I Tested Vandoren’s New Carbon Fiber Ligature!

I had a blast making the trip up to NYC to test out Vandoren's new Carbon Fiber Ligature as well as their entire MO Ligature lineup. I can't believe that the Carbon ligature is lighter than a piece of paper! Could you hear a difference between the ligatures? If so, which ligature was your favorite? Let me know what I should check out next down in the comments below!
While this video wasn't sponsored, I just wanted to say thank you to Vandoren and David Gould for having me out and allowing me to film!
Clarinet Equipment:
Buffet Crampon Tosca Bb Clarinet
Licostini FDC Standard Mouthpiece
Custom Barrel
Microphone: Shure MOTIV MV88
Camera: Fujifilm XT-3
follow me on Instagram ► / ericblackclarinet
support me on Patreon ► / parkhousecreations
connect with me via email ► [e-mail]
#Carbonfiber #clarinet #vandoren

[@johnfrazier5548]

IMHO, the best ligature is when you hold the reed on with your thumb! I’ve played the Gigliotti ligature for years. It is a modified Bonade. I like it because if I accidentally step on it it won’t bend 😊

[@ClarinetEnthusiast]

It’s been a while, but I’m glad you’re back at it with another video! I wait excitedly for a new video about the Moto Perpetuo series (if you plan on continuing the series, of course.)

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Thanks for watching Oscar, I do still plan on making Moro Perpetuo videos! But I need to find a better editing method or format. It’s just taking too much time to put each episode together unfortunately.

[@junnansun9653]

Have you seen Michael Lowenstein’s video? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 hey good to finally see someone doing a great review on this carbon ligature! I must say you sound great on it! I am also use to ligature helping me with sound production and articulation and I can see this carbon ligature will help the articulation tremendously! 😁 still 500usd, if it automatically play Daphnis for me then I will consider!😁

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Lol, thanks Junnan! It’s a steep price, but maybe they can add the auto Daphnis function in the next version?

[@RobertChest]

I listened again with ear buds, and results were not as marked as with my old Labtec computer speakers. I still like the silver the best, but the black is very close. I'm writing this because it occurred to me that the term "stuffy" has too many negative connotations, which I didn't mean to imply. Clearer and more effortlessly produced tone comes closer to describing what I was hearing. All the ligatures sounded better with the ear buds, which tells me I probably should not have commented at all! Thanks again!

[@ParkHouseCreations]

No worries Robert! I didn’t take your other comment negatively! However, in relation to that other comment, I do want to clarify that the chart was meant to show my perception of the ligatures at the studio while I was in the act of playing them. At the time, the differences felt very clear to me. However, those differences really did become much more difficult to hear once I listened back after I got back home. The recording convinced me that despite feeling strongly at the studio that pewter was too bright and rose gold too dark, that I would be more than comfortable playing on any of them in the end. Anyway, thank you for watching and especially for commenting, getting to have these discussions is why I make the videos!

[@vincentrufino4445]

I was happy to see your latest post. I have missed your reviews, which are always fair and objective, and sometimes humorous! That being said, my prayer is always, “God please don’t tempt me with another ligature or mouthpiece.” However, On Black Friday I purchased a Silverstein 4 strand T 5 generation ligature. The feet that sit on the mouthpiece do send vibrations through the instrument so you do feel the vibrancy in your hands. Did it make a difference in sound? Not a major difference from my Versa ligature. I have 2 MO ligatures that came with a CL 5 and CL6 VD mouthpieces on a terrific sale from WWBW. One lig. Is gold the other pewter. What I do notice about the MO ligs. Is that they leave an indentation on the top of the reed when I tighten them so the reed does not slip. I use them when I play outdoors concerts, where I want the brightness. For December concerts I will be using the Silverstein. Keep posting - I follow you one Instagram, KZbin and have read your contributions on the Clarinet Bulletin Board.

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Hey Vincent, thanks for watching, I really appreciate the support! With any luck I will be able to increase my posting speed in the coming months (finally getting used to a new routine!) Thank you for sharing your ligature experiences and enjoy your new ligature!

[@vincentrufino4445]

@@ParkHouseCreations Have you considered a video on barrels?

[@ParkHouseCreations]

@@vincentrufino4445 I’ve done a couple of videos on barrels (Schwenk und Seggelke and Gleichweit.) There is always a chance I do more in the future!

[@RobertChest]

Interesting to hear your analysis of how the ligatures sounded to you. Admittedly, I'm not listening with great speakers, but I actually liked the silver better than any of the others. I heard a deeper (darker?) sound compared with the pewter right before it, but I didn't hear the others get progressively darker. I heard them get progressively stuffier. The silver for me had the clearest and seemingly most effortlessly produced sound of them all. For what it may be worth: there are other factors that could cause the perception I had that could have nothing to do with the ligatures themselves. I enjoyed your video!

[@saxefoner]

The more power I send through, the bigger the difference between ligatures felt. That is why I wondered why you played so quietly during the trial.

[@ParkHouseCreations]

This is an interesting question, but I understand. I think if you were in the room you wouldn't have felt it was so quiet. I think the actual dynamic levels people are playing at can sometimes get lost in recordings, especially when there isn't much variation in loudness to give your perception a base. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if we have different production styles and are looking for different kinds of sounds. Thank you for watching, I hope it was still helpful!

[@jimis3167]

Silver sounds great.

[@sinanturan7899]

For me,pink gold with carbon ligature same sound. Thanks.🙋

[@chesterrowell1832]

This is an absolutely honest and highly informational video! Thankyou

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Glad you liked it, thank you for watching!

[@jimis3167]

Pewter is basically nickel plated? You should also try the old two screw Vandoren Masters ligatures If you find any

[@jefft9729]

Great video as always. Could you please explain what a “covered; centered and round” sound mean? Many thanks

[@AndSendMe]

Thanks for another great video! Question: of the mouthpieces you have tried, which has the greatest range of tonal variation? Thanks!

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Hey, thanks for watching! That's a good question and I'm afraid I don't really have a good answer. I tend to pick mouthpieces that don't naturally have the most amount of color or tonal variation. I think my physiology and production style tends to be where the color in my sound comes from, so I tend to pick mouthpieces that are darker/more covered naturally to help balance that out. For the last several months, I've been really enjoying the Licostini FDC I've been playing on. I think it has a really nice balance of color while still being round and covered. A similar experience can probably be had with a Vandoren B40 Lyre or maybe a BD5. That being said, if I was picking a mouthpiece that had more color built in, I would probably go with a M15 or M13 Lyre!

[@AndSendMe]

@@ParkHouseCreations Thanks for taking the time to answer, these are helpful ideas and the context helps too!

[@Ryan_____________________]

Can’t believe this thing exists! 500 dollars!

[@ParkHouseCreations]

There's certainly not too many that are more expensive!

[@thesaxophonewarrior]

So it was cheaper when you reviewed it? It’s $700 now…

[@ParkHouseCreations]

@@thesaxophonewarrior I believe there is some leeway allowed with how different retailers are pricing it. The MSRP is $999. The $543.84 number I got for this video was what I would have paid at the studio that day. At the same time, Sweetwater had it listed for $699. Is the studio now selling it for $700 as well?

[@thesaxophonewarrior]

@@ParkHouseCreations not sure, I know David and everyone but I’m not looking to make a big ripple, was more curious…it certainly is a divisive thing with luxury items these days.

[@ParkHouseCreations]

@@thesaxophonewarrior Ya I hear you, sorry I can’t answer your question! The price may have gone up in general. I just haven’t checked since making the video.

[@philiproberts7748]

I also loved the black, and I don't feel it's worth paying such a big difference in price to get the carbon ligature

[@patricksautour5963]

Une ligature a 500 euros ....!!!!avec des anches pas top ça fait quoi???? elles deviennent excellentes ....Faut arréter le délire....😡