[jonnieboy]

Can anyone suggest any must-have single-screw ligatures?

The two-screws are a pain in the butt to fumble around with and to get the reed firmly and squarely in place. Then, rotate the mouthpiece a bit and oops, out of whack again. I really don't like the Rovners, ...perhaps for a radiator hose leak?

I'm using a Jody Jazz NY mpc and it has a good free-blowing sound I'd like to maintain as much as possible by addition of any new ligature.

As for budget, under $200 should surely get a decent product, shouldn't it?

Jonnieboy

 

[Reedscraper]

The only one I can vouch for because I have it is the Vandoren Optimum-under $100. It works well on my clarinet, alto and soprano.

 

[arobi44]

Been there, done that.

Contact Marc Jean. Give him the outside dimensions -- tell him it's a JJ NY (alto/tenor). He'll make one for you.

Really, he is great to work with. That mouthpiece is very hard to fit to a ligature, due to its design. Marc might be your best bet. He made a great one for my Soprano Planet sop mpc.

 

[jonnieboy]

Do you use these on the Optimum mouthpieces only or will they go on about anything (see below for JJ NY's apparently being hard to fit)? I guess it's not a huge deal to send something back if it doesn't fit, just rather avoid it.

 

[jonnieboy]

The Marc Jeans I've seen are all two-screw, right?

 

[Jazzaferri]

I use the Wanne Enlightened lig and for $90 odd it works well for me

 

[Dave Dolson]

I use my Vandoren Optimum on a variety of hard-rubber soprano mouthpieces. However, I don't like it as well as my two-screw Selmer and Bonade ligs (I'm one who believes a lig can make a difference). Plus, I think many of the fancy-dancy ligs out there these days (including the Optimum) are nothing but a different mouse trap for a lot more money. DAVE

 

[saxhorn4]

The "new " Selmer paris ligs are made with one screw and are quite nice.
There available in SAT for sure..don't know about the bARI.
They fit the selmer paris mouthpiece or equivalent.

 

[ricanna]

I haven't heard of any in-production ligatures over $200 (tax/duty excluded). You can get a decent Winslow / SAXXAS for less than $150.

Or how about no screw at all? Jody Jazz have their own ring ligature that fits DVNY.

 

[Super Action Man]

I think Marc jeans are two screw, but knowing him and his skills, he could easily do one. I love mine.

 

[milandro]

I used to favour the Optimum until I came across the Brancher.......tis has to be (if it matches your mouthpiece) the best ligature that I have ever used. Doesn't turn or slip, and it gives no problems when you grab the mouthpiece for some quick tuning.

 

[Toot Sweet!]

I don't know if the new M/O from Vandoren fits the Jody Jazz NY, but it's a simple, efficient single-screw ligature. It's a hybrid between the Master and the Optimum ligature. For 200 dollars you can probably buy ligatures for a whole saxophone quartet.

www.vandoren.fr/mo/

 

[jonnieboy]

All,

I guess I overestimated the $200 budget. These are a great place to start.

I'll let you know what I end up with.

And yes, I'll give Marc Jean a call and see what suggestions he might have.

Big thanks.

 

[playatsax]

FL ultimates give you the free blowing feeling you're after, but they are a pain to keep in place. Because there are so few contact points, they tend to slide out of position every time you touch the mouthpiece.

 

[jonnieboy]

I used to favour the Optimum until I came across the Brancher.......tis has to be (if it matches your mouthpiece) the best ligature that I have ever used. Doesn't turn or slip, and it gives no problems when you grab the mouthpiece for some quick tuning.

Milandro, are you using a metal mpc? What model # Brancher do you have?

http://shop.weinermusic.com/searchprods.asp?searchstring=brancher+ligatures+tenor&pagenumber=1&val=0http://shop.weinermusic.com/searchprods.asp?searchstring=brancher+ligatures+tenor&pagenumber=1&val=0

http://shop.weinermusic.com/BRANCHER-GOLD-PLATED-LIGATURE-FOR-METAL-TENOR-SAX-MPCS-3-TMG/productinfo/LBRTMG/

 

[Jeff Foster]

Do you use these on the Optimum mouthpieces only or will they go on about anything (see below for JJ NY's apparently being hard to fit)? I guess it's not a huge deal to send something back if it doesn't fit, just rather avoid it.

Don't know about all mouthpieces but I use one on my Phil Barone Hollywood and it fits perfectly.

 

[Isle of Jazz]

Robert Vinson Equa-Tone, less than $20.

 

[RandyJ]

Brancher

 

[skeller047]

I know you think two-screw ligs are a PITA, but what you said about moving the mouthpiece having the reed slip tells me that the ligs you have tried don't fit properly.

My opinion is that a two-screw is better, because it's possible to vary (slightly) the clamping pressure on the front and back of the reed, and it's also easier to adapt to reeds that are slightly thinner in the front or back. Neither option is available with a single screw ligature.

FWIW, I favor the inverted Bonade ligature, and the Marc Jean lig is very similar, though more expensive. The advantage of the Marc Jean lig is that it will fit your mouthpiece, and Bonade only comes in a few sizes.

But regardless of type, if you cannot turn the mouthpiece on the cork without the reed slipping, then the ligature you are using doesn't fit.

 

[dexdex]

The screw on the side of the reed isn't the best compromise, as it will always tend to mess it's position. Bonade or Rico offer ligs with the screws on the opposite side. They are just smarter.