Ligatures Vandoren optimum Ligature my thoughts

[BeBopSop]

Hi all, just had delivered my new 'Vandoren Optimum ligature' to complete my new Alto set-up,very impressive finish all round nicely engineerd,I wanted a lig that was single screw and had the tightening edges on the reed area, not the top of the m.p. where it usualy scratches it (yes I know I am fussy) what I like about this lig is the quick tightening of the reed by turning the screw, (it seems geared for a fast tightening) the thread has a left and right hand to it, so it pulls across the reed evenly from both sides! there are 3 removable plates that come with it, as you can see in the pics, they have different surfaces 1 has 4 dots that touch the reed, 2 has 2 width ways ridges, and no3 has 2 ridges running the length of the mp, I have only used the lenghways one at the moment, and linked up to my new Meyer Phil-Tone 5 mp fits and sounds supurb.One thing which at first seemed awkward was removing the plate for the 1st time, it seemed impossible to do? But there is a knack, once mastered works every time, but dont force too much as you could distort the ligature (and at £71.00) is a bad mistake. It looks like a genuine gold plate on brass,and comes with a nice plastic cap...yes nice plastic, it can be.... the outside of the cap has a sort of rubbery feel to it and it fits nice and tight on the lig.Overall a very well made, some versitile tone options,Quick to take on and off(one hand!) and a good hugging fit to the mp. very pleased.

 

[ArtyLady]

Good review and pretty much what I think too - I really like mine. I tried all of the plates and at the moment prefer the one with the dots.

 

[BeBopSop]

Good review and pretty much what I think too - I really like mine. I tried all of the plates and at the moment prefer the one with the dots.

Hi, thanks, I still have the plates to try, but I am not sure whether my ears will be able to notice any diffence, are the differences subtle?

 

[ArtyLady]

Hi, thanks, I still have the plates to try, but I am not sure whether my ears will be able to notice any diffence, are the differences subtle?

Yeah they are quite subtle, but I found the one with the dots to be more open than the one with the horizontal lines, and less buzzy than the crinkle cut one

 

[Andante cantabile]

I still have one for the baritone. Frankly, I am nonplussed by the idea of different plates. One, I think, is meant to be especially good for staccato playing. That may well be so, but when do you actually use it? Do you rush to change the plate when the staccato bit appears? I suppose it is a bit like changing racing tyres when the weather changes.

 

[BeBopSop]

I still have one for the baritone. Frankly, I am nonplussed by the idea of different plates. One, I think, is meant to be especially good for staccato playing. That may well be so, but when do you actually use it? Do you rush to change the plate when the staccato bit appears? I suppose it is a bit like changing racing tyres when the weather changes.

I suppose it still plays as 'normal', but excels at staccato with that plate, but I think most players would fiddle arround with all 3 then leave one on they like (I will). I would like to have bought this lig without the plates, as I bought it for its other features, but the plates are a bonus although I have to test them yet.........

 

[TimboSax]

I bought an alto version to use with my Pillinger tenor NYT (which is smaller than most tenor mouthpieces: most metal ligs won't fit). Fits fine, after some slight tweaking of the frame, and also works with my Vandoren AL3. I love it for it's ease of use as described by John. I did notice a slight difference with the different plates, but just use the one rather than switching all the time (I use the one with the ridges running the length of the plate).

 

[Jamesmac]

I bought an alto version to use with my Pillinger tenor NYT (which is smaller than most tenor mouthpieces: most metal ligs won't fit). Fits fine, after some slight tweaking of the frame, and also works with my Vandoren AL3. I love it for it's ease of use as described by John. I did notice a slight difference with the different plates, but just use the one rather than switching all the time (I use the one with the ridges running the length of the plate).

Timbo, I noticed you use the Alto Lig, just a thought, don't have it too high up on the MP, as it can stop the reed from vibrating fully. In fact it's good to experiment to see what position works best. I use the normal Tenor Optimun for my NYT.

 

[TimboSax]

Hi JIm, yeah I was concerned about that.

We tried a tenor size in the shop (WWR), and it wouldn't fit, it was too big (I wonder if Ed has different sizes of NYT?) The alto size as it came out of the box was too tight, but Daniel said that he was pretty sure he could stretch it if I wanted. He flattened out the angular shoulders of the metal loop just above the screw section, and it worked: the lig is now larger than it was, and fits the mouthpiece. The lig sits comfortably in the middle of the main body of the moutpiece, between the two scored lines that go around the body.

 

[Jamesmac]

Hi JIm, yeah I was concerned about that.

We tried a tenor size in the shop (WWR), and it wouldn't fit, it was too big (I wonder if Ed has different sizes of NYT?) The alto size as it came out of the box was too tight, but Daniel said that he was pretty sure he could stretch it if I wanted. He flattened out the angular shoulders of the metal loop just above the screw section, and it worked: the lig is now larger than it was, and fits the mouthpiece. The lig sits comfortably in the middle of the main body of the moutpiece, between the two scored lines that go around the body.

The Alto lig seems OK. The main thing to watch is you don't cover the heel ( back ) of the reed with the Lig. Make sure you can see all the machined part of the reed. I think the MPs are the same sizes, but I selected a plate that works with the Tenor Lig. Happy blowing🙂