 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarii2
Date: 2015-05-11 07:06
i was playing in a very good clarinet quartet here in new zealand and someone mentioned the rings on mouthpieces to show lines for the ligature. i realized they are on every mouthpiece and at different levels. even the best mouthpieces like vandoren and grabner. and have been forever. one player mentioned he ignores them. so i started putting the ligature on various positions with different reeds. it seems to make a big difference. now i pretty well stick to the upper ring. has this been discussed before. what do you hot shots think?
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Author: JHowell
Date: 2015-05-11 07:46
Assuming that the reference to hot shots was jocular and that one not need be a hot shot to respond: you have said yourself that it seems to make a big difference. It does, but preferences vary. I pay more attention to the ligature's placement on the reed than on the mouthpiece, and adjust somewhat based on how the reed is responding. There have been mouthpieces without ligature lines, but they're traditional at this point. People are more likely to wonder why they're not there when they're not than what they do when they are.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-05-11 15:19
My favorite example right now is the Vandoren Masters Mouthpiece paired with their V21 reed. If you try to use the upper line of ligature on this combination, the top part of the ligature (their very own M/O by the way) would reside over the lower part of the reed's vamp......not good.
For the most part I find it hogwash. I judge by the cut of the reed, which is the thing doing most of the work. If you center the ligature (up and down) on the bark section of the reed, the reed usually vibrates best.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2015-05-11 15:35
I think they are mostly irrelevant. I ignore them and place the ligature where common sense and experience tell me to.
Tony F.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2015-05-11 16:29
Ligature placement makes a big difference. I find that putting it very high produces a pinched tone, and putting it very low produces a thuddy tone.
However, it's an entirely personal matter. Stanley Drucker puts his as low as possible, and Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr puts it as high as possible.
As always, you experiment and do what works for you.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-05-11 17:43
To add to that Ken, it really depends more on the type of ligature and how it works in combination with the reed. There are some ligatures that work better higher up the reed, all other factors being equal (the example I'm thinking of is the metal Ishimoris). Most other ligatures are better at 'center' or below (a "below" example would be the Vandoren Leather with the Bonade style metal plate).
But as you say, experiment, and use what WORKS best for you.
............Paul Aviles
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Author: Ed
Date: 2015-05-11 19:51
I find that the lines work well as a guide. It is easier to tell if the ligature is high or low if you have a reference point. It does matter where it is placed, but that all depends on you, your set up and taste as well as your sensitivity to those things.
Post Edited (2015-05-11 22:16)
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