 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Robin
Date: 2001-02-04 04:28
I'm looking for a new ligaure, can anyone suggest a particular one I should try? There are so many options, and feedback would be appreciated.
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2001-02-04 08:41
There are three main brands that I'm familiar with and all three seem to be good products. The BG ligatures (the standard leather, the super revolation and the traditionals) have quite a good reputation, as do the Rovner's, and Vandorens (particularly the Optimum).
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Author: beejay
Date: 2001-02-04 09:55
Definitely look into Peter Spriggs' floating rail ligature, which you can find about in the sponsor's section. I find it much freer blowing than any other ligature I've used, including the Optimum.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2001-02-04 09:56
Definitely look into Peter Spriggs' floating rail ligature, which you can find about in the sponsors' section. I find it much freer blowing than any other ligature I've used, including the Optimum.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2001-02-04 11:53
I am asking for help too. I have seen several variations of the "floating rail" ligature and the prices vary by 300%. Has any one made a comparison of these various ligatures? Thanks (The Doctor)
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-02-04 14:49
The Gigliotti Plastic lig is very inexpensive version with many of the same features.
If you really want to "Free the reed" the string ligature is cheapest of all.
anji
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Author: Andy
Date: 2001-02-04 16:15
Get a Rovner Dark Ligiture. If you don't want to have the dark sound with this ligiture you can just flip the ligiture upsidedown and you have a brighter sound! They aren't too expsensive either, they cost less than $20.
-Andy
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-02-04 16:52
Omar,
I use a Peter Spriggs floating rail that I am very pleased with ... but, as everyone is aware - YMMV!
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Author: Robert Gifford
Date: 2001-02-04 18:11
I concur with Andy, but I don't know about these new style roveners, the one I have is quite old (has the smooth side on the outside), I don't know if there is a difference? But I know the new ones are a bit different. But I do concur saying that the Rovner dark, is a good one, and you can get two different sounds out of it which is cool.
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Author: Amanda Rose
Date: 2001-02-04 19:49
I like my Vandy Optiumum. I play classical and jazz clari at my high school, so sometimes I can use one plate and sometimes another. It's a very versitile ligature. I prefer it to my Rovner.
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Author: William
Date: 2001-02-05 00:15
Most "top pros" that I know simply use the Bonade reverse style lig. I've also had good luck with the old Laurie "Magic Window" lig. Currently, I am finding limited success with the Vandoren Opt. with the parallel rails (like the old Bonade). Good luck.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-02-05 03:44
Bonade trad - Gold plate: Very responsive and good articulation.
Bonade invereted nickel plated: Reed can last longer but somewhat numb.
BG Super Revelation: Very responsive and brighter sound. Limits genre of music.
BG trad(metal-one screw): Liked its resposiveness but became frustrated with
its unadjustability.
Rovner dark or lite: Seemed to jeopadaize free vibration of reed.
Buffet: Unusable.
Selmer: Old ones had been good. Now, I do not know.
Lyuben-plastic: it was totally less than expected after reading someone's
recommendation.
Vandoren Optimum: too much mass seemed to avoid reed free vibration.
Charles Bay: Gold plated. Its very thin structuire I did not like.
Therefore, among ligatures I have tried, Bonade traditional-Gold plated is my best.
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Author: Daniel Bouwmeester
Date: 2001-02-05 12:07
I have been really impressed with the Rovner Eddie Daniels II ligature. Everyone I know who have tried it have baught it. Some people such as THomas Friedli (Alessandro Carbonare's teacher).
The vandoren Optimum is very good too... I didn't like it as much as the rovner.
A bit of shoe lace is excellent too (Sabine Meyer uses a shoelace), and I did for a long time till I tried the ROVNER ED II.
I suggest you go to your local dealer and try out different models.
regards
Daniel
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-02-05 17:28
Robin -
String is better than any ligature. When you try ligatures, you should always compare what you try to string. For a step-by-step how-to, see http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=30979&t=30927.
The ligature I use most is an inexpensive Martin, with the metal bent a bit so it doesn't bind on the edges of the reed. This is also what Richard Stoltzman uses -- maybe the only thing he and I have in common.
Harold Wright used an inverted Bonade. Robert Marcellus used an inverted Boande with the vertical band connecting the top and bottom halves cut out.
Rovners are inexpensive and easy to use. Some people feel they muffle the sound, though. I have a Rovner light, which I use sometimes and which gives a freer tone than the standard model..
The Luyben is light plastic and very inexpensive. I don't particularly like them, but a lot of people do, and they're so cheap it's worth getting one even if you don't use it. They have to be screwed *very* tight to work best.
I used a Lurie for a while, but put it away because it sounded dull. I tried a Portnoy, but it dug holes in the reeds.
I've tried the Vandoren Optimum and the various BG models and can't tell any difference. I have a Spriggs Floating Rail model, which Mark uses, and I think it's good, but no better than the less expensive ones. I played a very expensive Winslow for a while, but it chewed up the reeds and sounded better up close than at a distance. I also tried an Oleg, which can play very well, but is too much bother to adjust.
I'd stay away from the fancy, $50+ ligatures. For me, the lighter the better. When I have to play my best, I use string.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-02-05 22:03
Ken Shaw wrote:
>
>
> ... The Luyben is light plastic and very inexpensive. I don't
> particularly like them, but a lot of people do, and they're so
> cheap it's worth getting one even if you don't use it. They
> have to be screwed *very* tight to work best.
I happen to be one who likes the Luyben ligature. However I disagree about the tightening. I get the best response by just barely tightening the screws. Besides that if you do screw them very tight, you risk stripping the threads in the plastic.
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Author: Paul
Date: 2001-02-08 00:06
Ive been only playing the clarinet for about 6 years but in my experience......the one that i use now......and my favorite is the vandoreen optimum.........i love it, it comes with three changing pannels to create different tones..........classical....... jazz.......and what i call just plain out loud.........so give a look into optimum.........
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Author: NSW
Date: 2001-04-21 09:22
Hi
I'm Singaporean and a lot of the ligatures mentioned in this forum are really STRANGERS to me. (i juz posted in another similiar with a similiar content .. but forgot to mention WHAT STRINGS?? ANYone got a pic to illustrate the point? I've never heard of such a thing in my life!~)
Anyway I am just an amatuer clarinetist but I do have experiences with a few ligatures:
The 'basic' 2 screw type: I don't really like them, find them to be too bright and thin for my liking
BG Traditional: Mine was the silver version. It had served me rather well, although I would say I have problems with a 'saliva sound' while playing it. It however had its life ended when corrosion spilt the joint.
BG Standard: this leather ligature was borrowed from a friend of mine. Sounds weird in my own opinion. Projection is not as good
Rovner Light: I bought this hard rubber ligature meant for a replacement for the BG traditional. I ended its life prematurely by dumping it in my storeroom. I feel that even though it was the 'light' version, the sound was muffled and response isn't that great after all.
BG Super Revelation: I do not really favour this ligature. The broadness of the sound was not there, but articulation was made realli much easier.
Consoli Ramplig Dark: I am currently using this ligature. Its the best so far in my own opinion, but it was also my most expensive. Its classified as dark, but by pushing it downwards I get a brighter sound. The flexibility was there. But so far I have not seen this ligature being mentioned in this thread at all. the website is http://www.consolims.com
I personally believe that good tone is primarily acheived by the mouth, and the equipment near the mouth ( i think you get what i mean) and that the clarinet is just an extension. ( i own a Buffet E 11)
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