yet another LIGATURE

window & ligature

The window is closed on its rear side with a cork bridge or a simple metal ridge, which gives the reed a maximum of freedom to swell under the influence of moisture. Of course, a reed swells more on the wet inside than on the dry outside. Its flat side thus warps and, unless you tighten up your ligature quite a bit, starts to 'roll' on the mouthpiece table. This tension inside the reed I eliminate. There are some very interesting patents describing similar constructions.

The accompanying ligature holds the reed by means of two simple cork rails. Fastening is simply done by shifing the liguture over the mouthpiece plus reed until it sits. This construction is completely reliable. Although it is a simple thing, the ligature settles to any possible asymmetry in the stock of the reed. A variant to this construction, where the cork is replaced with a metal stamp, reduces damping on the reed once more, resulting in a somewhat brighter sound.

	a.	tube fitting the mouthpiece
	b.	metal stamp
	c.	screw
	d.	rubber ring
	e.	blind nut or locknut

As can be destilled from the drawing, this ligature holds the reed only along its sides. The ligature can be drawn easily over the mouthpiece – with the reed in position – until everything sits in place. A quick and confident manoeuvre guaranteeing a reliable fixation of the reed.