Ligatures PPT Tenor - best ligature

[Rogerb]

Well, I can say definitely that the EDII grips really well on mine, AND, of course, there is no likelihood of scratching.
It's Rovner 'replacement' is also quite expensive, I'd think (without checking) not much different from the FL?

 

[Chris98]

Good morning Pete,

Looking on Sax.co.uk the ultimate in brass is actually cheaper than the pure brass:

Ultimate in brass: £50 inc VAT

Pure Brass: £52.01 inc VAT

One thing I discovered about the pure brass is that it could possibly scratch the mouthpiece, this is less likely with the ultimate I think.

With that in mind, I might, if I end up going this way, choose the Ultimate. Did you get to try one of those as well as the pure brass? and was the fit as good?

Actually- I've re checked this- FL Basics are a total no no- as you tighten them they slide themselves off the tapered bore- on re-testing, i have now got the ultimate version to hold- odd, seeing as there's no obvious difference between how the 3 designs grip. If the shop's quiet today i'm intending to play offf an Eddie Daniels against an Ultimate for a place in my case... .will report back on this...

That would be great Jules, look forward to hearing your thoughts later.

Best wishes,

Chris

 

[old git]

Just been inspired to check all my ligatures on the 9*. Rovner Dark 2R, BG L13 Standard and the two screw unbranded metal lig that came with the RPC 105 also fits but as I managed to scratch the RPC with it, if you have one, be very careful.
After that, still prefer the Rovner Dark.

 

[TomMapfumo]

Hi Pete,

Welcome back, thanks for your suggestions on the ligatures. I tried the Vandoren Optimum again and reaffirmed my original conclusion that it wasn't a great fit, maybe Rhys is using different reeds to me. I've never heard of APD before so will do a bit of googling. Not sure I've seen a Francois Louis ligature either, although isn't Mr TomMapfumo a happy user of their mouthpieces and reeds?

Best Wishes,

Chris

Hi Chris!

I am indeed a happy user of an FL Spectruoso ML 280 Tenor mouthpiece and (alto size) FL Basic Ligature, which fits very well and does not slip at all (can move a bit on slanted shiny HR mouthpieces but only if you "overtighten" it in IMO. My standard ligature previously was the EVO but they generally sit in boxes now that I have made the switch. So my recommendation stays, despite Jules digital problems!;}

I also love the FL Excellence reeds which succeeded my RSJ's.

Kind regards
Tom😎

 

[Pete Thomas]

Good morning Pete,

Looking on Sax.co.uk the ultimate in brass is actually cheaper than the pure brass:

That would be right, the ultimate is cheaper. It makes sense as it is a simpler looking mechanism to manufacture.

The naming is confusing as they are all made from brass and available as brass finish, silver plate and gold plate, with brass being cheapest.

The ones in your photos appear to be a silver plated ultimate and a gold plated pure brass, but I don't know if the prices you quote go with those pictures - at least I'd be surprised if the gold plated pure brass is £52, I'll have a look on the site. Or maybe it's just a picture of a very shiny brass finish pure brass.

Depending on how shipping costs work out, if I do decide to offer these with the mouthpiece, I would be able to offer them quite a bit less than those prices when bought with a mouthpiece, (or for existing customers!).

It would be useful to know if anyone here is interested in an ultimate if the price was right.

 

[Chris98]

That would be right, the ultimate is cheaper. It makes sense as it is a simpler looking mechanism to manufacture.

The naming is confusing as they are all made from brass and available as brass finish, silver plate and gold plate, with brass being cheapest.

The ones in your photos appear to be a silver plated ultimate and a gold plated pure brass, but I don't know if the prices you quote go with those pictures - at least I'd be surprised if the gold plated pure brass is £52, I'll have a look on the site. Or maybe it's just a picture of a very shiny brass finish pure brass.

Sorry for the confusion, I linked to the photo's on Francois-Louis's website, unfortunately there aren't examples of the ligatures in their various finishes, so I was purely posting the images as an example of the different styles.

Depending on how shipping costs work out, if I do decide to offer these with the mouthpiece, I would be able to offer them quite a bit less than those prices when bought with a mouthpiece, (or for existing customers!).

It would be useful to know if anyone here is interested in an ultimate if the price was right.

If the price was is, count me in.

Best wishes,

Chris

 

[kevgermany]

Me too, this packing the reed is a pain - and if the lig stretches, it's going to make the problem worse, not better.

 

[TomMapfumo]

Just did a quick fit test of the Basic Lig on the following mouthpieces - Vandoren V16 HR, Selmer Super Session, and Ponzol Vintage HR - all fitted well, no slippage and could be tightened to dangerous levels. Obviously the Welsh climate helps, and mastering the technique also!

Kind regards
Tom

 

[Pete Thomas]

Me too, this packing the reed is a pain - and if the lig stretches, it's going to make the problem worse, not better.

I found that my solution is to glue a piece of card to the underside of the ligature, it then stays there no problem. I've done this for years with my Link baritone mouthpiece and it's relatively painless, but I do agree it is nice to get one that fits without any modification.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Sorry for the confusion, I linked to the photo's on Francois-Louis's website, unfortunately there aren't examples of the ligatures in their various finishes, so I was purely posting the images as an example of the different styles.

Ah, that explains it. I just looked on sax.co.uk and the info/prices page for FL returns an error.

Calling nachoman!!!

 

[Jules]

Odd, it's ok for me- http://tinyurl.com/y9cyocx

 

[Pete Thomas]

One thing I discovered about the pure brass is that it could possibly scratch the mouthpiece, this is less likely with the ultimate I think.

OK, having polished out the scratches, I can't get the pure brass to scratch it now, perhaps it was one of the other ligatures I tried that was scratching.

But having said that, I think if you want to be sure of not scratching a mouthpiece, then a Rovner is the safest option anyway. I noticed a Selmer 2 screw has scratched a soprano Selmer piece.

But I'm sure some people might say that the scratches improve the sound 🙂

 

[Rogerb]

With my alto Olegature I use a bit of electricians pvc tape to protect my HR mpc.

I'd imagine a clear pvc tape (not Sellotape!) would both protect the PPT, AND help to reduce the likelihood of slippage.

i'd be interested in an FL though, because I could then swop with the EDII on either the PPT or my backup Drake Ceramic ....it's fiddly to have to change everything when you just want to have a go with an alternate mpc.

 

[Chris98]

OK, having polished out the scratches, I can't get the pure brass to scratch it now, perhaps it was one of the other ligatures I tried that was scratching.

Any chance of a photo Pete? I know one should always go with the sound but looks do come into sax playing, other wise why would have strapped that bicycle bell around your tenor neck back in the day, or worn those sharp looking suits. You've just got to look at Jules in his youtube video to know that looking the part is essential for any sax player!

Talking about looks, I think the pure brass looks better than the ultimate and with the collar on the end of the mouthpiece being 'Pure' brass as well I can see the two working together in harmony. Would you be thinking of offering the pure brass as well as the ultimate or is that making things far too complicated?

Best wishes,

Chris.

 

[Pete Thomas]

You mean photos of it not scratching the mouthpiece? I don't thin it will be very clear, I don't have your photographic skills. But what i want to do is test it for a longer period anyway, so I'll see if I can do some photos after a few days of heavy use and abuse.

To be honest the scratches would not bother me, as there are scratches where the top teeth go.

NB, the bicycle bell was actually functional, not purely cosmetic.

 

[Chris98]

You mean photos of it not scratching the mouthpiece? I don't thin it will be very clear, I don't have your photographic skills. But what i want to do is test it for a longer period anyway, so I'll see if I can do some photos after a few days of heavy use and abuse.

Sorry, I'm being unclear again, I just wondered what the mouthpiece looked like with the ligature.

I'm trying to improve my photographic skills which is why I'm jumping at any opportunity to do more. But my trusty old D70 is now beginning to playing up :crying:

To be honest the scratches would not bother me, as there are scratches where the top teeth go.

I'm not too precious, I figure if you use something a lot it will show signs of use, a fact of life. But I was a bit peeved when I tried an inverted ligature from a respected [FONT=&quot]French [/FONT] company and it gouged into the top of the mouthpiece because they hadn't taken the edge off. I'd hate to do something similar to my PPT.

NB, the bicycle bell was actually functional, not purely cosmetic.

Please do except my deepest apologies, I didn't mean to infer that the bicycle bell was anything other than... umm... am I digging a deeper hole?

Best wishes,

Chris

 

[Pete Thomas]

I didn't mean to infer that the bicycle bell was anything other than... umm... am I digging a deeper hole?

Yes. I'd stop now before you make me reveal why I needed a working bicycle bell on my MKVI.

If you are interested in knowing how to get rid of the scratches and polish a PPT:

Use a succession of fine sandpaper, I start with 300, then once the scratches are out, use 600 and finally 1200.

It will have a matt finish though, but this looks rather cool and more stone like I think.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I have just found out that the cheap and cheerful 2 screw which will work is available from howarths under the name "basic tenor sax ligature" at £6.12. I'm 99% sure that's the same one.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I just wondered what the mouthpiece looked like with the ligature.

A little bit like this:

 

[Chris98]

A little bit like this:

Yep that's the sort of thing Looks good, might have to get me one of them. What reed you got on that there mouthpiece? I've just got through Jumpin' Jam twice at 200 one day I'll get to 240.