Ligatures ligature screw. Top or bottom.

[johnny b.]

Hi there, newby question. I am using BG single screw , leatherette ligature

on Selmer S80 C*. I have been busy practicing, then all of a sudden i noticed

the position of some ligatures on utube. I always assumed with the BG that

the correct position of screw was on top of the mouthpiece. I rotated the lig

so screw was on the bottom against the reed. It seemed to accomodate the

reed ok and the sound was ok. Any hints much appreciated.

Regards Johnny B.

p.s. I have just ordered a PPT mouthpiece with accompanying lig. Which way

are they positioned ?

 

[jbtsax]

Whichever position puts the screw(s) on the right hand side is the position the ligature was designed to be used in.

 

[kevgermany]

With the BG/Rovner etc. you can put them either way up. If you want the screw on the other side, turn it around. I prefer the bars on the reed, but each to his own.

 

[Colin the Bear]

The bars can be removed from a textile ligature to accomodate the screw being either side. Any ligature can be reversed/rotated.

I prefer the bars on the reed. Try it both ways and different positions to see which you prefer. (This applies to many things in life)

 

[johnny b.]

Thanks for the replies. I just wanted to make sure I was using it correctly. The reed

seems to be held more securely with the bars against the reed so I will go down that

road. reversed/rotated, try it both ways, different positions. Interesting reply Bear.

cheers JB.

 

[MartinL]

Thanks for the replies. I just wanted to make sure I was using it correctly. The reed

seems to be held more securely with the bars against the reed so I will go down that

road. reversed/rotated, try it both ways, different positions. Interesting reply Bear.

cheers JB.

Now I always set it up the other way 🙂 just shows that it doesn't really matter so long as its doing the job for you..

 

[DaveW]

From my Rovner fabric lig leaflet.

The thumbscrew on the top of the lg with the thumbscrew on the right. You can cock the lig so that the edge of the fabric touches the reed nearer the tip or heel of the reed. This "will result in large differences in performance and should be given repeated experimentation"
You can also install the lig inverted with the ends over the reed but it says to reassemble the lig so that the thumbscrew is on the right.
Hope that helps (to confuse more!)

 

[TomMapfumo]

I also use a material reed with the bars touching the reed and find the sound is livelier. I also think that the convential position makes the mouthpiece set up look like a duck - a bit naff, and seriously uncool. I never use material ligs now - much prefer Marc Jean ligatures on all my saxes, as the sound is at its most resonant!

Kind regards
Tom

 

[johnny b.]

Thanks for the hints everyone. I will have a look at
those ligs Tom. Cheers jb

 

[MandyH]

Thanks for the replies. I just wanted to make sure I was using it correctly. The reed

seems to be held more securely with the bars against the reed so I will go down that

road. reversed/rotated, try it both ways, different positions. Interesting reply Bear.

cheers JB.

I have a BG super revelation on all 3 of my saxes. With those you have no choice, the screw goes on top of the mouthpiece, as the gold ridges go against the reed.

 

[JamesG]

Whichever position puts the screw(s) on the right hand side is the position the ligature was designed to be used in.

Is that correct? Or is that just because most are right handed? Look at pics of renowned player John Halliwell - on alto the screws are on the top and to the left, on tenor there are pics with the screws on the bottom to the right. Not convinced there is a 'right' way to fit. Just the best way for the individual.

 

[JamesG]

Whichever position puts the screw(s) on the right hand side is the position the ligature was designed to be used in.

As a total beginner I was not sure and looked at many different options - Take John Halliwell - ligature screws on the top to the left on alto, on the bottom to the right on tenor and many other pics of renowned players have all sorts of ways. Possibly the 'right side is right' is mentioned is because most are right handed, I'm ambidextrous, play guitar left handed, Uilleann pipes right handed and am starting playing sax right handed - just because that's the saxophones I found were that, never seen a left handed one - unlike the guitar its an instrument that is 'fingery' (if that's a word) with both hands pretty much equally. So I'm not sure if there is a right way, just the way that works best for the individual player. Both ways alarm the cats and get the dogs howling at my present standard!

 

[Pete Thomas]

Is that correct? Or is that just because most are right handed? Look at pics of renowned player John Halliwell - on alto the screws are on the top and to the left, on tenor there are pics with the screws on the bottom to the right. Not convinced there is a 'right' way to fit. Just the best way for the individual.

No need to ask jbt, sadly he has passed on.

What he was referring to is the way that traditionally, or conventionally, ligatures were made. I don't think anybody thought to offer a left-handed version. But of course there may have been exceptions, or instances where the ligature was placed with screw on top of a mouthpiece that was designed for it on the bottom, but it nonetheless works either way.

 

[Pete Thomas]

No need to ask jbt, sadly he has passed on.

What he was referring to is the way that traditionally, or conventionally, ligatures were made. I don't think anybody thought to offer a left-handed version. But of course there may have been exceptions, or instances where the ligature was placed with screw on top of a mouthpiece that was designed for it on the bottom, but it nonetheless works either way.

I just re-read his reply, and in fact it appeared he was talking about the ligature which we supplied with the PPT mouthpieces. These were in fact traditional style, ie with ligature doing up with the screw underneath and on the right hand side.

 

[JamesG]

No need to ask jbt, sadly he has passed on.

What he was referring to is the way that traditionally, or conventionally, ligatures were made. I don't think anybody thought to offer a left-handed version. But of course there may have been exceptions, or instances where the ligature was placed with screw on top of a mouthpiece that was designed for it on the bottom, but it nonetheless works either way.

Thanks Pete, sorry about jbt.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Thanks Pete, sorry about jbt.

We have a memorial forum section of all his posts here:

John Talcott in memoriam

A collection of posts by the late John Talcott one of our most prolific and helpful members. May he rest in peace.

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