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Woodwind Accessories

Woodwind Ligatures

The different combinations of reed and mouthpiece can produce a huge range of sounds. However the ligature (the device which holds the reed against the mouthpiece can also make a tremendous difference to the sound an instrument makes - as it is a major point of contact with the reed.

It is useful to think of the mouthpiece/reed/ligature as one vibrating entity. Changing any one of the components will change the overall playing characteristics.

Conventional wisdom is that the more contact with the reed (as with a fabric ligature) the darker the sound, whereas less contact produces a lighter tone. Having said this nothing's quite that simple!

In addition, many players believe an inverted ligature (which feature the screws on the top of the mouthpiece, opposite the reed) exerts a more even pressure on the reed than a conventionally designed ligature, allowing the reed to vibrate more freely.

Below is some information about some of the more popular professional range ligatures. For more information, or confirmation that a particular ligature will fit your specific mouthpiece please call or view our website.

Rovner Ligatures

Inverted fabric based ligatures for clarinet and saxophone made in the USA. There are various size derivatives of the saxophone models to fit different metal mouthpieces. All supplied with caps.

Rovner Dark - The original Rovner with a warm, full, centred tone.
Rovner light - A free playing ligature with a broader, more open tone quality.
Rovner Mark III - A big, solid, well-centred tone of great brilliance without buzz or hash. Fantastic response and accuracy.
Rovner Eddie Daniels MKII - Can produce 12 distinct tones by way of switching inserts and readjusting flaps. The tonal "centre" of a good metal ligature with the flexibility of a Rovner.

BG Ligatures Designed and manufactured in Lyon, France BG ligatures produce a range of fabric and metal inverted ligatures for all styles of playing. As with Rovner there are various size derivatives of the saxophone models to fit different metal mouthpieces.

Standard Clarinet For ensemble work & chamber music, dark sound, free blowing.
Revelation Clarinet Soloist ligature, clear sound, easy staccato
Super Revelation Clarinet exceptional radiance, brilliant compact sound.
Tradition Clarinet Metal ligature for orchestral work with direct sound projection
Standard Sax For ensemble work and chamber music - rounded sound, free blowing
Super Revelation Sax Soloist ligature, exceptional radiance, brilliant compact sound.
Tradition Sax Metal ligature for soloists, brilliant colourful sound, free blowing.
Standard Jazz Sax For players seeking a rounded sound
Revelation Jazz Sax For smaller groups or intimate venues.
Metal Jazz Sax Even sound, easy staccato, large low register, flexibility and control.

Vandoren Optimum Ligatures Available for clarinet & sax the Optimum ligature is a traditional style metal ligature that comes with 3 interchangeable pressure plates to accommodate different playing styles: Plate 1 - Rich colourful sound with great resonance. Plate 2 - Compact centred sound Plate 3 - Flexible sound with great ease of expression.

CASES AND BAGS Buy on-line

A case must protect your valuable instrument when being transported and stored, yet should remain lightweight and compact so as to make carrying it around as practical and pleasurable as possible. In addition a case should look and feel good and hopefully have additional space for keeping music and other spares and accessories.

Cases and bags can be divided into four main categories.
We’ve listed the popular makes of each sort.

Traditional Cases
Made from wood or moulded plastic frames, these are the cases your new instrument will come in. Designed to fit your specific instrument these are strong and safe - but sometimes a little heavy or cumbersome.
We’ve listed the replacement cases for popular instruments.

woodwind cases and bags for woodwind instruments

Gig Bags
Made from either leather or synthetic material (with heavy padding on the inside), these bags are designed for maximum practicality for players on the move. They are lightweight and compact and can be carried on the shoulder or as a backpack. The drawback is an inherent reduced level of protection (even with the best quality bags).The most popular gig bags available are the Vincent Bach range. These come in either leather or fabric and offer both quality and value.

Hybrid case/bags
A number of manufacturers (notably BAM and Pro Tec) offer cases, which combine the protection of a case with the practicality of a bag. These are produced using lightweight moulded foam, which is covered in a fabric or leather outer protection. The result is a lightweight, compact, safe and stylish case.Case CoversThese are designed to protect and enhance your case. For example a flutecase cover enables your flute case to be carried “over the shoulder” with extra room for music.

A word about Colours!
A number of the bags and cases listed come in a variety of colours. We generally only stock bags in black (as this is by far the most popular option), all other colours are to special order.

Woodwind Ligatures There are a large variety of instrument stands available, however Konig & Meyer stand out as offering by far the best quality, safe and long lasting stands available. Made in Germany they are a little more expensive than some makes on the market, but investing in anything less is probably a false economy.

CARDHOLDERS AND LYRES Buy on-line

Clarinet Lyre

CARE AND REPAIR Buy on-line

Moisture Protection The number one enemy of all woodwind instruments is moisture - deposited in the instrument during playing. This can rot the keypads and with wooden bodied instruments contribute towards cracked joints. In order to rid your instrument of unwanted moisture there is a whole array of “pull-throughs”, mops, swabs and handkerchiefs that you should use immediately after playing. Once dry, to keep your instrument dry a “padguard” or “padsaver” is recommended to prolong the life of your pads. Oils & Lubricants Cork grease is a necessity to lubricate the joints of clarinets, oboes and bassoons and the neck cork of saxophones. This makes the assembly and disassembly of your instrument easier thus preventing potential damage to keywork. Bore oil and key oil should be used with extreme caution, if at all. We generally recommend use only if you really know what you are doing or have consulted with your teacher and/or our repair team.

SLINGS Buy on-line

Having a comfortable sling that also aids correct playing posture is
very important, particular with smaller players where the weight of the
instrument may be quite straining. In particular a sling should be well
padded and adjustable.

We list a number of popular quality slings. The BG range is particularly
good offering a number of different configuration options to suit all
players such as harness, shoulder strap and yoke to aid a comfortable playing position.

SPARES Buy on-line

We’ve listed a number of spares and parts regularly requested by customers.

However if you need a replacement part not listed we should be able to find it.

We’ve got comprehensive listings and technical drawings
of all the models produced by the major manufacturers
and should be able to find the right part for you.

Woodwind Accessories

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