 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GBK
Date: 2008-07-26 21:07
Oh no....not another ligature thread.
Like many of you, as I've gotten older, I've become a creature of habit.
For the past decade or so, on one particular mouthpiece, I exclusively used the same Rovner ligature, day in and day out, through countless rehearsals, and concerts. But, I had recently started to notice the sound getting tubby and generally losing color and was wondering why.
Since I was ordering some supplies for my students, I also ordered a few new Rovner ligatures for myself.
The difference between an old heavily used Rovner and the new one was proof enough to make me a believer that over time Rovner ligatures can stretch and become battle worn, needing replacement.
So kids, before sending your entire clarinet in for an overhaul, or replace a barrel, at least for Rovners, a fresh new ligature of the same make/model can often be a very simple and inexpensive fix.
...GBK
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Author: Merlin_Williams
Date: 2008-07-26 21:24
I've stretched out a few Rovners too.
I just use them on hard to fit horns now. I lean toward Optimums, but they don't make them in all of the sizes I need.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-07-26 21:58
I s'pose you could put a "spacer" on top of the mp and continue to use the stretched ones.
Bob Draznik
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Author: blazian
Date: 2008-07-27 02:29
I used my clarinet Rovner for a few years in both seasons (marching and concert) and it started to stretch in addition to the screw being bent from dropping my poor clarinet. I could tell the difference between my old Dark and my MkIII.
- Martin
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-07-27 02:51
I know Phil Rovner and he is always upgrading the material and hardware he uses. If you have a ligature from a few years ago I can guarantee you that his new ones are better, which is why they sound better not because your old one stretched, which if might have. I’ve never had that happen to me. If it is stretched you are probably making it too tight but if you put a patch on your mouthpiece where the ligature fits it should solve that. Sometimes he changes because he has problems with the providers, other times he changes because he is always looking for ways to improve them. He has a new one coming out, it’s on his web sight, which is metal with a rubber type insert, and I love it on clarinet. I was using his Eddie Daniels before. He often sends me his proto types and asks for my opinion; he does this with several others before making a change. Take are look at his web page. "rovnerproducts.com". ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
A little Mozart
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-07-27 03:10
I tried the EVO ligature and ended up actually throwing it in the trash.
Others are really good and I have literally all of my students get a Rovner as their 1st quality ligature. If/when they end up changing to another brand at least they will have a great ligature cap from it.
In the Rovner literature it does mention lubricating the threads and how not keeping them lubricated will affect the sound. Strange but true......
Not sure if it makes a bit of difference, but that's what he wrote.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: GBK
Date: 2008-07-27 03:25
On my recent order of ligatures I received two of the Rovner Mark III ligatures.
Surprisingly, the two of them were different.
While identical in design, they differed slightly in the material used. One was a shiny, vinyl type material and the other was a duller, grey fabric type material.
Thus, I started to wonder: Are there 2 "generations" of Mark III ligatures?
Which is the more recent one?
Being curious (and with too much time on my hands), I wrote to Phil Rovner, asking the above questions.
Within a day, I received an email, explaining the difference:
"... the MarkIII had a change in the material. Actually, the inside is now outside. It was decided that the rough side against the reed had better tone. Since you have one of each, compare them and see if you agree..."
If you don't ask - you never learn. ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
...GBK
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-07-27 06:43
I once bought a Vandoren Optimum and thought it was great. after a few years I felt some problem with the response and accused myself, reeds, instrument, etc. I just never considered it could possibly be the ligature. One day I happened to try a different ligature for not reason, and that problem I had for a while was completely solved. I wasn't even trying to solve a problem by trying that other ligature, and expected to notice no difference. I then tried the Optimum again and the problem was back, pretty serious response problem too (very resistant). I then tried some other old ligatures I had and didn't have the problem either. I didn't remember that the Optimum had this problem when I first got it.
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Author: Claire Annette
Date: 2008-07-27 12:32
I played on a plastic Luyben ligature for 25+ years until recently. My ligature never stretched out or stripped because I don't tighten my screws. I leave my ligature as loose as possible without my reed falling off.
I have no scientific basis for my thinking that it lets the reed have room to vibrate all the more.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2008-07-29 13:08
When I saw this post, I took it as a joke. Ligitures blowing out? HA.
But then I got to thinking about how dissatisfied I was about the mushy, unclear attacks I was hearing in the lower register when I record myself at concerts. So, I bought a new Rovner to replace the one I have used for about 5 years and guess what? Problem fixed!
I was beginning to think I would have to replace my favorite Greg Smith mouthpiece, but now it has new life!
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2008-07-29 14:18
I've been using the BG super revelation for some time and I'm on my second one. It was only when I bought the new one that I realised how much I had managed to flatten the ridged metal plate in the old one - no wonder it hadn't been working too well!
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Author: Neal Raskin
Date: 2008-07-29 18:42
I actually have a BG Super Revalation, and I have seen posts similar to this in the past, and I have wondered if I should replace it. Its around 4 years old.
I think I might try both a Rovner and a Bonade Inverted to compare the differences between what I have now, and the differences between the two new ones. Oooo, I'm excited to buy new clarinet accessories!
I'll let you know what I find.
Neal
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2008-07-29 19:27
Kalmen Opperman takes inexpensive Martin metal ligatures and bends them so that the metal doesn't touch the sides of the reed. He says that with daily use, the bending stretches out in about six months and needs to be re-done.
Harold Wright used an inverted Bonade and replaced it once a year, saying that it lost it's resiliency after that.
I replace my string when it gets frayed. ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif)
Ken Shaw
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2008-07-30 05:43
"When I saw this post, I took it as a joke. Ligitures blowing out? HA."
mitchell lurie ligatures have been modified with cork on the inside rails to
darken the sound.
stick with bg super revs. once you go gold bg super rev's you never go back. (classical speaking)
rowvner eddie daniels II ligatures are more for people that love jazz and a pretty huge sound. it's a different feel though.
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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