 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: J Garza
Date: 1999-03-19 04:41
hello everyone:
I was wondering, what kind of ligature does everyone use? I know, some say it doesn't matter, but I know it does from a few years experience. Like most people, I started out on your everyday metal ligature, one that was in my sister's instrument case that was passed down to me. In 7th grade, I upgraded to one of those leather ligatures that came with my V5RV Lyre. I thought, "Whoa! This is cool!" I clearly heard the difference, even at that age. Then in 9th grade, I switched again to some rubber rings. This was something my instructor found. These things are like thick rubber bands made for washers (or marching markers). Again they ended up being superior to my previous ligature. The rings allowed the reed to vibrate a little more and didn't force the reed closer to the mouthpiece. Also, they helped me develop a darker tone, which my teacher and I liked. If you want some, check a local hardware store. Ok, then, last year, I began using Luybens and shoestrings. The Luybens were easy to use and great for when I was in a rush, like being late to class, but I thought they started limiting my sound. I didn't like the way my tone changed or how the reed was forced down on the mouthpiece. I tried my teacher's shoestring, and I found it to be better than anything I'd ever used. My tone developed and even became a little darker and more resononant than before and there was very little pressure on the reed. I am currently using the shoestring ligature, and encourage others to try it, maybe you'll like it as well.
Let me know what you think, and please offer any other suggestions on other ligatures, preferably the less expensive kind.
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Author: clarinetfreak
Date: 1999-03-19 05:58
I think ligatures are a very good markable items that music suppliers have. I think a ligature can make a big difference in the way the mouthpiece reacts to the reed, however, there are so many gadgets out there that is really useless. Personally I think the Bonade inverted concept is the my favorite perference. The metal allows the reed to vibrate agianst a very hard material at the same time there is very small contact with the reed.
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Author: SeAn
Date: 1999-03-19 16:59
as I read your posting, I find that I have similar ligature transition with you.
began with the std metal ligature for 3-4 years before switching over to a leather Rovner ligature(C1R-MkIII)
used that for abt 5 years or so. then one day I tried my fren's translucent luyben ligature. "wow, the projection and response is so much better"...and I switch to luyben( bought both a white translucent and a black opaque for the fun of it)
until recently, abt 1/2 yr ago, I began to experiment with shoestring, well, the rest is history:) I still practice on the luyben once in awhile. its pretty handy when you dun have the time to wound the shoestring. in a couple of months time I will be in Germany and I look forward to the chance of trying the string ligature that German clarinetists use
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Author: jim lande (lande @ erols.com)
Date: 1999-03-20 00:37
on soprano, bass and contrabass. (bigger shoelace for the contra.)
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-03-22 04:39
I've tried many of the major ligatures out there.
Bonade: I've never been able to find an inverted Bonade that didn't slide up the mouthpiece scratching thte front where the screws were. And i've very rarely found one with parallel and even rails. And as for the standard Bonade, i've never found one that fit on most mouthpieces and didn't have the same rail problems.
Luyben: These are alright. I had a teacher in the 8th grade that swore by them and made me buy one. Back then i didn't really know enough to tell much and it was much btter than the standard generic ligature i was using. but now that i try them again, i don't really care for them either. They seem to give a hollow sound. They project okay. When i'm tightening them i can never tell just hor much i'm really tightening.
Harrison: I like these for when i want a full sound but slightly brighter. Though i wouldn't use them all the time. These also have a small problem with getting all the corners of the X patern even so one or two corners doesn't dig into the reed. But not as bad of a problem as the Bonade. Now that Harrison himself has died, i don't know how the quality control has changed if at all.
BG: I like the BG line alright. Thouguh i haven't done enough playing in a place where i can really hear just myself. I use the Revelation and Tradition on Eb clarinet.
Bay: I i don't really like his plain models (the ones that don't have the rubber lining). But his covered models i am very pleased with. If i don't have the right reed, then it feels rather stuffy. But they have very nice projection and a clear gorgeous tone. Especially, i've found, on the Fobes "San Francisco" model mouthpieces. I hear he has a new model out that i haven't had a chance to try, but i am supposed to be trying out a couple that he's sending to my teacher to test.
Shoestring: I can't use flat shoe string, i have to use the round string like what come on boots and things. I use it on occaision. I like it on bass especially, but it's just too time consuming to i restrict it to times when i know i have a good reed that i won't have to keep changing out.
Rovner: I don't care for most of their models. They are too dark. They don't give much projection. And they tend to muffle the sound too much. The model i do like, and use on a regular basis, is the Eddie Daniels II model. It has a nice smooth sound, all the registers blend well. Has fine projection. Just the right amount of darkness and not on the very bright side. It opens the reed up and makes it quite a bit more free-blowing (i prefer the resistance in the barrel and the rest of the clarinet).
Kaspar: This is my dream ligature. I've never found a ligature that sounded and played anywhere near as good as any of the Kaspar ligatures i've played. Unfortunately, in 3 years of searching,i still haven't had any luck finding one. I came close one time, but the guy that had it came back the next week with a different ligature and didn't even notice that it was different. <sigh> :-(
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-03-22 04:50
I forgot about the Vandoren Optimum: I don't really care for this one at all either. After trying all three of the plates. None of them really seemed to sound any different. But they had different responses. I didn't really like any of the plates for that reason either. They all sounded bright. And the ligature itself feels awkward when getting threed set and tightening it.
Also, keep in mind, these are my opnions and views of these ligatures. Many professionals use these and sound fine. Others use them and sound bad. Others use them in pictures but use something else in recording and sound fine, but who knows about with the pictured lig.
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