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I was playing on a Rovner Dark before I asked my section leader and very close friend if I could play on it for a bit. I noticed a difference right away. My sound was darker (yes, darker, from a rubber lig to a metal, I'll get to that later), less forced, and fuller. As soon as I could, I placed my order for this. There are only 2 drawbacks to this lig: 1) no matter what plate you use, your reeds will be indented. 2) It's extremely easy to just bend this beyond repair. As long as you're careful, this ligature will be a dream come true. Tip: try every reed you have and find out which pressure plate works best for that individual reed. All reeds, even two from the same box, might require a different plate to have the optimal sound (puns). It's pricey, but it's totally worth it.

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I used a rovner legacy before this lig...and i'm so glad I switched! My tone actually darkened quite a bit and this ligature is EXTREMELY free blowing. It's a great pleasure to play on. Assuming you're careful with your equipment, you won't have to worry too much about it bending (it DOES however, bend very easily.)I absolutely love this ligature and although it's pricey I highly recommend it to anyone who is serious about their sound!

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Since I've been in college as a clarinetist, I've noticed that a lot of my fellow clarinet students play on the Optimum ligature. Despite some of the mixed opinions I had heard, I went and bought it at a local music shop. Some Pros: The response is extraordinary. Even when playing pianissimo, the response didn't contain an undertone at all; all you hear is clarinet. It also projects very well. As an orchestra clarinetist, I know that projecting is a common problem, and my orchestra instructor was pleased with my ability to project once I switched to the Optimum ligature. Now, onto the Cons: The metal material is good in the sense that it enhances response and projection. But, it does so at the cost of the timbre of the sound. I found the optimum ligature to be extremely bright. You have to have just the right reed to achieve a tone that isn't squawky, or even oboe-like. For instance, if your chosen reed is the least bit soft (I ran into this problem at a bad time), the tone is again squawky and very thin. So, if you have a clarinet that doesn't project well or has a somewhat stuffy sound, the Optimum ligature would be great. If not, I do NOT recommend this ligature.

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I found this ligature to have a tone that was more on the bright side. Definitely good for projecting and reaching high notes. It doesn't dampen your sound at all, and the three plates provide a good variety of tones. They also help to make all of your reeds useable. I bought this ligature with the Rovner Eddie Daniels ligature and liked them both, though I preferred the Rovner. I would suggest this ligature for more solo work, as opposed to ensemble work.

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The Vandoren Optimum Ligature is a must have for any Clarinetist. With the three different plates for smooth, short, and easy blowing style of playing this Ligature can be used for any type of performance. I use the smooth playing plate for most classical music I play, I'll use the short playing style if the piece calls for more Staccato playing then Legato. I use the easy blowing plate when it comes to Jazz. All in all, the Vandoren Optimum Ligature is the perfect Clarinet ligature. As I said earlier, the Vandoren Optimum is a must have for any Clarinetist.