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 Ligature Positions
Author: ramsa 
Date:   2010-08-01 05:01

Might seem like a basic question, but I've become unsure about how to apply my reed/ligature on the mouthpiece. Always thought that the screws to tighten should be on same side as the reed, or bottom... Then I've seen on youtube and photos with people playing and the mechanics to tighten on the topside?
My mouthpiece is a Vandoren M13 and Vandoren black metal ligature, but not sure of exact model. It's pretty lightweight and has some indents that look like they'd hold down a reed on the opposite side from the screws...
Are there both design types on the market? Is one better than the other?
Just curious as I'm in gear info overload on what's out there, and trying to sort out what I have now, or might like to purchase in the future...
Thanks,
Dave

This is a genuine signature.

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 Re: Ligature Positions
Author: Bob Bernardo 
Date:   2010-08-01 06:04

There are 2 types, bottom and the top. I would say it's about 50/50 as far as what the players prefer.

I prefer very little of the ligiture touching the reed, because of that I favor the screws to be on top. There are probably 50 assorted types of ligitures including gold plated to cloth, rubber, and assorted plastics. Some of the German clarinet players use string.


Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces


Yamaha Artist 2015




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 Re: Ligature Positions
Author: William 
Date:   2010-08-01 15:25

Generally, when a ligature is correctly positioned on your mouthpiece, the screws will point to the right, assuming most everyone is "right" handed, I guess. This is true for traditional & "reverse" ligatures. However, many very good clarinetists have always violated that rule and repositioned the ligature where they thought the reed worked best. So, the rule is really, "do what you want to do" if you think it helps your sound.

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 Re: Ligature Positions
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2010-08-01 15:25

There's no right or wrong.

Stanley Drucker put his ligature as low as it could go.

Elsa Ludewig-Vedehr put hers as high as it could go.

Reginald Kell turned his 45 degrees to the side, so only two horizontal bands touched the reed.

Some prefer metal, others prefer leather. I use a Rovner Lite for practicing and, usually, string for performing.

The only consistent rule I've found over 50 years of playing is to tighten up the screw(s) snug and then back off 1/4 turn.

You experiment to discover what works best for you.

Ken Shaw

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 Re: Ligature Positions
Author: ramsa 
Date:   2010-08-01 22:27

Thanks. I'm getting the drift. The Vandoren is topside when the screws are "to the right"...
My Selmer student model is on the bottom. Just different designs.

Now, on to clarinet stands...

This is a genuine signature.

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 Re: Ligature Positions
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2010-08-02 05:50

You can also swap which side the screws are on in many ligatures.

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: Ligature Positions
Author: Ed Palanker 
Date:   2010-08-03 02:50

Whatever you decide to use, inverted or screws on the reed side, metal or leather or other types of material look for what Leon Russianoff once told me. Find the ligature and placement so that it sounds and responds as close to the way your thumb does as possible. Something to think about. It's amazing how much difference a ligature can make but it's also amazing how little one can make as well. Experiment. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com

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