[Jazz43]

Quick overview of the situation:

I currently use a Carlsbad-era Tonalin, and it sounds great. I use a Rovner Dark on it and I get a subdued sound, but still with a good kick to it. It works great for classical stuff and for regular the regular concert bands I'm in.

But now I've started Jazz, and need to get that jazzy sound. From what I've read, I've narrowed down the choices to a Bois ligature or a Vandoren Master's lig.

Which lig would give me a brighter sound? More edge? Is there a lig that I'm missing that would be better?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[zxcvbnm]

Ligs really don't make much of a difference in sound. If you want a jazzier sound, try a different, softer reed (vandoren java, v16, etc.), or get a different mouthpiece.

 

[sopranosaxman]

Ligs really don't make much of a difference in sound. If you want a jazzier sound, try a different, softer reed (vandoren java, v16, etc.), or get a different mouthpiece.

I agree with this the lig really isn't going to make your tone really jazzy. You might want to try different reeds. The only part I disagree with is a different mouthpiece. Tonalins are great jazz pieces I use one myself on my super 20 and they're great for that parker type of tone. You may want to have the Tonalin opened by a refacer though I saw your sig and it said it was only a 3. It will probably measure a bit bigger like maybe a 5, but that is still pretty small. And if you open it up it will definately have a bigger sound. I think that is probably the best way to go.

 

[J.Max]

Ligs really don't make much of a difference in sound. If you want a jazzier sound, try a different, softer reed (vandoren java, v16, etc.), or get a different mouthpiece.

Yup. Ligs make a difference in response, but not in sound...

 

[Jazz43]

I agree with this the lig really isn't going to make your tone really jazzy. You might want to try different reeds. The only part I disagree with is a different mouthpiece. Tonalins are great jazz pieces I use one myself on my super 20 and they're great for that parker type of tone. You may want to have the Tonalin opened by a refacer though I saw your sig and it said it was only a 3. It will probably measure a bit bigger like maybe a 5, but that is still pretty small. And if you open it up it will definately have a bigger sound. I think that is probably the best way to go.

I'm still trying to find someone who can actually measure the tip opening, no luck so far.

As you can tell, I play on Plasticover size 2 reeds. I have an unopened pack of Vandoren blue boxes, I guess I'll tear those open.

 

[Martinman]

The plasticovers will probably be the better reed for jazz, but you never know.

 

[gary]

I don't, and never have had, a case of lig. GAS, and I've never given it much thought but there are cases where they really do make a difference, I was surprised recently to find out. I've got an excellent Link from Doc Tenney but it's aolways been just a little too gentle for me. I've been using the Selmer metal lig. that many use. On a whim I put an older stock Link lig. on the mpc and it opened it right up. It really made a difference.

So, while they might not make too much a difference, in general, it's probably not a bad idea to trade some ligs on a mpc that's not playing like you want it to to see if that doesn't improve things.

(BTW, response on both is the same. The difference was more in volume and carrying power.)