 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: marcia
Date: 2006-10-07 17:47
Just a few days ago I managed to strip the thread on one screw of an inverted Bonade ligature. Same happened a few years ago to the previous inverted Bonade ligature. Anyone else had this experience? I did not think I had been doing them up excessively tightly, but I find they do need to be very snug to prevent slipping when removing MP to change instruments. And yes I do grease my MP well (using the Doc's superior product) when I am going to be changing from A to Bb.
Marcia
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Author: Brian Peterson
Date: 2006-10-08 13:25
Sounds like it's time to get another one. It's happened to me several times before.
Brian
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-10-08 15:58
When a ligature screw strips, what goes is usually the projecting threads on the screw (which are comparatively thin) rather than the grooves inside the tube on the body of the ligature.
When that's happened to me, I've substituted a screw out of a junk ligature, which has held well. If you don't have an old ligature to sacrifice, any repair shop will have a drawer full of them, which they'll usually give out free.
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Ed
Date: 2006-10-08 18:24
I hate to say never, (of course now that means it will happen to me tomorrow), but I don't think I have ever stripped the screws on a ligature. I think there might be some things you can do to help. I regularly will wipe of the screws and lightly oil them with a decent oil to aid movement and decrease wear. You may be over tightening, especially if the lig slips at all. There are many threads on the bb about the ligatures slipping. I make sure I use light sandpaper and lightly sand the inside of the lig if it is at all slippery to give it a bit more grab. Often the slickness of the plating slides a bit against the glossiness of the hard rubber. Once you get a couple of new screws, see if any of these suggestions help.
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Author: Bruno
Date: 2006-10-09 22:02
I've heard of Bonade ligatures slipping before. Bonades are made poorly and have to be reworked. There's a better solution than tightening the ligature so much that the screw threads strip. Besides, don't you worry about what that overtightening does to the sound? (To say nothing of the mouthpiece!)
Here's the solution to the problem:
Buy a new ligature. Get some thin cork from a music store or repairman, cut two strips about 3/16" to 1/4" wide and a little longer than the ligature. Use Duco Household cement to glue them along the inside surfaces of the screw-side of the ligature right along the edge. When the glue dries trim the extra cork away. That's it. It won't slip any more and it won't scarify the top of your mouthpiece.
Here's another tip; file the surface of each of the two little rails with a minifile (hardware store - they come in little sets) until they are not wavy but are smooth along their entire length. The brass will show. So what?
It will do absolute wonders for your sound! And now you won't have to tighten the Bonade to within an inch of its life (which will do even more for your sound!).
b.
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Author: marcia
Date: 2006-10-10 00:57
Thanks, I did buy a new Bonade. The "cork strips" sounds like an excellent idea. Will try to organise it for myself soon.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2006-10-10 03:30
I have always felt that the cork dampens the vibrations somewhat. You may or may not like that.
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Author: Cuisleannach
Date: 2006-10-11 02:26
It's never a bad idea to have a spare Bonade on hand, if you like the ligature. They work extremely well but do have a failure rate that's higher than most other brands. I had one break in the middle of a gig (the metal actually snapped) but was able to replace it with my spare in a second.
Since the Bonade ligs are not terribly expensive, having a spare isn't that much of a burden.
-Randy
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-10-11 09:40
I am always curious about the kudos that are heaped on the Bonades when compared with the constant complaints about their manufacturing quality. They still contain two screws which is a pain compared to single screw ligs, the screws strip, they have to be adjusted with pliers and so on.
Perhaps the enjoyment of pain and frustration is part of being a clarinet player.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2006-10-11 17:18
The Bonade ligatures that are sold today are very inferior compared to the ones made "back then". I do not know when the cahnages happened, but they did.
My biggest objection is the poor finishing on the inside edges which contact the mouthpiece under the screws. They are left very rough and jagged, as if no one at the factory could bother to smooth down the metal after it was cut.
These jagged edges gouge up the back of the mouthpiece the very first time the ligature is put on.
It is a nightmare for us "mouthpiece guys", as sometimes 15 or minutes at the buffing wheel is necessary to get the gouges out, if indeed they can ever come out. (That's why at shows, I always bring a couple of Rovner ligatures for people to use while trying out my stuff.)
These jagged edges also interfere with tone production.
What I usually do is smooth down these rough edges with steel wool, starting with the rougher grades then finishing with the more delicate stuff. I usually wind up polishing right down to the base metal (whatever it is.)
I have a 30 year old Bonade that I currently use for my "real" playing. My Bay just died after about 6 years of continuous use. I'm kind of glad, as I could not resist using the Bay, but was beginning to fell that it added a "metallic" edge to my tone. It was very responsive though!
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
New Buffet Clarinets
World Class clarinet and bass clarinet mouthpieces
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Author: Bruno
Date: 2006-10-11 20:05
Ed said: "I have always felt that the cork dampens the vibrations somewhat. You may or may not like that."
Simply not a factor in the application I described (if indeed it is ever a factor at all).
Walter:
Read my post above. It solves all the problems you describe simply and easily, and doesn't require a great deal of skill.
And the "base metal" you wonder about is brass.
b.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2006-10-11 23:58
I'd say that a thread of this diameter has to be made to a very low standard if finger force can strip it!
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