[MrSago]

Hello all!

I love to use metal gold Olegature (size 9) on my hard rubber Darke NY J 9 tenor MPC (same with Morgan 8M). It is freeblowing, gives the sound something extra/rich/brigth. I think that it is great idea to surround the MPC by continuos layer of metal stuff. It just works!

But I have a serious problem with the Oleagture. It scratches all hard rubber MPC I put it on. I wouldn't care about several decent scretches on the body of MPC. But there is one serious scratch distant approx. 1 cm from the back screw. See on the pictures below. I checked the ligature in detail and there is no mark of any sharp item on it. I really tight it lightly!

Has anybody experience that it is issue of bad piece and buying a new one would solve it?

https://imageshack.com/i/powBtGddj
https://imageshack.com/i/plR7nB5Zj
https://imageshack.com/i/poHBnaJMj

Thanks for any feedback

Pavel

 

[skeller047]

If you really like the ligature, then put some tape on the mouthpiece where it scratches to protect it. I have had to do that to some mouthpieces because I turned the two-screw ligature around so it is inverted, and the edges of the ligature under the screw dig in.

I use this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00823J6ZC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also use it for mouthpiece tooth patches...

 

[MrSago]

Thanks for feedback! Actually I tried to cut small part of slightly thicker plastic bag and put it under the screws (I have them in the upper part of MPC) and the sound turned for the worse significantly and all the value added of the ligature was suddenly away. It may be caused by the fact it is not sticked firmly to the body of MPC? I think the resonance of the ligature was broken. Do you think I should give a chance to the tape? I don't like to see sticking anything to the body of MPC even temporarily but if it would work. I would probably look for ligature with similar sound.

 

[skeller047]

If you use the tape I linked to it will not show, it is transparent. It removes easily and leaves little if any residue, which is easily cleaned off with a damp soft cloth.

This tape is what I use on the beak of every mouthpiece as a tooth patch/mouthpiece "saver". It's also useful when your ligature is slightly too large for the mouthpiece.

I would not expect your plastic bag trick to work

A suggestion - have you tried a Bonade ligature? They only have them in "standard" mouthpiece sizes (meant for hard rubber pieces), but I have found that they work really well, and do not scratch the mouthpiece. Cheaper than an Olegature by far

 

[MrSago]

Thanks for your opinion. I give it a try

 

[germanwatches]

I own three different size Olegature ligatures and they scratch my mouthpieces. I tried electrical tape, but it was too thick. I'll do some more experimenting.

 

[turf3]

In 40+ years of using Rovner ligatures I've never had one scratch the mouthpiece.

In 40+ years of trying various metal and non-metal ligatures I've never seen any difference amongst them once the back of the reed is flat, except for ease of installation.

Just sayin'.

 

[MrSago]

Yes, the changes among various ligatures are often slight and especially for the audience. But the difference for the player can be significant and if you want to spend time and money for it why not

I just did't find any ligature that would be so pleasant to play for me as Olegature...

 

[Pete Thomas]

I think the resonance of the ligature was broken.

What exactly is the resonance of the ligature? I've never heard of a resonating ligature.

In 40+ years of using Rovner ligatures I've never had one scratch the mouthpiece.

In 40+ years of trying various metal and non-metal ligatures I've never seen any difference amongst them once the back of the reed is flat, except for ease of installation.

Just sayin'.

Yes exactly, no ligature will make a difference if it fits and if the reed is nice and flat on the table.

If a ligature scratches then it's fine to put tape or something - that is what I do when testing out PPTs for sale. Sometimes a bit of cork does the trick. It won't change the sound if, as mentioned, the ligature fits the mouthpiece and the table is flat.

 

[JL]

What exactly is the resonance of the ligature? I've never heard of a resonating ligature.

Me neither. And I suspect that if in fact a ligature did resonate, it wouldn't be holding the reed firmly enough to the mpc table.

But MrSago, I'm a bit confused as to what exactly your question is. When you say "buying another piece" are you talking about another mpc or a different ligature? I guess you mean ligature. If the scratches on your mpc bother you, then yeah, get a different ligature, one that won't scratch the mpc. There are dozens of choices that will work perfectly well without scratching. As Pete says, just get one that fits properly and you'll be all set. No need to spend a fortune on it either.

 

[adamk]

Me neither. And I suspect that if in fact a ligature did resonate, it wouldn't be holding the reed firmly enough to the mpc table.

But MrSago, I'm a bit confused as to what exactly your question is. When you say "buying another piece" are you talking about another mpc or a different ligature? I guess you mean ligature. If the scratches on your mpc bother you, then yeah, get a different ligature, one that won't scratch the mpc. There are dozens of choices that will work perfectly well without scratching. As Pete says, just get one that fits properly and you'll be all set. No need to spend a fortune on it either.

No solid gold ligs encrusted with precious stones?

 

[JL]

No solid gold ligs encrusted with precious stones?

Sure. "Step right up!" And bring your money...

 

[MrSago]

Resonance of ligature - I meant vibration of ligature. I think that anything mount to the mouthpiece fundamentally affects the sound (staff and its volume).

 

[MrSago]

Yes I meant buying different ligature. The scratches bothers me in case I want to sale it. I bought recently Morgan 8M and i don't want to damage it by this nice playing ligature. I have currently two ligatures that fits to the large body of Morgan. One is made from leather and the second is Olegature. I really much more enjoy playing Olegature...

 

[Pete Thomas]

Resonance of ligature - I meant vibration of ligature.

Same question, why would a ligature vibrate?

 

[Guto]

Throw it away and move to a better made ligature that doesn’t scratch your mouthpiece. So many better made products out there.

 

[MrSago]

Same question, why would a ligature vibrate?

You blow air across the mouthpiece > the reed vibrates > the air in the instrument vibrates > the whole instrument including anything mount to it vibrates. The sound is influenced by anything mount to it. The closer to your mouth the more effect to the sound. If you touch the ligature when blowing I am sure you feel somethig taht I call vibration

 

[Pete Thomas]

You blow air across the mouthpiece > the reed vibrates > the air in the instrument vibrates > the whole instrument including anything mount to it vibrates. The sound is influenced by anything mount to it. The closer to your mouth the more effect to the sound. If you touch the ligature when blowing I am sure you feel somethig taht I call vibration

Well yes, at some level the whole world is probably vibrating.

I'm talking about vibrations you can physically feel and I believe if you can feel a ligature vibrating then something is wrong.

A bit like if you can feel a cheese and chive bagel vibrating, that would be cause for concern IMO.

The only time I felt part of a saxophone vibrate (not including the reed) it was a side Bb key whose spring was too weak and it was causing a leak when played that was not detectable when not being played. So I had it fixed and all was better.

So i'd Say if you feel a ligature vibrating then something is wrong, ie it is not fitting well and this would also explain the scratching.

 

[Tzadik]

Same question, why would a ligature vibrate?

Mechanical contact = vibrations transfer.

The real question is: how much do you care if things vibrate or not?

 

[Tzadik]

I got a Drake NY Jazz. I'm confortable with ligs that don't scratch the mouthpiece.
I have many Rovner (including a Rovner not made in fabrik: it's called Platinum) but most of the time I use a simple Vandoren Optimum (I've bought a set of pressure plates for tenor reeds, since the NY Jazz fits an alto Vandoren Optimum).
But just in terms of pure "loudness", you can get more volume with a simple Rovner Light (... yes, made in fabrik).

Note: the thick teeth patch dampens a little bit the sound.
Thin and stiff mouthpieces patches give a little better feedback.