Ligatures Ishimori vs Vandoren vs francois louis ultimate

[Jimmymack]

Thick patches feel different, I don't use them because, you guessed it, they deaden the sound. This is almost certainly because it actually does reduce the vibration going through my teeth so what I hear is slightly muffled. They feel like a cushion whereas the thin ones do their job but don't get in the way.

 

[eb424]

Thick patches feel different, I don't use them because, you guessed it, they deaden the sound. This is almost certainly because it actually does reduce the vibration going through my teeth so what I hear is slightly muffled. They feel like a cushion whereas the thin ones do their job but don't get in the way.

Funny old game isnt it..

 

[Jimmymack]

I put it down to physics.

Do you use a ReedGeek? I find it helps get rid of stuffiness.

 

[eb424]

I put it down to physics.

Do you use a ReedGeek? I find it helps get rid of stuffiness.

Badly..lol..I have done ive got one..Ive been playing plasticovers no 2 on the 6* link for a lot of songs and dsj 2ms on the slower stuff..I was hoping the plasticovers would be fine on the tw essentials but because of the material i think pure cane sounds softer..

 

[Jimmymack]

I mainly use it to flatten the back.

 

[eb424]

I mainly use it to flatten the back.

The bit that goes towards the mouthpiece??

 

[Jimmymack]

The bit that sits on the table.

 

[eb424]

The bit that sits on the table.

Lol i do that then sand on a bit of plain paper..Do you do this after youve played the reed or before..I cant help thinking it wouldnt be so good if the reed was damp..

 

[Jimmymack]

It can be a bit awkward. It's better to do it when it's dry but I usually wind up doing it to a damp reed. I think it works just as well but does leave a line of slime on the Geek.

 

[Targa]

It should be the same as sanding a piece of timber in woodworking.
Dampen the surface to swell the fibres, allow to dry then sand.

 

[thomsax]

Yes but yours are old, and back in the day they were new and the sound of the the players that we love sounded great for using them, its doubtful today ligs would last 80 years and if they did they would be poor quality, can you imagine a FL lig lasting 80 years, I have one that's 20 years old and its had it.

I like ligatures that ....

,,,, holds the reed in a good way.
.... I can easy adjust.
.... is long lasting (good material and design).
... fits the mouthpiece fine.
.... gives me self-confidence (helps me to sound better).
.... looks good (I'm a little vain as well).


The old Berg Larsen, from the 60's and early 70's, ligatures are good. Switched to Dukoff (less money) ...... it was then I bought my first Rovner lig, back to new Berg Larsen and they were not so good as the old ones. Rovner Ed Daniels II on Rovner Deep-V mpc is best for me so far.

 

[thomsax]

Thick patches for me. The thicker the better. I use two patches (0,4 mm +0,8 mm). I made my own mouthpiece , 2-3 mm thick, out the backside of a table tennis racket back in the 70's. I had to open up my mouth and took more mpc as well. The sky opened. No "comfort beak" on the mouthpiece.

Use a wet stone when you prepare reeds. ReedGeek ..... maybe they are good but I have a feeling that is like a "grinding steel". A quick fix. Saxplayers dont believe in Mass-Load Tech but Reed Geek is fine.

 

[jazzdoh]

Reedgeeks are fine, I had one bought me for a big birthday a few years ago wasn't sure I would use it but it's been great, glad I got one.

 

[Pete Thomas]

My FL lig has rubbed into the brushed finish of a brass PTT

Presuming you mean PPT? If it is brushed finish then it is gold plated brass. We don’t do those any more since Morgan Fry seemed to have disappeared. The gold was quite thick but some ligatures are just plain designed badly. We used to recommend Rovner but if I recall also Marc Jean and maybe Brancher, all of which seemed to work well.

 

[wakyct]

I made my own mouthpiece , 2-3 mm thick, out the backside of a table tennis racket back in the 70's

I'm guessing you left out "mouthpiece patch" but if you made a MP out of a tennis racket I'd like to hear more about that.

 

[Ivan]

Presuming you mean PPT? If it is brushed finish then it is gold plated brass. We don’t do those any more since Morgan Fry seemed to have disappeared. The gold was quite thick but some ligatures are just plain designed badly. We used to recommend Rovner but if I recall also Marc Jean and maybe Brancher, all of which seemed to work well.

PPT indeeedy

The gold plate is a brushed finish

The FL lig has polished the surface to shiny where the lig rods meet the mouthpiece

Yes, a leather strap wouldly have preserved the look

 

[thomsax]

Reedgeeks are fine, I had one bought me for a big birthday a few years ago wasn't sure I would use it but it's been great, glad I got one.

Placebo efffect. We are allowed to believe in allmost everything ....... .

 

[thomsax]

I'm guessing you left out "mouthpiece patch" but if you made a MP out of a tennis racket I'd like to hear more about that.

Of course you are right.

 

[stitch]

but if you made a MP out of a tennis racket I'd like to hear more about that.

Don't know about making a mouthpiece out of a racquet, but I've often made a racket out of a mouthpiece ...

 

[Pete Thomas]

The FL lig has polished the surface to shiny where the lig rods meet the mouthpiece

So basically instead of pressure over a larger surface area, the pressure is concentrated where the so-called “resonating pipes” touch the mouthpiece. Not a great idea IMO.