 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2022-12-06 18:42
I have found that the positioning and pressure of the ligature can make a huge difference in the performance of the Legere Euro cut reed.
Oddly, the position that seems to work best for most ligatures is placing the top part of where the ligature binds in line with the bottom of the mouthpiece window. You can see the window of the mouthpiece opening through the Legeres. So it is as if you draw a horizontal line across the bottom of that opening and place the top part of the ligature on that. Now you can experiment with it being as much as 1mm below that (or half way between the top line of ligature and the opening).
The other factor is to leave the ligature quite loose. The test for that is how easily the reed can be jiggled side to side when the ligature is on. There is a "sweet spot." Too loose is just as detrimental to the sound as too tight.......you'll have to experiment. One advantage is that once you find that proper tightness, you can just slip the ligature on and off at the beginning and end of playing sessions (pretty much any ligature).
Many of you won't like that last one. I for one spent many many years clamping down on my reeds, popping the mouthpiece on and off for clarinet changes and swabbing. Now I must remember to put the mouthpiece on the barrel first to put the ligature on and fiddle to get the reed on just right. So, yes, with this very light ligature pressure, all swabbing and clarinet changes need to happen at the barrel.
I have tried this with many different ligatures (I pretty much have them all) and several different mouthpieces over the course of a month, so it is not just specific to one particular set up of mine.
............Paul Aviles
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2022-12-06 22:47
I meant to add at least two notable exceptions to the placement issue but I had to run off and have an emergency root canal. And no, there are NOT fun.
Both the Luyben and the BG Duo benefit from an even higher position. I arrived at a point 2mm ABOVE the bottom of the mouthpiece's window! Both these ligatures secure to the reed in entirely different ways and one is plastic and the other metal. I have no idea, but have worked with these ligatures enough to say that this position is consistent for me.
I can go into how I continue to find the spot for the BG Duo if you're interested.....a little involved.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2022-12-07 07:08
i just scored a robert vinson plastic tenor sax lig that should fit my alto clarinet mpcs to try with the legere loves plastic ligature experiment. tho it will be a tall order to beat the 3d printed plastic periera lig.
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Author: Burt
Date: 2022-12-13 19:48
Paul, thank you for the suggestion to move the ligature closer to the mouthpiece tip. This helped considerably with Signature and Euro reeds. However, I didn't find that loosening the ligature helped. Maybe I loosened the ligature too much.
Burt
Ridenour Libertas
Luyben ligature
Vandoren M30
Euro and Signature 3.25-3.5
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2022-12-14 00:22
I wanted to make sure I said to the Board in general that the position I refer to is ABOVE the top line of ligature (if you have one) so I don't think it would normally occur to someone to try a position that high for a ligature with Legere.
Someone once mentioned (perhaps a bit tongue in cheek) that the screw tightening might benefit from a torque wrench. I find that the test is how easy it is to move the reed from side to side once all together. If the reed move handily just touching it, that may be a bit loose BUT the test of what is too tight or too loose is the performance of the reed. Try playing it. Then make an adjustment and play again. The correct tightness is what plays best.
It just takes some back and forth. For me, the right "tension" yields a situation where I can slide the ligature on to play, and just slide it off at the end of the day when I'm done. I don't have to touch the screw any more.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: Paul Globus
Date: 2022-12-15 18:18
I find that the Vandoren "Klassik" string ligature is a great option with Legere Euro Signature reeds. There's no clamping down on the reed whatsoever, just a good hold that allows for maximum vibrations.
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2022-12-16 03:14
played a concert with the robert vison tenor sax lig on my alto clarinet using a legere american cut reed. worked execellent. very free blowing. plastic ligs are the way to go with legere
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Author: donald
Date: 2022-12-17 04:09
Those Vinson ligatures are really quite good (and used to cost $20). A real pity they are no longer being made.
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Author: RKing
Date: 2022-12-23 21:57
I use the standard Rovner ligature on all of my clarinets and saxophones. They hold both the European cut Legere and the Signature cut very well for me. I put the top of the ligature right at the ligature line on my mouthpieces and snug it down gently.
Cheers,
Ron
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2022-12-23 22:12
I wonder if you have ever tried it "high," covering the curve of the vamp to see if that makes a difference (and that position can benefit from a very loose ligature)?
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: RKing
Date: 2022-12-23 22:54
I will give it a try and see how it works. I am very happy with how these reeds sound and how well they hold up.
I have had to work my way back into form again after more issues with the radiation treatments. I finally tried the Legere reeds a few months ago on the sax and hit on a winning combination. I moved to Legere on the clarinet and found it was easier for me to swap mouthpieces than to swap a bunch of $30 reeds.
It took a few days, but I like the way the Signature 2.25 plays on my VD M30 and a Fobes Europa 2. The European cut reeds start at 2.5 and I am still working on a mouthpiece for it. Right now, the VD 5RV Lyre is working okay, but I had a good session with my Fobes Cicero 13 the other day, too. I like the "fatter" Euro cut reed and will keep working on it.
Cheers,
Ron
Post Edited (2022-12-23 22:56)
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Author: mddds
Date: 2022-12-24 00:19
i find that string allows the most vibration on Legeres - and is my go-to choice.
the Vientos Bambu dampens it a bit more but is easier to set up
i think the Klassik muffles/dulls the sound quite a bit and havent had much luck with it.
i use the German Legere reeds, BTW.
-CK
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Author: Chetclar
Date: 2022-12-29 22:21
I have used Legere European Cut reeds exclusively for the past three years in professional situations using a Kaspar Cicero or Chicago mouthpiece and a Frank L. Kaspar German silver ligature with good results. These reeds do not play flat for me and I can play altissimo notes easily. I recently played the Broadway Musical Mary Poppins for a major regional theatre—26 performances, one reed used on B flat and I cut a Bflat Legere with a pair of metal cutters and used one reed for the eflat clarinet also for the entire run. I have not found a Legere bass clarinet reed as of yet, that works that will on my bass clarinet. I use a Kaspar Cicero bass mouthpiece —any ideas about other Legere reeds that might work on this mouthpiece?
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Author: smokindok
Date: 2022-12-29 23:43
Chetclar, have you tried the Legere American Cut tenor sax reed? I am happily using that on my Morgan D now.
That Poppins book certainly has some fun eefer licks in it, doesn’t it? Did the standard 3 reed orchestration for 30 performances and then another production using the reduced 2 reed scoring, which seemingly put all the oboe/cor lines into the Eb/Bb/Bass book, wherever possible… as if the standard orchestration didn’t keep you busy enough!
John
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