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 floating ligature
Author: nate 
Date:   2006-07-10 19:33

Has anyone ever heard of a floating ligature?

Could you tell me how it works and what it does to the reed and/or the mouthpiece?
Also would you recomend that i buy one?

thank you

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 Re: floating ligature
Author: ClariTone 
Date:   2006-07-10 19:45

Do you mean the "Floating Rail Ligature"? If so, I've read in the archives that the idea is to apply equal pressure to 4 points on the reed while holding it securely on the mouthpiece. Try conducting a search.

Best of Luck!!!
Clayton



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 Re: floating ligature
Author: GBK 
Date:   2006-07-10 19:59

The Spriggs Floating Rail ligature is similar in principle to the Bonade ligature.

The reed is held with two long inside rails, but it differs from the Bonade in that the overall weight of the ligature is less and there are 4 specific gripping points around the mouthpiece.

I agree with others who have said in past discussions that this ligature permits a very fast reed response. If you currently play a slower mouthpiece/reed combination which you feel is not presently responsive enough for you, this may help.

Remember, the ligature is only one VERY SMALL factor in your playing. Don't get obsessed by "the grass is always greener on the other side."

Can differences in ligatures be felt by the player? Usually.

Can differences in ligatures be heard by audiences? Less than you think.

In most cases, it is better to learn to play what you already have...GBK

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 Re: floating ligature
Author: CK 
Date:   2006-07-10 23:38

Hi- I use the spriggs ligature and I find its response better than all
the other ligatures I have tried. It is worth giving it a try.
Find it from a dealer who will allow you to return it if you do not
like it. Keep in mind that all opinions on mouthpieces, ligatures,
ect. are subjective.
CDK



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 Re: floating ligature
Author: ClariTone 
Date:   2006-07-11 00:13

In my experience, some dealers even allow you to try out ligatures in the store. Check with one of the employees as this might allow you to try a plethora of ligatures all at once (although the play-testing situation may be less than ideal...)

Clayton



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 Re: floating ligature
Author: L. Omar Henderson 
Date:   2006-07-11 02:20

The Spriggs Floating Rail ligature is one of my favorites. The response is very crisp and focused. The only downside is that with tight joints it is difficult to switch mouthpieces with reed attached because it tends to slip off. The upside is that the rails move independently which IMO lets it adjust to slight differences in the curvature of the reed to apply constant and even pressure on the reed against the table of the mouthpiece which fixed rails do not. Like any other piece of hardware it is an individual's choice as to what works best for them.
L. Omar Henderson
(I do not sell the ligature or get any remuneration from Peter)

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 Re: floating ligature
Author: Carol Dutcher 
Date:   2006-07-11 02:59

I bought one from Peter Spriggs several years ago and I like it very much. It is so delicate that I thought I would break it, but it is holding up just fine, and is also very pretty. I found that my squeaking now is practically nil.

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 Re: floating ligature
Author: nate 
Date:   2006-07-12 05:37

Thank you all i will give it a shot and search for what best fits me.

If there is any other types of liguture that any of you might suggest to be better that I can try out along with the Foating Rail Liguture could you tell me what they might be.

I have another question conscerning mouthpieces, i currently have a Vandoren B45 mouthpiece and I was wondering if there is any other type that anyone might suggest to be better? Also what would work best with the ligature/mouthpiece combination.

Again thank you again
Nate

thank you

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 Re: floating ligature
Author: bob49t 
Date:   2006-07-12 06:20

Not forgetting the Francois Louis ligatures (good personal experience of them) ......similar principle and simpler in design.

see..............

http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=122302&t=122180

.........for thread on FL ligs.

BobT

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 Re: floating ligature
Author: Iceland clarinet 
Date:   2006-10-29 04:04

Bad ligature can make a superb mouthpiece sounding just ok or bad. I have 4 ligatures and I always find something in each of them that I like more than the other one so I'm switching a lot between them maybe every 3 or 4 month. Sometimes I like how compact and dark the tone is with the Vandoren leather ligatures and sometimes I like more open sound like with the Rovner Eddie Daniels ligatures and then I sometimes like the Bay regular inverted rhodium ligature(don't know what rhodium means) because how flexibel and vibrant it is.

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 Re: floating ligature
Author: pewd 
Date:   2006-10-29 04:45

finally get to use my chemistry training.
rhodium is element #45

gbk's last sentence in his post of july 10 is good advice.

- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas

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 Re: floating ligature
Author: CPW 
Date:   2006-10-29 17:11

Mine sank!! [grin]

Against the windmills of my mind
The jousting pole splinters

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 Re: floating ligature
Author: jim S. 
Date:   2006-10-30 16:17

Jon Manasse was using one this month during his recital at the Clarinet Choir Festival at Eastman.

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 Re: floating ligature
Author: Alseg 
Date:   2006-10-30 16:30

I am impressed how nicely these are machined. Obviously quality control is paramount to Mr. Spriggs.


Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-





Post Edited (2006-10-30 16:46)

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 Re: floating ligature
Author: Alseg 
Date:   2006-10-31 02:00
Attachment:  IMG_0023.JPG (963k)

Here is a minor modification using electrical heat-shrink tubing that is used for covering splices on wire. These are found in DIY stores near the Klein tools and junction boxes.


Just place them over the screw, gently warm them, adding more if desired....I liked the ergometrics of the result, but this is something purely personal, and in no way negates my complimentary post above about how well these are machined.

I am sure this will negate a warranty and irritate Mr. Spriggs, who has indicated that he designed the screw and selected its size to avoid overtightening, but I found my modification helpful when checking out a bunch of reeds.

My sincerest apologies to Mr. Spriggs, and I do NOT suggest anyone do this. It is merely something I toyed with.


Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-





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 Re: floating ligature
Author: jacoblikesmusic 
Date:   2010-01-09 18:42

have you had any problems with one rail being not secured while the other one already is?

I bought one from Muncy a few days ago and recieved it today. The right rail doesn't move but the left rail isn't firmly secured no matter what position unless I tighten it a tiny bit more. Will that affect the tone quality or response in any way

Is your spriggs ligature like this? Try tightening the ligature a tiny bit by tiny bit. Does one rail stop moving before the other?

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 Re: floating ligature
Author: Mark Charette 
Date:   2010-01-09 19:14

jacoblikesmusic wrote:

> Is your spriggs ligature like this? Try tightening the ligature
> a tiny bit by tiny bit. Does one rail stop moving before the
> other?

If the reed is asymmetrically cut this might happen, but the rails will adjust (or you can wiggle the ligature around a bit so they'll tighten evenly).

If the rails don't move right (jammed) when the ligature is off the mouthpiece - then it's broken and needs to be replaced by Muncy.

I've been using my Spriggs for maybe a decade now and I'm still as happy with it as the day I got it.

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 Re: floating ligature
Author: jacoblikesmusic 
Date:   2010-01-09 20:14

So if the rails move right then my ligature is good?

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 Re: floating ligature
Author: Mark Charette 
Date:   2010-01-09 20:51

jacoblikesmusic wrote:

> So if the rails move right then my ligature is good?

Yes. Assuming the ligature hasn't been stepped on or otherwise mangled.

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