JEFFERY KYLE HUTCHINS, SAXOPHONE
  • ABOUT
    • WORK
    • projects
  • EVENTS
  • Look/Listen
    • Photos
  • TEACHING
​[ w o r d s ]

Silverstein Works Ligature

1/11/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
This post is a bit belated, but I wanted to share my experience with the new Silverstein Works Ligature. A couple of months ago, I was selected to receive a trial ligature as part of the Trial for Pros program. The ligature arrived in a very nice tin box with my name on the side and a bow on top, which was a nice and unexpected touch! When I put the ligature on the mouthpiece and started to play some scales, I was instantly struck at how clear my tone sounded across all registers. The low notes spoke with great ease and the projection in the upper register was impeccable. Was it a huge difference from my current ligature? Not necessarily. I recorded myself over a few days playing both ligatures and after careful comparison, I'm not sure I could tell a big difference from the recording. What a recorder does not pick up, however, is the difference in the feel, which was incredible. I think if I was blindfolded I could tell which ligature was on my instrument just because of the resistance of the reed and ease of projection that I greatly enjoyed in the Silverstein Works ligature.

As for the ligature itself, there is one giant screw on top that adjusts two feet with rubber stoppers down onto the top of the mouthpiece, pulling the five cords tighter against the reed. The cords are completely fixed in place and do not move. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the cords have quite a bit of structure to them and are not 'floppy'. I half expected the ligature to resemble an OLEGature when it was off the mouthpiece, like a wadded up shoestring with a screw attached. However, the ligature is very sturdy and durable! There are two metal plates on either side of the reed that touch the mouthpiece. I found that if these were positioned too closely to the reed they would have a bit of play to them, as they were not even touching the mouthpiece (or at least not securely). I would have to move them up higher on the side to feel that they were snug in place, but I am not sure at how much of a difference it makes in the tone as I found no difference from their various placements.

All in all, this ligature is due some serious consideration when in the market for a new piece of equipment. It certainly fits the bill for everything I look for in a ligature with response, dynamic clarity, ease of project, and tone consistency. The price tag is a little higher compared to other ligatures on the market, but I think it will be money well spent and I look forward to purchasing my own Silverstein Works Ligature.

Visit their website here.
 
0 Comments
    Picture

    JKH

    Saxophonist, Artist,  Listener, Thinker, Teacher, Performer, Curator, Veggie, Reader, Lover of Contemporary Music

    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    June 2017
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All
    Antithesis Project
    Art
    Australia
    Avidduo
    Binary Canary
    Cmw Presents...
    Contemporary Music
    Dance
    Electronic Music
    Film
    Free Music
    Hutchins Choi Duo
    Improvisation
    Installation
    Jazz
    New Music
    Orotund2
    Performance
    Product Review
    Product Review
    Quartet
    Recordings
    Renegadeensemble
    Saxophone
    Teaching
    TMEA
    Travel
    Video
    What Are You Listening To?

    RSS Feed

© Jeffery Kyle Hutchins 2023
Support Local Music!
  • ABOUT
    • WORK
    • projects
  • EVENTS
  • Look/Listen
    • Photos
  • TEACHING