Ligatures Rovner Mark 3 vs Vandoren Masters ligature

[AlonW]

I am currently using a Rovner Mark 3 which has always been one of my favorite ligatures, if not my favorite. It seems to work quite well but I decided to order an old Vandoren Masters ligature to try as well. Here's the link to the ligature I found:

https://reverb.com/item/37773892-vandoren-masters-saxophone-ligature-fits-alto-mouthpieces

As you can see, it's pretty corroded so I was going to have it silver plated.

I'm not really sure if I'm just doing this because of GAS, as I'm not sure what benefits the Vandoren Masters ligature will have. Maybe it will hold the reed in place a bit better, but possibly at the expense of some extra vibrations that I may get with the Rovner Mk 3 ligature. What are your thoughts?

 

[MarkSax]

GAS. $50 is too much for a thrice paint or anti-rust sprayed corroded lig. Apart from its vintage appeal I can’t see the benefits. But if it makes you happy it’s all good.

 

[skeller047]

If you want essentially the same ligature, but new and shiny, try this one: Rico Ligature Alto Saxophone | Woodwinds | D'Addario

$23 for the ligature, an extra $10 for the cap. I use these on my two favorite mouthpieces - a Phil-Tone Tribute (unfortunately D’Addario doesn’t make the metal mouthpiece size any more) and a 10MFan Alto Madness in gray marble.

Another inexpensive alternative is a Bonade ligature, though the cap costs almost as much as the lig.

Regarding the Rovner, it might work fine on your mouthpiece, but if you get the feeling that your new metal ligature sounds brighter, then that’s a clue that the Rovner doesn’t fit properly. They tend to allow the reed to slightly pull away from the table, which darkens the tone, but also increases resistance and causes sluggish response.

 

[thomsax]

For a Brilhart Ebolin alto you should have a C-1RL. You can also rotate the Mark 3 ligature so the screw and pins are on the downside. The pins are "clamping" the side of the stock and leave most of the stock free. IMO you get a more a more "lively" tone.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I wouldn't touch that with a barge pole. It's overpriced, dog rough and probably won't fit.

 

[AlonW]

I canceled the order and am going to look for something less expensive. I think this would work but I think it will be too small for the Brilhart.

Rico Ligature Alto Saxophone | Woodwinds | D'Addario

The nickel-plated Rico ligature for Alto is designed with a four-point inverted design to provide you with excellent response and function at an affordable price.

www.daddario.com

Can anyone confirm this will work with a Brilhart?

 

[AlonW]

I walked to Stein on Vine where Stan Getz used to hang out and Gary found me a vintage BG leather ligature. It was $66 so a little pricey but hopefully it will work well. The design doesn’t scratch the top of the mouthpiece unlike the Rovner.

.

 

[thomsax]

I played one on a Dukoff mpc and after some years the leather became stiff and the rubber (against the reed) crackled.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I ripped out the rubber and used it the other way up, screw over the reed.

The Selmer single screw is a useful lig. at a reasonable price. The lacquer version loses it's lacquer very easily. The silver plate is the same price with a more robust finish. I have no idea if it will fit.

The Bonade inverted alto lig is very useable at a very reasonable price too. Again, no idea if it will fit.

 

[tzadik]

That Vandoren on Reverb looks like it's for clarinet... since all Masters ligature for saxophone were just plain gold lacquered, back then.
There were different options for clarinet ligatures.

It fits on alto saxophone mouthpiece... but not on "fatter body" alto mouthpieces.

For the same budget I'd buy a Vandoren M|O, also new.

(I do own 24 or 25 Rovner ligatures, I don't like the MkIII, neither the BG Standard ligature...).

 

[cjR]

The design doesn’t scratch the top of the mouthpiece unlike the Rovner

Yeh this is what annoys me about my Rovner too - otherwise I like it. I use a couple of strips of electrical tape on the top of my mp.

 

[AlonW]

I went to the "International House Of Music" Downtown Los Angeles tonight and brought my student Brilhart Special alto mouthpiece and a reed to test ligatures (to use with my Brilhart Ebolin). I ended up getting this because it fit so nicely and has a plastic pressure plate (and two other plates, a metal and a suede one.)

Amazon.com