 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2015-02-14 23:02
Silverstein has a new version of its kevlar string ligature called the Cryo Gold.
see http://silversteinworks.com/product/cryo4-ligature.
The ad says they used subfreezing temperature in the manufacturing process and reduced the bulk of the string to improve the resonance and response. Its more compact profile certainly looks good.
For sound quality alone, Silverstein probably has few competitors--maybe the BG Duo and the Ishimoris. If they had improved the tension screw and made the design more durable, this one could be a winner.
Anybody try a Cryo Silverstein yet?
Post Edited (2015-11-28 02:44)
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Author: AAAClarinet
Date: 2015-02-14 23:58
I played one at NAMM. I didn't realize at the time that I was playing a new model. Being that my surroundings were loud and the fact that I didn't have my own clarinet I can't really say how I sounded, but all of the Silverstein ligatures I tried felt great.
AAAClarinet
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Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2015-02-15 00:28
Can I get it with the Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor (bass clarinet only) option?
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2015-02-15 02:45
I haven't tried it
I have biases.
I'm not a ligature guy. My inverted Bonade: that's good for me: even (gasp) on a Vandoren Masters mouthpiece. (For those tuning in late: such a ligature would be contraindicated by Vandoren on a Master's mouthpiece.)
But some of you are ligature guys/gals. And that's cool. Or maybe you'rr just a gadget guy/gal. That would make two of us, when I'm willing to spend the money that is.
And you know what, every so often a product comes along in the field that really is worthy of our taking notice and purchasing. I'd like to think D'Addario reeds is one, and Ridenour's ATG another (no affiliation.)
So maybe the Silverstein really is the "cat's meow" these days. Maybe the differences you see in this ligature are really something, and my biases are causing me to miss out trying it. I'll admit that plausible. I also admit plausible that my skills and acumen might not be up to discerning the difference a Silverstein makes, although I play with professionals, and have played clarinet for 40 years: which I guess neither makes me the first nor last word on anything clarinet.
And maybe this immersion of the ligature's metal components at the extremely cold temperatures Silverstein subjects them to really does add to the ligature's harmonic range across players, mouthpieces, reeds, clarinet brands, and even single reed instruments.
And maybe the added harmonics Silverstein reports really does make for more pleasant and/or projectable sound.
But all this said, I face a reality about players and manufacturers that's hard to ignore. If Silverstein was, among players, universally the breakthrough so claimed, in a field where competition among performers is so crazy intense, wouldn't near every pro not otherwise mandated by endorsement contract by a competing ligature be switching to/playing a Silverstein?
Second, as anyone in marketing and manufacturer of products and services will tell you, you have to always be thinking about version X+1, version X+2, etc., of your product. I don't know when Silverstein discovered this cryogenic connection, or its new cord, or its Fine Tunning bar innovations, but having been on the manufacturing (as opposed to consumer side) of products, its common to not only proritize what features come with a product, but which ones are left out to leave remove for improvement in the next generation of the product, once market saturation has occured on the current version.
Accordingly, I had my doubts with the original Silverstein, and even if it was all the ligature it was advertised to be, I have my doubts with the worth sometimes of new product features of any product.
In fairness and disclosure, of course I could be wrong, and yes, I would try one at a store or trade show, risk free, if time permitted.
Remember, this new and improved Silverstein may very well be tomorrow's old version of the ligature, once the new XYZ feature is introduced a year from now.
Post Edited (2015-02-15 02:46)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-02-15 05:27
The original design is good. However some of the original claims where dubious, such as being able to maintain moisture on the reed by wetting the cord (which is about as water retentive as a piece of plastic).
I don't want to say Silverstein is about to attain marketing overreach but.......
Personally I would have just tried to continue gaining market share for a few more years before getting all "cryogenic" on us.
........................Paul Aviles
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2015-02-15 20:36
IF clarinetists used only ligatures that were not hyped by outrageous advertising claims, they'd all be playing anonymous, unmarked stock models.
The Cryo4 ads are so over the top that they can be read only as high camp lampoons. The same can be said for some of the Rovner advertising for ligatures that thousands of clarinetists use just because they like the way they perform. They sensibly shrug off the ballyhoo nonsense.
Hardly anybody pays much attention to the cyber puffs; they try the ligature, and if they like it, they use it. Cryogenics is probably good mostly for increasing the average service time an engineer can get from metal gears and drill bits, neither of which are part of most clarinets. But the Cryo hook grabs the reader's attention and that's what advertising is supposed to do, more than deliver sober-sided, dull facts. Same for the idea that the ligature cord can bathe the reed in restorative moisture.
Yes, the Silverstein ads are more than a little tipsy; next, they might even add a solar powered LED to illuminate your sheet music while you play, but the question remains: do they sound good and respond well, and in the new model, have they addressed the faults many players found (and reported back to them) in the first model?
The Ads are for entertainment; the ligatures are for making music.
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2015-02-15 21:21
Silverstein may want to consider the "infomercial marketing paradigm," which comes with pros and cons.
First, you "pump and dump," trying to get everyone to buy at full price. You offer two for 180% the price of one. People buy two, and auction off the second at 97% of price, and everyone benefits from the transaction.
(BTW, that's why so many informercial products offer "two." The first reason to do this is to get consumers over the hump of indecision and purchase, and the second is the aftermarket saturation by 3rd party sellers on auction sites.)
Next, you make the product more "brick and motar" available (I know this works better with a "Snuggy" than a ligature), and pull your advertising blitz and its assocaited costs.
Next, you introduce version 2 of the product, "clearing the shelves--all must go to make way for the new!" (this was all part of the plan) of version 1 at "going out of business" prices--but still well above cost of manufacture (i.e. at profit.)
While this "capture the market" plan, as known by economists, where you keep on reducing price (although still maintaining profit), allows people with varying degrees of desire for the product, to purchase it, allowing you to maximize profit, you run the risk of tarnishing the product's cache, the relative benefits of version 2 of your own product, and tacitly disclosing your cost to produce: something best kept unknown to consumers and competitors.
On the good side, in the music business, getting everyone to use your product can become a surrogate for the presumption of product worthyness, as players looking around to see everyone using your ligature, can create a sense of product superiority where one may, or may not exist.
These comments are in no way meant as disparaging towards Silverstein Works. They're just marketing strategies used across business in general.
Post Edited (2015-02-15 21:24)
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Author: brycon
Date: 2015-02-16 00:09
I have my own version of this ligature, which is available for purchase. I take an inverted Bonade, wrap it in rubber bands, and throw it onto the half empty pizza box in the back of my fridge: I call it the Cryo Mold (TM).
Once you get over the smell of two week old pizza, you won't believe the resonance and ease of articulation this ligature provides--you'll be throwing all your ligatures into the refrigerator. But remember, there's only one Cryo Mold!
Many professionals are switching over to Cryo Mold products! In addition to me, our robust artist roster includes the dude that sometimes plays in Washington Square Park on the weekends (but to be fair, I told him that Cryo Mold would block the government's attempts to monitor his whereabouts).
Cryo Molds are currently being sold for only $99.99, but space atop my pizza box is filling up fast, so order now!
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Author: tylerleecutts
Date: 2015-02-16 04:32
Let me put my Mark III in the freezer for a few days- then we'll see.
I've already cryo-freezed the Vandoren leather ligature- you've NEVER heard anything play like this! It's almost as if it plays for YOU!!
400.00 per ligature, includes the automatic reed freezer for 30.00 more.
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Author: donald
Date: 2015-02-16 04:45
I just can't get past the name "Silverstein". Always makes me think of Shel Silverstein. His classic "Hairy Jazz" album uses Steinway Kazoos exclusively.
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