BG's Duo Ligatures- available for Soprano, Alto, and Tenor- are the flagship ligature for BG, known worldwide by saxophonists for product quality.
The BG Duo is the full package when it comes to ligatures. It's advertised on their website as having centered and stable intonation in all registers, precise articulation, unprecedented flexibility, minimum contact for maximum vibrations- and I can't disagree with any of that. This ligature performs to the full extent of its abilities.
Crystal-clear sound, flexibility, and stable intonation all in one package.
If you're looking to buy one for yourself, you can get one right here.
Although they're a little pricier than other ligatures, you'll be getting your money's worth for any BG products that you invest in. The manufacturer does a great job of standing behind the product, too.
Clear Sound, Flexible
Let me be clear: I'm trying not to be opinionated on this article (as much as I can be) at least until we get to the section below called, "Want My Thoughts?", but I'm enamored with this ligature.
I've said in a few other articles about how I like BG ligatures because the majority of them are super transparent which allows me to have an easier time letting my sound come out of the horn. This ligature is no different. The sound is very transparent, but maybe not quite as much as the Universal Ligature from BG. This particular ligature comes in a few finishes including Gold Lacquer, Silver Plate, Gold Plate, and Rose Gold. Hypothesizing here, but since there is a little more metal on this ligature (and more finish), I do hear more of a difference between the finishes, although the difference between finish A and finish B is still pretty minute.
It's weird to write about something that is advertised as having "centered, stable intonation in all registers" and "flexible" at the same time, but in this ligature, they do go together. When playing these ligatures on any of my horns, my overtones slot a little bit differently- but easier. My altissimo range comes out with a little bit extra ease. There's a reason I have this ligature for every hard rubber mouthpiece I own.
As is typical for many BG Ligatures, these were designed to have minimum contact with the reed and the mouthpiece. The argument for designing ligatures this way is that the less you're touching the reed or the mouthpiece, the more they have an opportunity to vibrate or resonate, creating a bigger, more full-bodied and true sound. Some ligatures have so many points of contact, and the end result is that they end up taking away (what I feel like are) vital frequencies out of the saxophone sound. The BG Duo gives you a little bit more freedom in tonal expression.
I was a bit puzzled at why BG chose the name "Duo" when making this ligature, so I wrote the owner. He tells me, "I wanted a name easy to remember, understandable in various languages. The DUO name became obvious from day 1 of our tests. It has 2 colors (red + plating), and it is perfect for jazz & classic players.
Want my thoughts?
For almost any mouthpiece I use that is hard rubber, I'm using this ligature. In various finishes, too. On soprano I primarily use the rose gold Duo. On alto, the rose gold Duo. Tenor? The silver plate duo. Those fit my sound the best. I use these primarily for their transparency in sound, but I get the added benefits of the control things that we talked about above.
Me and my silver plated BG Duo Ligature for Tenor. Photo: Taylor Handy
Although I love the gear I own, I'm always curious about new and different types of gear for the saxophone. It's kind of what saxophonists do. I don't change gear all that often, and with that in mind- this is the ligature I've been using since its' release, quite a few years ago. It's my go-to, and I haven't seen a ligature that provides me with everything that the Duo does. I know they're a little bit on the expensive side, but I've used this ligature for probably 7 years or more, and I feel like I'm getting my money's worth. I can't find one thing about it that doesn't meet my needs (or exceed them).
Why BG?
BG has been making ligatures and woodwind accessories since 1985, and every product that comes out of BG is made by hand and inspected with some of the absolute best quality assurance I've seen in the saxophone world.
With a company logo that says, "When Details Make The Difference", you can see the level of craftsmanship that goes into each and every piece. It goes on to say further, "We only sell products that our employees would buy." There's no doubt that when you look at each product, you can see exactly what they're talking about, down to the packaging. Buying a BG product is buying a product that will last with you for a long time, and will sound as good as it looks.
Crystal-clear sound, flexibility, and stable intonation all in one package.
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