[PoorButSaxy]

Hey,

I am using a B345 ML mouthpiece. I bought it used and it came with a Francois Louis Pure Brass Ligature (size L BAR - the one recommended on their official site). The ligature fits well (better than others I have tried), but the cap doesn't. It's hardly long enough (the two "arms" barely get past the beak of the mouthpiece and therefore have almost nothing to grip) and it's grip is to loose (probably since it can't be pushed on the mouthpiece far enough). Therefor it keeps falling of and doesn't really protect anything.
Does anyone know wether another size of FL Cap which fits better? Or are there suitable alternatives?

All the best,
Poorbutsaxy

 

[mmichel]

I think that fit (going just beyond the end of the beak) is standard for FL caps. The problem is that the plastic that the caps are made of is too slippery and does not provide sufficient friction to keep it from moving.

On metal mouthpieces, this works a bit better because they include little rubber pads for the arms. My solution for my HR mouthpieces (soprano and alto) was to glue a thin piece (about 0.4mm, IIRC) of techcork to the inside of each arm.

This worked incredibly well, and I no longer experience any unwanted shifting of the mouthpiece caps. They stay put when the mouthpieces are in my accessory pouch as well as when I adjust my (capped) mouthpieces on their respective horns.

 

[milandro]

those " wings “ break very easily, after breaking a few (I used it on a Brancher) I found an old metal cap that was fitting and never looked back.

 

[Safesax]

The FL caps usually come with a couple of rubber tips that fit on the wings. Depending on the size of the particular mouthpiece, you may need to use none, one or two. For my 10MFan pieces, for example, one rubber tip helps the cap to fit properly. Once I discovered the magic setup for my mouthpieces, I glued one tip on. Otherwise, they have the tendency to pop off at inopportune times.

 

[JJ]

You could try to find a BG tenor ligature cap like this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BG-Tenor-Sax-Ligature-and-Cap-Leather-Style-/372016744454

Fits very good on a FL lig.

Otherwise, just buy the cheap SYOS rubber caps. Much better than the FL caps.

https://www.syos.co/en/shop/products/accessories

 

[PoorButSaxy]

I have one of those BG caps, but the don't fit the pure brass FL. I ended up cutting two little squares from a mouthpiece patch and putting them on the inside of the wings. Works pretty well now.

 

[milandro]

I am sure that if you look well into your (or a shop's) odds and ends drawer you will find something.

Otherwise, on line, there are creative solutions for any problem or non problem :bluewink:

 

[turf3]

Hey,

I am using a B345 ML mouthpiece. I bought it used and it came with a Francois Louis Pure Brass Ligature (size L BAR - the one recommended on their official site). The ligature fits well (better than others I have tried), but the cap doesn't. It's hardly long enough (the two "arms" barely get past the beak of the mouthpiece and therefore have almost nothing to grip) and it's grip is to loose (probably since it can't be pushed on the mouthpiece far enough). Therefor it keeps falling of and doesn't really protect anything.
Does anyone know wether another size of FL Cap which fits better? Or are there suitable alternatives?

All the best,
Poorbutsaxy

Yeah, I hate those little tiny "tip only" caps. Another solution in search of a problem. I end up having to put it in my pocket, which is inconvenient if I am sitting down and wearing a shirt without a shirt pocket. Normal caps you can just drop over the top of the flute, or an unused peg, or hang it on one of the adjusters or clamps of a music stand. Besides, the little tiny caps are harder to get on without running them into the tip of the reed, because you've got a lot less room for inaccuracy.

I'd go to a music store with the mouthpiece and ligature and see if they've got an old cap in the junk drawer that fits.

I even, once, bought a $3.00 cheap plastic flashlight and cut the tube to make a mouthpiece cap for one of those giant bass sax pieces.

 

[Guto]

I like the rubber caps in Milandro’s last picture but I wouldn’t pay $10 to syos for them. They sell for cents on eBay directly from China. When playing I just hang them on the tip of my tenor stand’s brace, where the bell goes.