[DryMartini]

For me I don't like the feeling of dampening that they give. Plus none of my heroes used one so...

For me I want vibration and the Rovner leather ligatures dampen instead of aiding vibration.

What I have noticed is that for some mouthpieces that don't play well with a regular ligature the rovner leather ligature can often make them play decently to well.

So my theory is that these Rovner Leather ligatures squeeze the reeds so closely onto the mouthpiece that any leaks or mouthpiece defects are mitigated.

Does anyone else think this may be right?

 

[laurjohn]

What I have noticed is that for some mouthpieces that don't play well with a regular ligature the rovner leather ligature can often make them play decently to well.

So my theory is that these Rovner Leather ligatures squeeze the reeds so closely onto the mouthpiece that any leaks or mouthpiece defects are mitigated.

There very well may be something to that, although I would say you can control how much you tighten it, to a degree. For the last 10 years now I've used Rovners exclusively. Every now and then I wonder if they may be stifling the tone, so I try a metal one; no difference, and the amount of trouble I have keeping the reed straight as I tighten, keeping everything in place while moving the mouthpiece up/down the neck, makes me quickly switch back to the Rovner.

 

[1saxman]

I don't know of any leather Rovner. Are you referring to the current-production Rovners? Their bands are of different materials mainly consisting of rubberized fabric of different weights according to the purpose of the ligature. There are many varieties for different purposes, having different designs. I use a 'dark' on my alto because the mouthpiece is a little bright. I use a 'Star Series' on tenor because it gives more 'sizzle' I use a different one (can't remember what it is) on bari because it just works on that mouthpiece. As for your theory, maybe it's at least partially right but I can't say why they work but they do. I used to laugh at guys using them because I thought they were just copying others to have 'the look'. Then I actually tried one - immediately I noticed the horn played 'smoother' and more 'even'. From then on that's what I use, and they keep coming out with new models. They have a Platinum ligature too. I had one for a while but really didn't notice any real change with it.
Bottom line, its all about what you want to bring out in your sound or perhaps stifle - they make them for all purposes.

 

[Guto]

the simplest Rovner with a simple band is my favorite ligature out there. primarily for its ease of use, and for how well it holds the reed in place.
you can debate how well they seal, how much they dampen the vibrations, etc but these are incremental differences that are totally irrelevant in my opinion.

 

[DryMartini]

mainly consisting of rubberized fabric - yes this is what I meant. i think they may help with mouthpieces that dont have an even table.

 

[lydian]

My experience with these types of Rovners is exactly the same as yours. I do not care for the dampening effect.

But I think your theory is wrong. The part of the reed that the ligature holds shouldn't vibrate at all. That just saps energy from the vibrating tip. A good ligature should hold the reed very tightly against the mouthpiece, something Rovner doesn't do, but a metal ligature does.

I absolutely love the simplicity of a Rovner, which is why I've tried them many times. But no matter how much I tighten them, it's never enough to overcome this dampening effect.

 

[musekatcher]

I absolutely love the simplicity of a Rovner, which is why I've tried them many times. But no matter how much I tighten them, it's never enough to overcome this dampening effect.

I'm undecided on the tone influences of Rovners. My main aversion, is the clunkiness in appearance. I only use them around the house, or in an emergency. I really prefer the appearance and tradition of a good fitting metal ligature on metal or non-metal mouthpieces.

 

[StefGrani]

I don’t have a leather Rovner (mine are either dark or MK3). However, I have a Vandoren leather ligature, that looks exactly like the Rovner. The Vandoren has a choice of 3 different pads to press the reed, which are attached with scotch. I’m mainly using the one with metal grooves, which appears a tiny bit brighter(??). Generally I find the Rovners easier to use (single screw operation) and they don’t move when you tune. My metal ligatures tend to move when tuning on my alto and soprano. On baritone I’m still using the original metal ligatures without problems. Personally, I’m not a big believer in ligature sound effect. I like Rovners for their convenience.

 

[littlewailer]

There very well may be something to that, although I would say you can control how much you tighten it, to a degree. For the last 10 years now I've used Rovners exclusively. Every now and then I wonder if they may be stifling the tone, so I try a metal one; no difference, and the amount of trouble I have keeping the reed straight as I tighten, keeping everything in place while moving the mouthpiece up/down the neck, makes me quickly switch back to the Rovner.

+1

I've used Rovners for at least the last 15 years. I have a light and a dark. When reeds are newer the light works better and once they get broken in a little until they die the dark works better. I have never noticed they muffle the sound compared to other ligatures despite the people who say otherwise.

I used metal ligatures on all the mouthpieces I've owned over the years as well and they always were either 1) too hard to keep on while I tuned the horn during a song 2)didn't sound as clear and clean.

Different strokes.

I've never used a ligature that cost more than a rovner that I liked more.

 

[Dave Pollack]

I absolutey LOVE my Rovner Eddie Daniels. It’s pretty worn out so I need to find another one soon!

 

[turf3]

I have used standard Rovner ligatures (not leather, it's fabric, as far as I know they are all fabric) for 41 years now. In fact, the other day I used that first one, 41 years old. (The screw design was different on those old ones.)

I've never had one "wear out" and I really can't even imagine what wearing out would consist of. The screw on that first old one did break after about 20 years but I replaced it.

While I do use other ligatures on certain MPs that I've never gotten around to finding a Rovner for, I prefer the Rovner to all others. Have never noticed the least bit of tonal difference between one ligature and the next, given a reed with a flat back. (I still don't understand why people get all in a tizzy about 0.001" out of flat on the mouthpiece table when to see it they had to take off the reed with 0.020" out of flat on the back of the reed.)

But those new clothes really do something for the emperor.

 

[Sacks Of Phones]

I absolutey LOVE my Rovner Eddie Daniels. It's pretty worn out so I need to find another one soon!

The Eddie Daniels is the Versa. Same thing, different name. ED's endorsement deal must have ended hence the name change.

 

[skeller047]

Personally I dislike Rovner ligatures. I have never played one of the "fancy" ones with a plate (Versa or Eddie Daniels or...), but I own 2 or 3 regular Rovners and one "light" (they came with mouthpieces I bought except for the light one, which I bought to try). In every case I find that they fail in this respect: they do NOT hold the reed on the mouthpiece firmly.

I suspect this is due to the fact that they only have 1 screw - it's not possible to independently tighten the front and back of the ligature. On every mouthpiece, the Rovners allow the reed to lift slightly when being played, as evidenced by the fact there is moisture on the reed and table after playing. The sound is also "darker", I suspect due to the reed lifting.

I do not think that Rovners hold the reed on the mouthpiece tightly, as the OP suggests. Quite the opposite, which is why I don't like them.

 

[Guto]

I think Versa is the worst of their models (I have one). Those malleable plates seem to always be bent out of shape. Who’d think anyone will be fiddling with adjusting them asymmetrically to accommodate irregular reeds on a reed by reed basis? The simpler the ligature the better!

 

[Dave Pollack]

The Eddie Daniels is the Versa. Same thing, different name. ED's endorsement deal must have ended hence the name change.

Damn! I have to try one of those I guess...I've been playing the same ligature for 12ish years so I don't have much experience with any others.

 

[turf3]

Personally I dislike Rovner ligatures. I have never played one of the "fancy" ones with a plate (Versa or Eddie Daniels or...), but I own 2 or 3 regular Rovners and one "light" (they came with mouthpieces I bought except for the light one, which I bought to try). In every case I find that they fail in this respect: they do NOT hold the reed on the mouthpiece firmly.

I suspect this is due to the fact that they only have 1 screw - it's not possible to independently tighten the front and back of the ligature. On every mouthpiece, the Rovners allow the reed to lift slightly when being played, as evidenced by the fact there is moisture on the reed and table after playing. The sound is also "darker", I suspect due to the reed lifting.

I do not think that Rovners hold the reed on the mouthpiece tightly, as the OP suggests. Quite the opposite, which is why I don't like them.

That's interesting. The nature of the design should permit a pretty even tension all across the band. I wonder if you've been using ones whose "conicity" isn't matched to that of your mouthpieces? Of course, now you'll probably point out that you've been using exotic mouthpieces like Vandoren, Selmer, or Otto Link and you've been using exactly the ligature model specified for those MP models. If that's the case I'll just have to confess myself baffled. It always seems to me the the band is very evenly tensioned across its width, and I've never had the least bit of trouble with reeds slipping - for example, when tuning.

You know, the more I read about this stuff, the more surprised I am that two people can take the same exact piece of machinery ( and a Rovner ligature is an awful simple piece of equipment) and get wildly different results.

 

[laurjohn]

I think Versa is the worst of their models (I have one). Those malleable plates seem to always be bent out of shape. Who'd think anyone will be fiddling with adjusting them asymmetrically to accommodate irregular reeds on a reed by reed basis? The simpler the ligature the better!

I would tend to agree. I've played with a Versa on alto for a few years and have never noticed any real difference in response with the different configurations. I recently switched back to my old Rovner Dark.

 

[Dave Pollack]

I would tend to agree. I've played with a Versa on alto for a few years and have never noticed any real difference in response with the different configurations. I recently switched back to my old Rovner Dark.

Looks like I'll have to try this out for a video!

 

[StefGrani]

Looks like I'll have to try this out for a video!

Great!! I'm a big fan of your videos.

 

[Berg-Man]

One of my heroes uses them.
https://support.rovnerproducts.com/ambassadors/bio/?first_name=Dino&last_name=Govoni