 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2025-12-09 21:20
This morning, I randomly happened to look at the inside of my BG-Gold ligature. Yikes. The part that holds the reed, opposite the screw, showed a startling accumulation of some kind of dark material on the inside surface, in between the two longitudinal ribs and some on either side of them. I applied a clean, soft toothbrush brush, and some of the material was removed, but there's still a number of thin patches adhering to the metal.
Since the ligature is (supposedly) plated with gold, I doubt the dark material is corrosion; it's probably extraneous stuff that just built up. What and how might be questions, but at present I'd just like to clean it off. I'll try brushing it with water first. Any suggestions for other solvents to apply that won't compromise the plating?
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Author: kilo
Date: 2025-12-09 21:45
If a dilute mixture of water and dish detergent doesn't do it, isopropyl alcohol or mineral spirits should be safe.
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2025-12-09 22:14
Hydrogen peroxide
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Homage mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #4 reeds
ATG System, Cordier Reed Trimmer, and A.L.E. Reed Balancer
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Author: Bsharp
Date: 2025-12-10 02:47
Gold may oxidize unless it is pure 24 kt. I have a vintage 18kt gold watch with oxidation on the bezel. But I am not going to remove it because that sort of thing is valued in the vintage market, believe it or not.
I’m not suggesting you not clean whatever it is off your gold ligature. It is not meant to be a vintage heirloom (yet). LOL.
Stephen Schiffman
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2025-12-10 04:27
I tried water and dish detergent as suggested, and that worked well. Thanks for the replies. The inside of the ligature seems to be another place to periodically clean. I was rather shocked to see that guck there. I suppose it was slowly accumulated dirt and moisture, probably with bacteria adding in. I've been using that ligature for at least five years now, and for another period earlier, and I always assumed the inside of the band would be as clean and shiny as the outside. Ennh.
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Author: kilo
Date: 2025-12-10 15:03
Might be a good time to apply a tiny bit of lubricant to the ligature screw as well.
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