The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-09-22 20:36
I've been using the Bois ligatures (a single ring made of "Delrin" acetal resin, with a thin internal O-ring) for a couple of years now, on Eb, Bb and bass clarinets. I like the way they sound (or at any rate I like the way I FEEL like I sound with them), and they're easy to install and remove, but their downsides are that it's easy to knock the reed askew, and their longitudinal position on the mouthpiece is a function of the thickness of the reed blank, since they are non-adjustable in circumference.
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2009-09-23 05:52
"or at any rate I like the way I FEEL like I sound with them.".... I love the way you put this...... a sort of homogenous feel, sound , think experience.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-09-23 11:33
Nice of you to say that, Monsieur Arnoldstang, but I didn't quite mean what I wrote in the sense of a Zen-like, holistic experience.
I meant that, objectively, it's been demonstrated that regardless of small variations in our equipment (especially the ligature, probably the least significant item in our arsenal), we tend to sound just the same to the audience. We (the players) may FEEL better about our sound when using a certain ligature, or even mouthpiece or reed, but it seems the audience can hardly ever tell the difference.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-09-23 12:01
> but it seems the audience can hardly ever tell the difference.
"Who's that man with the slim black sax?"
--
Ben
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2009-09-23 12:31
It's because most of the time it's in our head and the audience do not have access to that part.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-09-23 13:22
The Bois is a decent ligature, but as mentioned above, the reed can move around very easily on the mouthpiece table with that ligature. I keep one in my case, but mainly as an emergency backup anymore.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
Post Edited (2009-09-23 13:22)
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2009-09-23 15:31
Is there not a point where "freedom of vibration" reduces sound clarity and projection? The bois ligature doesn't really do you any favors in not holding the reed firmly to the table. How often is a reed always perfectly flat without the need for a bit of pressure to hold it down?
That being said, I don't prefer most fabric ligatures that dampen the vibration of both the reed and the vibration and mouthpiece.
To me, a well balanced ligature is as important as a well balanced reed. Having equal amount of material touching the mouthpiece as the reed (like the Bonade inverted, Kaspar, Harrison, etc..) provides the best results.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2009-09-23 18:32
Haven't tried the Evo-5, although the design looks pretty good. It's something I'd be interested in trying. The Bois, as mentioned above, is more prone to allowing the reed to be knocked askew of the facing than other ligatures.
Although I feel opposite of NBeaty. I prefer fabric ligatures (I assume that person was speaking of a rovner style ligature) over metal ligatures. I feel that the reed is more secure, with a much more uniform pressure across the butt of the reed, and the force spread out across the butt of the reed instead of on a few points.
Also, I like that the fabric ligatures (as in rovner) offer a very secure grip of the reed and mouthpiece. More surface area making contact means it's more unlikely to slip if you need to adjust your mouthpiece or take it off to shake out some spit or run a swab through.
Although I too feel that your bonade style ligature does allow a reed to have a different sound.
Personally, I'd vote to have two ligatures, one ribbed metal ligature (ala BG, bonade, etc.) AND a cloth ligature (ala rovner, vandoren leather, shoestring, etc.) If the reed feels too bright or slightly thin that day, I use the cloth. If it feels as though it should have or needs a little more ring, I use the metal.
Personally, I use an eddie daniels ligature made by rovner. Flip the leather tabs out of the way for a 'duller' reed, put them over the metal for a 'brighter' reed.
The Evo-5 looks like it'd also satisfy both ends of the spectrum, or you can also experiment by having a standard rovner ligature and simply placing a different material in between the leather and reed. Maybe a dime, a small piece of metal, etc. to have a point, 90 degree pressure. And use the cloth when you don't want it.
Alexi
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-09-23 23:07
Though I agree that the ligature does not have the same impact on your tone as the mouthpiece it does make a difference to your sound and response. A ligature can take the highs or lows out of your tone, can stifle or free up your tone and response and can help make your tone more even through out the registers. It can certainly make your tone brighter or darker, dampening or bring out certain qualities in the reed. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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