 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2011-09-09 23:45
Hi! I really love the VanDoren Optimum ligatures but there are none made for the contra alto. Right now I'm using a Rovner but was wondering if I could use a bari sax Optimum ligature on the contra alto. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Eefer guy
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-09-09 23:52
Go to a musical instrument store with your mouthpiece and check whether a bari sax ligature fits. If it does, the Optimum should also fit. Frankly, I doubt whether it will, since most sax mouthpieces are smaller in diameter than those for contra-alto.
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-09-10 04:33
Ken is right, as usual. Perhaps a bass clarinet ligature will fit. ? ESP
eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: nosqueaks
Date: 2011-09-10 05:37
A Bari sax ligature for a typical size hard rubber Bari mouthpiece (i.e. Selmer) is about the same size as a Bass Clarinet ligature. The Eb Contra alto mouthpiece is larger- I do not think an Optimum Bari sax will fit.
IMO- the Eb REED is way more important than the type of ligature!
A good one that is flat and has good response throughout the range is a good thing- I play on a Selmer C* with a Vandoren #4 Contra reed and the stock Selmer ligature works fine- Vandoren 3s can also be very good-
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2011-09-10 18:59
Until you find a ligature you like, you could try using a strip of double-sided Velcro (available in hardware stores and fabric stores). You can cut it to the right length and easily adjust it to exactly the tightness you need on any size or shape of mouthpiece. I use Velcro on old instruments with mouthpieces that standard-sized modern ligatures don't fit well.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2011-09-11 14:27
Thanks for the suggestions! The reason that I asked about bari sax ligatures as i can use bari sax REEDS on that Fobes mouthpiece and they play well, although not as well as the VanDoren #3 contra reeds. Those reeds have the best sound. The bari reeds are a little wider and shorter and work well on the low notes but sound more feeble as you go up into the the clarion register.
Yes I do have a Selmer ligature that came with the horn but have been using the Rovner and didn't even try the Selmer, figuring it wouldn't work as well. That will get a try today! The VanDoren Optimums give such a nice PING sound that I miss o9n the contra.
Eefer guy
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2011-09-12 22:48
Ken,
Right now I'm using a Fobes contra alto mouthpiece. It has much better sound than the two Selmers I've tried but it could be a facing issue on them.
In going from Rovner to VanDoren Optimum on my other clarinets I've noticed a real improvement in my sound and that's wjy I wanted to see if there was any way I could get an Optimum from another horn that might work on the contra. The one for the bass is too small; already tried that.
Maybe a plan would be to send out these Selmers for refacing. I know Walter uses Selmer blanks for some of his mouthpieces.
Eefer guy
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Author: Bobby McClellan
Date: 2011-09-13 04:00
I currently have a Grabner BBb contra mp on order. My Precsion is way to inconsistent and is killing my jumping octaves.
Bobby M. McClellan
Flowood, MS
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Author: Bobby McClellan
Date: 2011-09-13 04:02
Forgot to mention that I know with my contra pieces nothing will fit them but a contra ligature. that being said both my EEb ad BBb both use the large mouthpiece.
Bobby M. McClellan
Flowood, MS
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