 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-12-08 08:31
By the way, this is not me trying to convince anyone to play on string ligatures. Just thought some people might appreciate it.
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-12-08 09:21
Most of the ligatures in this photo are German-style string ligatures made with rainbow string. My post was sort of a joke: String ligatures might sound good, but the real advantage of playing one is that you can use ridiculous-looking rainbow ligatures.
We didn't have enough string left to make full-on string ligatures for everyone in the section, so a couple of people just took the leftover string and tied it around their metal ligatures. Should've cropped that out of the photo.
Post Edited (2014-12-08 13:22)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-12-08 17:09
Also, on a slightly more serious note, I find that you get better "advantages" from string if you use a smaller diameter string (more windings per reed). This allows you greater flexibility from the tightest to the loosest setting.
And.........
You need to tie knots at both ends of your 'blattschnur' so that you can execute the tugs to tighten properly as you wind the ligature.
And.........
Particularly since you are not using German mouthpieces with grooves in them to help hold the string/reed system on, you need to make the string slightly "tacky" by running through a chunk of 100% beeswax two or three times (you need to feel out the right amount of application......no worries, it wears off after a bit and needs re-application).
............Paul Aviles
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Author: TomS
Date: 2014-12-08 19:28
Ditto on using smaller diameter (for more turns) waxed string. It is probably better to run it through real beeswax than depend on commercial treatment. The wax helps keep it in place on the French MP and the knots hold better. The wax may also effect the sound ... for the better?
I use a 36-40 inch skinny waxed "dress shoe" shoestring make by Kiwi (style 673). These aren't available in longer lengths than 27 inches, so I tie two together, with the adjoining knot on the top of the MP, opposite the reed.
Amazingly, many shoe stores don't stock shoestrings at all!
So, I am going to find either a longer one made by someone else or another type of string.
I experimented with various type of shoe string before I decided the skinny waxed string worked and sounded the best ...
Tom
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-12-08 19:29
Usually I use a smaller-diameter black string with knots tied, but my friend brought the colored string so I had no control over how thick it would be. We were also tying them last-minute so we didn't have time to tie the knots at the end.
I've never heard of using wax before. It seems to stick pretty well regardless, but maybe I'll give it a try.
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-12-08 21:40
Attachment: image.jpg (1623k)
This is my usual string ligature. String still might be thicker than what you use, but I find it works well. It's just paracord I picked up at a local Michael's.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2014-12-08 22:25
David Pino, in his book "The Clarinet and Clarinet Playing", declared that he used a plain old cotton flat shoestring. Only takes 4-5 turns to cover the reed ...
I haven't thought of searching the hobby stores for various string material ...
I haven't bothered to research what traditionally is/was used ... some claim that silk is the best material.
Maybe shrew intestines are worth trying ...
Tom
Post Edited (2014-12-08 22:57)
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-12-08 23:57
I tried a shoelace, but it wasn't quite long enough. Good material though.
The blattschurs Wurlitzer sells are cotton fiber; I've thought about buying one, but it seems inconvenient to go through their whole ordering system for a piece of string.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-12-09 01:48
You can also buy blattschnur through "NICK" (Nick Kuckmeier) I believe. Yes, I think the cording they have is 100% cotton.
Here, cotton cording would be hard to find BUT, there is a plethora of options in "silk rat-tailed braid" or polyester cording as well at virtually EVERY good fabric store.
...........Paul Aviles
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-12-09 04:08
Do you know where on Nick's website I can find the blattschnur? I'm looking around, but under ligatures and caps there's only a "coming soon" page.
I actually initially bought some synthetic rat tailed cord, but the smallest diameter I could find was too big. Paracord is also a synthetic material, seems to work equally well, and you can buy enough to make many, many ligatures for a few dollars.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-12-09 08:12
Ok, so, I spoke too soon. I recall some time ago rooting around the Gerold website and poking around the links and running into spools of the blattschnur somewhere......guess not Nick.
I'll keep checking and hope I run into it again.
............Paul Aviles
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-12-09 19:12
Thanks! I was looking around yesterday but couldn't find anything. Maybe I'll order one in the next couple of days.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2014-12-10 01:01
I always pack a spare clarinet in suitcase when going on holiday just to keep chops in shape.
This summer on unpacking (on small island - no music shop) found I had forgotten a ligature.
At local store bought ball of regular string and also applied some masking tape around my crystal mouthpiece to increase friction. Never having used this method before I found it took only a few minutes to fashion a string ligature - and it seemed to work just as well as my regular VD leather one.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2014-12-10 01:44
You''ll put your eye out with that thing..........
Bob Draznik
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-12-10 04:30
Norman: Yes, it's good to know how to tie one even if you don't plan on using one regularly, because you never know when your ligature might break or get lost. Imagine getting on stage for a concert and your ligature breaks... You could just unlace your shoe!
Bob: Not sure I understand...
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Author: derf5585
Date: 2014-12-10 06:32
Would a string ligature blend in better when playing with string instruments?
fsbsde@yahoo.com
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-12-10 07:21
Yes, and as a musician it is compulsory to know how to "tie one one" every now and then :-)
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: rtaylor
Date: 2014-12-10 21:46
One other place to get a string ligature:
http://www.sinus-reeds.de/produkte2.html
Blattschnur, Eisengarn, gedreht, schwarz € 0,68
Blattschnur, Baumwolle gewirkt, mit innen laufenden Nylonfäden, schwarz oder braun € 0,68
Pflaumer's is thin and does provide a good response. I've used them for years.
Rob
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Author: derf5585
Date: 2014-12-11 01:14
Can string theory explain about string ligatures?
Can catgut be used as a ligature?
fsbsde@yahoo.com
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-12-11 06:38
Paul: I've seen those caps before, they're neat. I find that the cap that came with my Optimum works well.
rtaylor: Thanks for the link! I think, if I order one, I may order one from the first link that Paul posted, since they seem to be the easiest to order from in the US.
Post Edited (2014-12-11 06:39)
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-12-11 07:26
I take that back - it was the Rovner cap that worked well. Optimum cap is a little small.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-12-11 08:55
Two 'more accessible' caps that work for "odd circumstances" are the Vandoren Leather Cap for the Vandoren Leather Ligature or (if they are still available) the short (only beak length) Francois Louis Caps.
...........Paul Aviles
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2014-12-11 17:58
Although I like string ligatures, I'm a klutz at adjusting them. For me, double-sided Velcro works just as well. It comes in black (inconspicuous -- or any number of screaming colors, if inconspicuous means boring) and it's super-easy to adjust to any mouthpiece. It's handy for some of my vintage clarinets and saxes with old mouthpieces that standard modern metal legatures don't fit.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: ABerry
Date: 2014-12-12 08:47
Well, if you tire of looking for suitable string or even tying the ligature, give the Vandoren Klassic string ligature a go. I've been using one for several years on a Buffet Festival R13, MoBa Traditional mouthpiece, MoBa Grenadilla barrel and a Mozart #4 reed.
Allan
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-12-12 09:50
Lelia Loban: Neat idea!
ABerry: I've heard good things about the Vandoren Klassik. I'm pretty happy with the Vandoren Optimum as my primary ligature, so I'm not really looking to buy a new one, but if I ever decide that I like the "string" sound better maybe I'll consider getting one.
For now the string ligature is just something I'm messing with - I'm still using the Optimum in most situations.
Post Edited (2014-12-12 09:52)
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Author: TomS
Date: 2014-12-14 10:45
I think that the major advantage of a string ligature is that each time you wrap the string, you are constructing a unique and custom ligature that matches each individual reed exactly. With ligatures of metal, plastic, fabric or leather, they can't perfectly flex and mold precisely to the contour of each reed.
Here is a site that offers all sorts of shoe strings and can actually make custom lengths ...
http://www.shoelacesexpress.com/waxeddressflat.asp
Tom
Post Edited (2014-12-16 16:49)
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