[Hunter Rivett]

Ive been using an Otto Link 6* Super Tone Master and Vandoren ZZ 2 reeds, rovner light ligature on my cannonball big bell stone series alto. I love it. It has just a bit to dark of a sound sometimes though. Whats a quick fix i could do in the middle of a gig to brighten it up. I was thinking a different lig? Maybe metal platinum rovner? I love what I have now, but for some spots its just a little darker than i would prefer. Any suggestions?

 

[Pete Thomas]

I would try different reeds, failing that a mouthpiece. A different lig will make no significant difference providing whaht you have now is working properly, but many people don't tighten those Rovner ligatures enough.

 

[-TH]

A Selmer 404 metal ligature and Vandoren Java reeds will brighten your sound. If you want really bright try some Plasticovers. Reeds have more impact on the sound than ligatures.

 

[Hunter Rivett]

I would try different reeds, failing that a mouthpiece. A different lig will make no significant difference providing whaht you have now is working properly, but many people don't tighten those Rovner ligatures enough.

Yah, I make sure mine pretty tight, i make sure of that. Thanks for the help, i have multiple different reeds to try, so Ill see what happens!

 

[skeller047]

I think you should try the original Link lig, or a Selmer 404 (502? this is an alto) instead of the Rovner. A Rovner has to fit exactly to work properly, otherwise it allows the reed to rise up a little at the base of the window. This creates a darker sound. I know that Pete Thomas likes them, but I have never been able to make a Rovner, including the "light" design, work properly on any mouthpiece due to the flexibility and the fit.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I think you should try the original Link lig, or a Selmer 404 (502? this is an alto) instead of the Rovner. A Rovner has to fit exactly to work properly, otherwise it allows the reed to rise up a little at the base of the window. This creates a darker sound. I know that Pete Thomas likes them, but I have never been able to make a Rovner, including the "light" design, work properly on any mouthpiece due to the flexibility and the fit.

Yes, if a ligature is not fitting, then the resulting sound could be described as "darker". Or duller, or however you hear it. I agree that ligatures should fit perfectly in order to function properly with the intended sound, but I have found the opposite: It's much easier to make a Rovner fabric ligature fit perfectly than it is to make a metal fit perfectly (including a Rovner metal).

As I said before, there are various reasons, often people think they don't need to tighten a fabric log more than they would a metal one, or they don't allow it to settle in, or else they don't oil them as advised.