 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: William
Date: 2009-05-10 17:07
I have noticed an advertisement claiming that a certain ligature produced by John Winslow was made to fit "either Bb clarinet of hard rubber alto saxophone". I want make it absolutely clear that while Bb clarinet ligatures may seem to fit an alto mpc, they were never designed to. All of John's products designed for specific clarinet or saxophone mouthpieces to produce the most complete spectrum of harmonic overtones possible. He acutally had an impressive collection of most different clarinet and saxophone mouthpieces in his home--which doubled as his shop--which he used for making each model of his ligatures and there were many subtile variancies between them all that, in his own words, "You cannot see". So bottom line here is, while some of his clarinet ligs may seem to fit an alto sax mouthpiece, they were not designed to.
FWIW--I may have been one of the first clarinetists to test play a Winslow ligature when John brought this really funny looking big "hunky" device to Muni Band practice one evening for me to try on my Kaspar mpc. Initially, I didn't like it. However, as he refined his products over the years, I changed my mind and he personally hand-fit ligatures for all of my sax & clarinet mouthpieces--so I think I know what I am talking about in saying that, to my knowledge, John Winslow never made a "one size fits both" ligature. Just a friendly warning to all--buyer beware.
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Author: redwine
Date: 2009-05-11 16:49
Hello,
Is it possible to get them anymore? Mine was my favorite ligature ever, yet it was stolen with my instruments a few years ago. I sent paper template measurements of all of my mouthpieces to Mr. Winslow with an order, but he has not filled the order, after two years! Thanks--I'd love to get my order filled.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: haberc
Date: 2009-05-12 00:04
I also was fortunate enough to know John Winslow and have ligatures he made for me in his formative years. They are far and above any ligature I have ever played on.
(Hi Bill, how are you? This is Clyde from Madison 20 years ago!)
I don't know if John is still alive and well. Haven't seen him for many years because I moved from Madison Wi nearly 20 years ago. But his son was also involved and may still be making the ligatures.
If you can find one you are very lucky.
I agree with Bill that they are made specifically with the instrument in mind.
I have Winslow ligatures from his first years for my Alto and clarinet and I have never tried to make them "one size fits all."
It only took me an instant to hear the difference in fullness of tone, at least for me.
By the way, John was an amateur sax player and an engineer for Oscar Mayer Foods in Madision, and he figured he could design a better ligature and I believe he certainly did that.
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