Ligatures DIY string ligature, any size

[IllinoisJ]

Thanks to someone who calls themselves RacketySax, I learned on another saxophone forum how to make a ligature with string. It's pretty easy, and surprisingly efficient.

It takes about 10 minutes, all in, and costs a few cents.

You need
1. a string. Choose the color and texture you like. I tried with nylon, and cotton twill. Thin paracord will be my next trial.
2. epoxy glue
3. wax paper, i.e. baking paper for the kitchen
4. scotch tape
5. two toothpicks

Cut a bit of wax paper to cover the mouthpiece and reed. Leave some wax paper on the table to mix the glue.

Prepare the glue

 

[IllinoisJ]

Wrap the mouthpiece and reed with wax paper, held by scotch tape.
Then mix the glue with a toothpick, on the wax paper.

 

[IllinoisJ]

Place the string on the mouthpiece. You will coil it around, over one end of the string laid flat legthwise.

 

[IllinoisJ]

Coil the string. Leave the last couple of coils loose enough that you can slip the coiling end of the string under the last coils. Tighten both ends of the string. You will tie them together.

 

[IllinoisJ]

Tie both ends together. Then cut the excess string on both ends.
Then apply the epoxy glue over the totality of the ligature.

 

[IllinoisJ]

Let it dry for 5 minutes. Then remove the ligature and the paper.

 

[IllinoisJ]

finished products:

The seal test (with the neck on the palm of the hand) gives a nice, loud "pop", so we have a very good seal.

 

[IllinoisJ]

I forgot to mention the length of the cotton string above: for a fat plastic mouthpiece it's 146cm. Less for a thin metal one.