06/25/2026
A-
From the very beginning, I approached this ligature project hoping to find a way to increase the volume of sound waves produced by the reed—much like an oboe reed, whose sound soars above the entire symphony orchestra.
Does a longer, wider, or thicker reed alter the sound in any ways?
Some musicians already use baritone sax reeds on tenor mouthpieces to enlarge their sound.
So, I designed a ligature featuring a secondary wooden element positioned over the thicker part of the reed, with contact lines that are not parallel but V-shaped—mimicking the reed's own profile.
The response my ligatures produce confirms I was right on this point. And this holds true regardless of the mouthpiece used; the sound is simply broader.
No other ligature arranges its contact lines or points to follow the reed's side edges. Consequently, their contact is narrower toward the reed's thin tip than toward its thicker end. Logically, it seems to me that the thin tip should be able to vibrate across a larger surface area, shouldn't it?
More to come soon.
