have Phil Rovner's home phone number on your speed dial...GBK
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Author: atl4413
Date: 2004-03-16 00:25
Ha Ha Glenn - that's pretty good. What's scary is that I have a drawer full of them. But they're cheesy, cheap ligatures.
Maybe I could make some jewelry out of them? Dangle earrings perhaps? I could sell them on Ebay......
Oh, and tomorrow I start as the principle chair with Boston...hee hee....like that would ever happen!
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Author: BSL
Date: 2004-03-16 02:43
Bonade's school of thought would tell you a rubber-band would make the best ligature. Then he came out with his ligature with the rails.
I believe altitude makes a difference in what ligature I would use, as well as how humid my environment is.
There is a lot of good equipment out there. On some mouthpieces, factory ligatures work. For my equipment, I prefer the Giggliotti and Bonade ligatures. Maybe even a Vandoren ligature.
My mouthpieces are primarily Giggliotti mouthpieces.
This is what works for me, and I hope that helps.
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2004-03-16 04:23
Hmmm, I've used a Bonade, a Vandoren Optimum, a Rovner, and currently a Gigliotti (after all, I'm living in Philadelphia). The Rovner had the proverbial nice dark sound for me but it also was a bit murky and not very flexible. The key is to try out a lot of them- it depends a lot on your other equipment (I play an R-13 with an M15). I'm not sure how much my experience would translate onto your clarinet. I've heard stories about Rovners stretching, but I wasn't using mine long enough to have any personal experience with this (new teachers often result in a change of equipment).
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Author: growlingbunny910
Date: 2004-03-16 11:59
Rovner ligatures I have found to offer the best options for me. I have two and enjoy using them. One of them is a Mark III which I favor. The metal band ligatures which came with my instruments are collecting dust, maybe I could use them for napkin holders for Easter dinner.
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Author: atl4413
Date: 2004-03-16 13:41
Thanks for the responses.
I chose the Rovner because I have the TR-147, and this is what Tom uses on his TR-147.....
That, and the single screw - the lazy aspect.....
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-03-16 14:10
Quote:
chose the Rovner because I have the TR-147, and this is what Tom uses on his TR-147..... Ligatures match the mouthpiece more than the clarinet. Don't forget that!
As for you being lazy, SHAME ON YOU! But you're right, some people like ligatures that they don't have to fuss with. My ligature (Francois Louis) needs a little fussing to put on. You have to line it up correctly over the front of the reed, and that takes a little longer than others, but I'm very happy with it (it's also a single screw lig) and the results I get with it. Not to mention, when you get down to it, you only spend an extra what? Maybe 15 - 30 seconds with a "fussy" ligature? There are people that can wrap a piece of string around their mouthpiece probably as quick as I can put on mine.
But it's all preference. I have a Rovner MKIII and liked it for one mouthpiece I had, but not for my main two.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: William
Date: 2004-03-16 14:20
Like with all other specific items of equipement, it isn't "what" you play that is most important--it is "how" you play the counts. Play whatever you think works for you, pay your dues in the practice room and learn to play it well--but always enjoy! That's the "bottom line".
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Author: davor
Date: 2004-03-16 22:04
Hi,
Get rid of at least 1 screw, or better both of them! You will not have any problems at all.
Try not to get the reed off the mouthpiece, or try to play without a reed!
How about not to play at all - I suggest that to all my LAZY students.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2004-03-16 22:21
4. You replace all your ligatures every 3 years due to "ligature blow out"
Note to GBK-
I believe that Harold Wright changed to a new ligature regularly, (yearly?) as he felt that they stretched out. I have to check, I think this info is in Pamela Weston's book on Clarinetists of Today.
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Author: atl4413
Date: 2004-03-17 01:06
Davor wrote: "Get rid of at least 1 screw, or better both of them! You will not have any problems at all. Try not to get the reed off the mouthpiece, or try to play without a reed! How about not to play at all - I suggest that to all my LAZY students."
Well, after getting up at 5:00 AM to take care of the family and get them out of the door, getting ready myself, running off to work to crunch numbers for 9-10 hours, spending 1.5 hours in traffic trying to get home to spend another hour cooking dinner and then cleaning up the kitchen; getting clothes and lunches ready the next day and then trying to buy out 1 hour for practicing before an 11:00 bedtime, yes, I'd say at that point I'd rather not fool with an extra screw if I don't have to. Playing is something I do for enjoyment and relaxation. The more time I can spend playing and the less I can spend fiddling around with equipment, the better.
Post Edited (2004-03-17 01:07)
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Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2004-03-17 05:48
Velcro ligs are brilliant - and really trouble-free. I recommend them highly! 
Joanna Brown
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Author: billryan
Date: 2004-03-17 20:44
GBK, Thank you for your perfect answer! Now I know much more then I did yesterday! You the man.
Bill
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Author: Taxijazz
Date: 2004-03-18 07:01
I loved the Rovner, then threw it away when I discovered the BG Super Revelation--And I never use that anymore.
It's not laziness. When you are going through three boxes just to find the right reed even the Rovner can waste too much of your time playing with the screw.
Gibson4News@something (and no doubt he's around here somewhere) evidently invented the solution to this problem with his velcro ligature--And it's cheap!
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Author: davor
Date: 2004-03-18 21:22
No good job could be done if you do not have the time to do it. So it just does not matter whether you have 1,2, or 3 screws on your ligature.
It does matter how the clarinet sounds with your ligature. If it sounds best with 4 screws it is worth having that ligature. Taxijazz you are wrong!
As far as I know there are woven ligatures without screws, and there are some metal and plastic ligatures from Italian manufacturer without screws.
If they suit your clarinets don´t screw any more!
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2004-03-18 22:38
(dislaimer, much like the DR.) I have the solution. Easy and colorful. Thanks to Taxijazz for bringing it up.......
You know.....ligs are a weird piece of our equipment...we all "worry" about the RIGHT set up. Bottom line....how do you sound? Quit searching for the HOLY GRAIL of clarinetness. Practice. Give yourself time. You'll be GREAT (at least to yourself).
JG
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Author: Burt
Date: 2004-03-18 23:18
An old acquaintance told me that Benny Goodman pushed his ligature on and pulled it off without tightening or loosening the screw(s).
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Author: cowboyjonus
Date: 2004-03-19 00:25
bg traditional gold is the best just one screw and you dont have to tighten it too tight
jon j
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-03-19 11:08
'An old acquaintance told me that Benny Goodman pushed his ligature on and pulled it off without tightening or loosening the screw(s)."
Well, don't we all....at least occasionally?
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