Need new ligature

[bamasaxmasta]

I've been playing sax for over three years now and the only ligature I've used has been one of those metal ones with the two screws that comes with stock mouthpieces. Now I've decided I need a new one to improve my tone. I play a Selmer Mark 7 alto sax with a C* and occasionally play on a Rascher. I mainly play concert on my horn but I do play jazz on it (I play bari in Jazz band but I hope to make it on alto in the future). What kind of ligature should I get that will fit my needs?

[JPSaxMan]

Well for your classical setup the die-hard standard is a Rovner Dark...but that's just my opinion. I use it and love it on my C*. For jazz, however, you're going to probably need a whole different mouthpiece. That's a different can of worms.

[A.Smith]

Try the BG range as well as the Vandoren Optimums.

[mpsax]

I have a VERY similar setup: MarkVII alto with selmer S80 C*. I did also use the original stock selmer lig but recently have moved onto a BG SuperRevelation. Its fantastic - very free and easy to play with a nice bright sound. I also use this ligature on jazz pieces (I use a beechler) and also on tenor. Highly recommended.

[saxyguy92]

try the Ultimate Ligature by Francois Louis

[retread]

It's unlikely a new ligature will have a beneficial effect on your sound. It's hard to beat the Selmer 2-screw.

[Carl H.]

To save you some reading, try them all and see what works for you. Since you asked for a recommendation, I have had success with a bonade.

[jacobeid]

It's unlikely a new ligature will have a beneficial effect on your sound. It's hard to beat the Selmer 2-screw.

agreed..I find no sound difference between the ligatures I've tried but I use rovners because they don't scratch my pieces.

[JPSaxMan]

I disagree with whoever says that the ligature does not impact your sound. It depends on the setup to the degree that it effects your sound, but in my experiences, ligatures play just as big a role in your sound as does your mouthpiece or reed.

[RickBusarow]

It's been my experience that extreme changes in ligs (like going between a Rovner Dark to an Olegature) can affect one's sound noticably, but the chief impact a ligature has is on the reed's responsiveness. In this I feel that the Charles Bay and Winslow ligatures stand tall above their competition, and amongst the two one is really just as good as the other.

[saintsday]

agreed..I find no sound difference between the ligatures I've tried but I use rovners because they don't scratch my pieces.

Ligature madness is not a form of GAS that I've succumbed to, but I found out that at least where a Rovner is concerned, a lig can make a difference in sound.
I've been fooling around with an old silver Selmer C* on alto and the single screw lig I've been using makes it really easy for the reed to get cocked on the piece. It was frustrating me one day and I borrowed a Rovner trying to keep the reed where I wanted it. It did that. but also changed the sound more than I would have believed and not really to my liking. Maybe Rovner would describe at as "dark." I'd describe it more as "dead."
It got me thinking that the next time I'm in research mode I'm going to do some a/b on my HR tenor pieces that I play mainly with Rovners. I wonder if part of why I like an old Brilhart HR especially well is that I always play it with the original metal lig.

[JPSaxMan]

Rick I agree with you there...maybe one wouldn't feel the difference as much between a Rovner Dark and a Light, but like in the example you stated above, one would definitely feel the difference.

[Manek]

To save you some reading, try them all and see what works for you. Since you asked for a recommendation, I have had success with a bonade.

YES!! DO THIS!!


See which sound you like best, which is easier to blow, which matches your tie best etc...!!

It's ALL a matter of personal preferrence... Just like drumsticks!! :)