 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BAC
Date: 2000-05-24 02:59
After advice from my teacher, and the posts here on Sneezy, I went out and aquired two new ligatures to try out. This brings my total to four.
The three new ones are the Buffet that came with my new R13, a Bay and the Vandoren Optimum. I also have a Selmer that looks like its on the low end of quality.
I cannot tell any real difference between the Buffet, the Bay or the Vandoren. What am I suppose to look (hear) for? The way folks talk on how important they are, I was expecting something that would stand out. Could it be that I'm just not that good yet so any 'ol ligature would do?
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2000-05-24 06:28
I do not think we should use only one ligature for all music genre.
For example:B&G revelation or even thin plate Bay makes tone very brighter and may be suitable for Rossini but not so for Schuman or Brahms. I have a Japanese gold plated handmade mouthpiece which makes easier to staccato very sharply and may be good for Mozart concerto 3rd movement.
My Bonade inverted makes the tone somewhat velvet cancelling overtones and may be good for playing legato.
But all these are mere my personal feeling.It is a fun to try various ligatures.
By the way,Buffet has no speciality to manufacture mouthpiece and ligature. Selmer does(Selmer's sax mouthpiece 'Soloist' is a famous vintage one).
I think it unwise to use those attached to a Buffet.
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Author: Eoin
Date: 2000-05-24 07:19
When comparing ligatures, hold the reed at the base while you remove the ligature, then put on the new ligature being very careful not to let the reed move whatsoever. Since the reed is in exactly the same place, the only difference in the sound is the ligature.
You may notice difference in "roundness" of tone, in "darkness" and in volume. The first two of these qualities are difficult to describe in words.
If you can't hear any difference in the sound, it may be because the sound is going away from you. Get someone else with a reasonable air for music to listen while you play. If neither of you can tell any difference, then don't worry about it. Use whichever ligature is easiest to put on quickly.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2000-05-24 07:32
Even among pros, there are quite contrary ideas on ligature settings.
1.Double screws:which one should be fastened.
Keith Stein's way is fasten only upper screw(near to tip).
Roger Galper's way is fasten only lower one.
(I have used the former way but recently I found
the latter better for my Kasper-style Greg Smith
mouthpiece.)
2.How far from the tip.
Roger Galper's way is very very lower place.
I do not know its effect as yet.
Another info: Some metal ligatures come new as deformed shape or do not fit specific contours of mouthpieces.Needs plier!
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Author: Dave Lee Ennis
Date: 2000-05-24 13:06
Hiroshi wrote:
-------------------------------
I do not think we should use only one ligature for all music genre.
For example:B&G revelation or even thin plate Bay makes tone very brighter and may be suitable for Rossini but not so for Schuman or Brahms.
--------------------------------
Oh! Now you tell me!
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Author: robin
Date: 2000-05-24 14:18
I'll probably be shouted down for this, but I don't believe the ligature makes a great lot of difference to the "external" sound of a clarinettist.
It certainly feels very different, changing from say, a leather ligature to a metal ligature and to the player themself it may sound darker or brighter according to the style and material of the ligature (I definitely think this). But the overall sound to the listener, to my mind, is the same either way. It's similar to the notion of wood vs. plastic vs. metal clarinets.
So what I'm saying is that if your ligature securely holds the reed and 'feels right' - go for it. The idea of one having a number of ligatures for different pieces doesn't sit entirely comfortably with me, because for me, this would be akin to changing setups between pieces. By the way, I have found the cheaper of two ligatures I had to feel more comfortable to play. To BAC, I would advise that you not be necessarily be guided by price or make. I knew a player who used a shoestring as a ligature for his entire career and he was a damn fine player! Good luck.
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Author: Beejay
Date: 2000-05-24 14:24
My impression is that some ligatures make it easier to play.
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Author: Bob Gardner
Date: 2000-05-24 14:46
I knew a player who used a
shoestring as a ligature for his entire career and he was a damn fine player!
I'm reading his book now. he say's that the lig. has two purposes. One to hold the reed in place and two to allow the reed to vibrate.
i like my rovena (?) a lot. They go easier, hold the reed in place and can be adjusted.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-05-24 14:48
In spite of Shakesphere [sp?] ,"Much Ado About not very much" I find I like the Bonade invert and Luyben in preference to Rovner etc. Look up the older threads on this much-discussed subject!! Don
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Author: Linda
Date: 2000-05-24 18:35
Pyne string ligature is really good!!! Easy on, easy off..good with V12 reeds.
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Author: drew
Date: 2000-05-24 19:52
An often overlooked yet very fine ligature is the Robert Vinson lig offered by WW&BW and Muncy. Lig and cap can be had for about $16. The lig is made of polypropylene, and WILL NOT SCRATCH your mouthpiece. Also, easily put on and removed. Only drawback is you can't remove the mouthpiece from the barrel without removing the lig.
I tend to agree that ligatures are not very important relative to sound quality. As long as it holds the reed in place, just about any lig will do.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2000-05-25 01:44
My handmade Japanese ligature is made by a small shop called Ishimori, whis is famous for its ability of repairs especially Jazz people. It is made of cupper and satin-gold plated. I read somewhere a German Berlin clarinetist(the successor of Karl Leister) bought several of them and brought them back to Germany.This may mean there are ligature freaks even among professional players.
By the way, we do not perceive exactly how our sound is heard by listeneres since our brains is affected by our skull resonance or other organic probe effects. This is the reason why we sometimes need to listen to record our play with good recording devices. However, I think it is equally important how we ourselves hear our own sounds especially when we play mainly for our own fun.
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Author: Jack
Date: 2000-05-25 03:23
Hiroshi, anywhere I can buy that ligature from Ishimori
do they take order outside Japan?
Can you tell me more about that ligature? is it
inverted or regular? sound bright?
thanks
Jack
Hiroshi wrote:
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My handmade Japanese ligature is made by a small shop called Ishimori, whis is famous for its ability of repairs especially Jazz people. It is made of cupper and satin-gold plated. I read somewhere a German Berlin clarinetist(the successor of Karl Leister) bought several of them and brought them back to Germany.This may mean there are ligature freaks even among professional players.
By the way, we do not perceive exactly how our sound is heard by listeneres since our brains is affected by our skull resonance or other organic probe effects. This is the reason why we sometimes need to listen to record our play with good recording devices. However, I think it is equally important how we ourselves hear our own sounds especially when we play mainly for our own fun.
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Author: Bob Gardner
Date: 2000-05-25 14:00
whis is famous for its
ability of repairs especially Jazz people.
-----------
question --what do they do to fix Jazz people? They may not know they are broken.
have a great day.
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Author: Matt
Date: 2000-05-25 18:20
I read Stein's book followed by David Pino's similar text.
The string ligature really did make a difference to my (albeit novice) playing... less buzz through the mouthpiece that I could hear through bone conduction.
The trouble is in becoming proficient with putting the damn thing on. Rovner et.al. produce well designed products at reasonable prices. But the string lig really worked.
I'm experimenting with O-rings made of Viton (a temperature stable nitrile compound) and like what I hear.
Box of 20 - $2.00!
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Author: Patrick
Date: 2000-05-25 23:59
What you should look for in a ligature is comfort. If your aticulation is good and you don't have to strain to make it clear, then I would say it's a pretty good ligature. However, it is also very important that your tone remains good. You might have to readjust a little, but nothing major. I had a BG super revelation for about 2 years. It worked quite well, with the fabric and metal combo. It gave me a nice mellow sound and articulation was good. Just recently I got a P.Spriggs Floating Rail ligature. They look different, but the articulation is a breeze. I haven't had a problem with a change in tone. Everything sounds great. It's kind of costly at $75.00, but if you are a serious player, you should get one. But NEVER use the Buffet ligatures, a rubber band would be better
They make GREAT clarinets but their mouthpieces and ligatures are the cheapest things they can produce. I've heard really good things about that Vandoren ligature you have. So, basically, whatever makes you sound the best-use it.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2000-05-26 08:37
Patrick,
I agree with you about the floating rails ligature. It gives a whole new dimension to articulation. Referring back to an exchange on this bulletin board some time ago, rubber bands for ligatures are a very bad idea for the simple reason that rubber turns silver-plated keys black.
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