 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GBK
Date: 2008-08-14 03:26
Since a new school year is starting, it was time to replenish my supply of reeds, ligatures and assorted other items to have on hand for my private students who need things in an emergency.
I received 5 new Bonade inverted ligatures.
The good news: One was absolutely perfect. No adjustment was necessary. Inside ribs were perfectly parallel and of uniform thickness. No sharp edges and the screws did not bind.
Now - the bad news: The other 4 were horrible. Even though they were new and in unopened boxes, all were misshapen. The inside ribs were not even close to parallel, with one ligature having ribs that grew progressively wider apart. The inside ribs on 2 of the ligatures were not of uniform thickness. One ligature had ribs that were embarrassingly dissimilar. (isn't anyone even watching to see if the parts match?) All of these ligatures had screws that did not turn freely (probably from being soldered on crookedly) and had bands with sharp edges which would inevitably scratch the mouthpiece.
I know I have said this numerous times before, but the Bonade ligature is such a great design and when made properly will function as was originally intended, letting the reed vibrate to its fullest potential.
It is a shame that Leblanc has thrown the quality control of this ligature completely away.
BTW - I'm keeping the perfect Bonade ligature for myself. ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif) ...GBK
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Author: SVClarinet09
Date: 2008-08-14 04:19
I agree GBK. I've bought 4 Bonades in the last 6 months, all have snapped. It seems to be like they don't fit on my mouthpiece (I use Gonzalez FOF) and it seems like AFTER I bend them, its harder to put them on. I've sinced switched to a Rovner Eddie Daniels but I wish I could have a NON snappable Bonade..
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2008-08-14 07:14
I still think Gregory Smith should offer hand-picked and adjusted Bonades along with his existing line-up but is not news! C'mon Greg, we NEED them!
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-08-14 11:01
I'm sure I've heard a million anecdotes over the years about people putting up with things that don't work properly....such as mules, for example. I have 3 Bonades in my collection and don't use any of them. I'm always reminded of the guy who sees another guy hitting himself on the head with a hammer. So, the first guy sez, "why the heck are you doing that?" The hitter says, "Because it feels so good when I stop."
Bob Draznik
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2008-08-14 14:30
I resorted to using a Dremel grinding tool to adjust mine.
The rails were dissimilar.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2008-08-14 15:14
Why doesn't GBK just offer the hand-picked service? No need to wait for Greg Smith...no slight intended...
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-08-14 15:36
Oh yeah, I'm sure that GBK wants to spend his hours reworking Bonade ligatures for a pay cut!
What could you charge? Double the price? (and the manufacturer would not let this happen!)
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2008-08-14 15:40
Bonades never were well-made. Portnoy had a much superior one, not inverted, but neither has the proper design, which should apply the desired force over the entire reed surface interface with nearly uniform pressure, such as does a velcro, for example.
richard smith
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-08-14 16:01
Hello Richard,
I would rather not have the ligature contacting the entire surface of the reed/ligature interface because this would dampen the reeds vibrations significantly. Especially in comparison to the Spriggs or Luyben that I currently use.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: pewd
Date: 2008-08-14 16:50
I had an entire class of beginners send them back last year - maybe 20 students - we switched to a different brand. The Bonades all slipped off of the mouthpiece when we tightened the screws. There were maybe 3 in that lot that worked as intended.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2008-08-15 14:11
Little clarification. Total force should be sufficient but not more , but spred over the entire area. The now uniform pressure does affect timbre. One must ajust as desirable. Luyben, however, is one of my favorite ligs, almost as good as the velcro. Bonades and all similar constructions apply enormous pressure to the cane, which can be damaging to it.
richard smith
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Author: marshall
Date: 2008-08-17 04:56
I've tried dozens of inverted Bonades in my (thusfar short) career...I've only found one that I really like...and that one snapped after a year or so of use.
I've tried about ten regular bonades, and the quality was so low on all of them it was comical. I could barely get a halfway passable sound on most of them...and on some I could hardly play at all.
I like my Spriggs. Spriggs ligatures feel like what I would imagine a Bonade lig would feel like if Bonades were constructed they way they should be. Unfortunately, they cost around three times a Bonade. Thenagain, if you spent the $90 on a Spriggs ligature and $90 on 3-4 Bonade ligatures, you'd probably end up with a much better ligature buying 1 Spriggs than multiple Bonades.
Post Edited (2008-08-17 04:58)
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Author: pewd
Date: 2008-08-17 05:29
I actually wore out a Luyben - it finally gave up the ghost after 20+ years - wonderful ligature.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: donald
Date: 2008-08-17 11:20
i thought it went this way...
"why are you hitting yourself on the head with a hammer?"
"i've got a sixpence, stuck up my nose!"
(I am sure someone out there knows what I'm talking about)
meanwhile
i second Mr Blumeberg re the Optimum
the BG Tradition also works very well, not as good as Optimum but compared to the Bonade ligatures....
dn
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Author: Ed
Date: 2008-08-17 12:16
I like the Spriggs as a really good choice. It works like a Bonade on steroids.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-08-17 19:20
The Spriggs is a great ligature. I'm using an inverted Bonade on my bass clarinet and have to wonder why I haven't shelled out the $$$$ for a Spriggs bass lig.
The old original Harrison that I have (for soparno) is equally good, by the way.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: William
Date: 2008-08-17 22:11
Vandoran Optimum with the parallel rail insert--used almost exclusively in my midwestern "neck of the woods" in most of the bands and orchestras I play with. I use them, except on my bass cl and effer where I use Winslows.
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2008-08-18 00:23
Considering inexpensive inverted metal ligature alternatives to a Bonade.....
It's my impression that the Vandoren Masters ligature goes under a lot of folks' radar. I cannot help but be curious about that. I consider the Masters to have a well-conceived design, is well made, and reasonably inexpensive. The Masters gives me better results than any Bonade I've tried over the years.
That said, I actually prefer the Vandoren Klassik string ligature even more than the Masters...but that's a whole other different discussion.
Roger
Post Edited (2008-08-18 11:26)
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