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 New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: rockymountainbo 
Date:   2005-09-15 12:08

Generally, if one replaces the mouthpiece on their horn, is it recommended to replace the ligature too? Any recommendations for a ligature that will be played on a VD B45 mouthpiece with VD 2.5 reeds? Thanks in advance.

 
 Re: New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: Chris P 
Date:   2005-09-15 12:38

The fabric BG ligatures are popular, as are the Rovners - and they stay put when moving the mouthpiece.

Try out several different types, or as many as you can.

 
 Re: New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: BobD 
Date:   2005-09-15 12:50

Generally, No. Any ligature that fits should work. Personally I prefer one-screw ligatures but I'll usually succumb to temptation.

Bob Draznik

 
 Re: New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: Ed 
Date:   2005-09-15 13:37

I have found it interesting that at times changing some equipment has led to making some additional changes to find exactly the right voice or balance. In other words, sometimes if I change a mouthpiece, I will find that a different ligature may bring out certain qualities. I have found some ligatures to work better on some mouthpieces than others. A mouthpiece that is perhaps a little resistant or overly "dark" may benefit from a reed/mouthpiece combination that is a bit lighter or brighter or responsive, whereas the opposite also holds true.

 
 Re: New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2005-09-15 14:35

The vibrations obviously change the crystal structure of the metal. After a couple of years, it gets stiff in one direction and mushy in the other. Rather like Margaret Dumont's Double Blood Pressure in Day at the Races.

Thus you should periodically change ligatures, for exactly the same reason as you periodically change the air in your car tires.

[tongue]

 
 Re: New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: clarnibass 
Date:   2005-09-15 15:00

You might want to change the ligature, because not all ligatures fit all mouthpieces.
I've had a problem with fabric/leather (I'm not sure what they are made of) ligatures by BG which streched and after a while they wouldn't fit. With crystal mouthpieces some ligatures slip. So basically the short answer to your question is - no, as long as it fits.

 
 Re: New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: OpusII 
Date:   2005-09-15 15:07

I found that some ligatures work "better" with some mouthpieces... but it can be that it makes a different vibration to my ear?

 
 Re: New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2005-09-15 15:08

Ken,
Years ago a friend of mine (also a mechanical engineer) jokingly told his wife that she needed to periodically change the air in her car tires or the air would "get mushy". She thought he was serious and took the car to her local service station and asked them to change the air. Of course they laughed her right out of the parking lot and she was so furious she nearly divorced her husband over that incident. Beware.........

 
 Re: New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: rockymountainbo 
Date:   2005-09-15 17:38

David,

That was a funny story. Thanks for the laugh.

 
 Re: New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2005-09-18 16:10

David,

Ken wouldn't dare make me change the air in the tires, because I would make him suck it all out of them and then blow them up again. And not even he has that much air.

Great story.

Cheers,
Mary V.

 
 Re: New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: hans 
Date:   2005-09-18 19:32

The ligature holds the reed on. IMO as long as it does that effectively, for most of us it's not a big issue and having the "right one" won't make us sound like Goodman or Shaw. I like the single screw Optimum because it's easy to use and looks nice.

Changing air in the tires isn't totally without merit, if the replacement gas is nitrogen. Apparently professional car racers do this in the belief that it gives better control over inflation pressures, which is critical in racing. Others do it because it costs more.
I wonder if it would reduce the corrosion rate of alloy wheels? In that case more of us might benefit.

Mary and Ken,
pax vobiscum

 
 Re: New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2005-09-19 03:08

Quote:

I found that some ligatures work "better" with some mouthpieces... but it can be that it makes a different vibration to my ear?
I've found this to be true also. I also have been experimenting with reed sizes and different ligatures and find that if I have what seems to be a "stuffy" reed, I can change the ligature to one that normally seems too "bright" to me and work it out. It also works in reverse - if my reed seems too bright and hard to control, I put a ligature that deadens the response a bit. In this manner, I've found myself swapping ligatures on the same mouthpiece instead of swapping reeds.

Alexi

US Army Japan Band

 
 Re: New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: BobD 
Date:   2005-09-19 11:49

Thanks for the science lesson, Ken. As a professional metallurgist for many years, however, you did get me to put my thinking cap on. I have seen many metal ligatures that have cracked for various reasons....usually, I believe, due to poor soldering jobs. I cannot say that your statement was absolutely technically incorrect, however. Even your comment about "air" in tires might have merit, give it a try! Have you considered hydrogen?

Bob Draznik

 
 Re: New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2005-09-19 14:40

Bob -

Actually, I was thinking of radon. It's the heaviest one, and I think it might give more "bottom" to my tone. Either that or gassified uranium.

[grin]

 
 Re: New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2005-09-19 14:57

I like to fill my car tires with 'swamp gas" (methane, as expelled by cows) --- that way if any kids try to let the air out of my tires, they have to pay a stiff price........

 :)



 
 Re: New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: archer1960 
Date:   2005-09-19 15:12

David Spiegelthal wrote:

> I like to fill my car tires with 'swamp gas" (methane, as
> expelled by cows) --- that way if any kids try to let the air
> out of my tires, they have to pay a stiff price........


How do you collect the gas ;-D

 
 Re: New mouthpiece...new ligature?
Author: Ed 
Date:   2005-09-19 16:03

I use helium. It makes my car lighter and I get beter gas mileage.

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