Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2018-08-31 21:28
I've been wanting to make Legere reeds work for some time. However, I prefer more open facings and these seem less "Legere-friendly". However, I am currently playing a Backun Arabesque (1.19 x L) facing that seems to working well with European Cut 3.5 reeds.
The problem has been a suitable ligature. Among the ligatures I have, the Rovner Light seemed to play OK and it DID hold the reed on firmly. Among my metal ligatures, I really like the Vandoren M|O, but for clarinet, the "cradle" is too narrow for the Euro Cut reeds (i.e., it holds the reed by the edges which impairs the sound).
Consequently, I ordered an Alto Sax M|O ligature (in "Aged Gold" which matches the keys on my CSGs). Unfortunately, this ligature is a bit large (in diameter) and cannot grip the very thin Legere reeds.
As a workaround, I've tried beefing up the "bark" part of the reed with double-stick tape (~1/8" thick), cork, and various rubber "pad" materials. So far the best solution has been to cut a 3mm-thick (Runyon) mouthpiece patch and use THAT on the back of the reed. So far this seems to have minimal effect on the reed vibration, allows the Alto Sax M|O ligature to hold the reed firmly with minimal pressure and yields a better sound than the Rovner seems to. I have ordered some adhesive rubber material from which I can make additional "patches" and we'll see how that works.
If the Legeres work out with this solution, I might consider other metal ligatures (which I feel mitigate the otherwise "covered" Legere sound). However, most of them seen to employ a "Bonade" style which grips the reed using vertical bars and I have found that I prefer the more "free" feel of the horizontal contacts employed by the M|O (and Optimum) ligatures. Then there is also the problem that ligatures have become really expensive, especially if you want them in gold...
Bob Barnhart
|
|
The Clarinet BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
