Upside down ligatures

[Cschimandle]

I'm a newbie, so I apologize if posting old question or in the wrong place. What's the deal with upside down ligatures? I can't hear a difference when I put the screws on the round part or the flat part of the mouthpiece. But maybe that's my ear or my playing. Anyway, can anyone tell me what's supposed to be different?

[Windsong]

Welcome,  and what a good question.

I don't think it matters at all.  Most metal ligatures are intended to be used with the thumb screws on the table side of the MP.

It wasn't really until rubber ligs came out (Rovner, etc.) that we began to see a shift. Whereas screw tension and placement of the lig are important, I personally find the lig to be the least important component of a setup.  I have paid silly money for ligs that purported to be the best ever, only to find no difference in tone, projection or playability.

YMMV.

[LarryS]

I favour the BG lig I use, it is much simpler to use, just one screw to tighten. I find the metal one with the 2 screws a bit of a faff

[brigaltman]

I've been inverting my ligatures (now using a Bois so no screws) for about 40 years. I find that the screws tend to "bite" into the reeds causing them to pull tighter in the center than on the edges. This can cause them to leak along the edges. Reversing the ligature allows the reed to vibrate more freely which allows your instrument to respond more quickly and evenly.

[Windsong]

I have tried that in the past, but have found a slight bias among metal ligs, preventing optimal mounting.  I suppose it depends upon the design. 

I am not familiar with Bois ligs, but I will educate myself.  I am not sure I see how they work, but they appear to simply be rings that are pulled down over the reed and MP?
Have you ever lashed your reed down with cord?

[Fotogravinnetje]

I think it depends on the design. The metal ligatures I've had, had the flat surface under the screws, so having the screws at the side of the reed give the most even hold on the reed. I now use a leather Vandoren ligature that has a changeable inlay (soft leather, firm leather or metal) opposite of the screw that is meant to go over the reed