Klarinet Archive - Posting 000117.txt from 1994/06

From: Clark W Fobes <reedman@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Straubinger Pads
Date: Sun, 26 Jun 1994 03:58:38 -0400

On Sat, 25 Jun 1994, NICK WINKLER wrote:

> To: REEDMAN@-----.COM
> Subject: Re: Straubinger Pads
>
> R>I have used Peted pads in the past. I overhauled the upper joint of my
> R>bass clarinet about 10 years ago with a blakc pad that he no longer
> R>makes. The seal is still fantastic. I have had some problems using more
> R>recent pads and now only use them in two places on the clarinet.
>
> Please continue, Clark. What two places do you use them? Would one be
> the octave key? What problems have you had? Have you found something
> better? If so, please tell us.
>
> ----- Nick -----
>
> * QMPro 1.52 * Who is General Failure and why is he reading my disk?
> ------------------------------------------------------
> Views expressed by this individual are not necessarily
> those of the Tulare County Office of Education
> ------------------------------------------------------
>
Sorry! I did not mean to be cryptic, I just had limited time to write
this AM.

I use Valentino's "Quiet Cork" pad in the F# ring cup (just under the
throat "A" key) and a white pad in the Ab/Eb cup on the lower joint.

I used all Valentino pads in my personal instruments for about 2 years
and overhauled perhaps 25 or 30 clarinets with his pads in about a perios
of about 1 year. I guaranteed the Valentino pads would be fine for up to
5 years or I would replace them free. Guess what. I did a lot of
"freebie" work.

I found them quite difficult to install properly, but the seal was fantastic!
When I first started using these pads, Pete made a black pad in both a
12lb and a 6lb. I think this may indicate the pressure under which the
material is formed due to the fact that the 12lb was denser and firmer.

Unfortunately, the 12lb was discontinued. I found this to be a much more
stable pad than the 6lb. Over time the softer pads tended to pull up into
the cup causing leaks. I also felt that the sound became brighter over time.

Pete has made several versions of his pad sinc, But for ME ONLY I still
prefer the denser black material and he may start making those again.

The "Quiet Cork" pads are perfect for the area mentioned. They make a
nice firm closure, but do not become hard and noisy like cork pads. I
prefer the sound of all cork pads in the upper joint, so I have not used
them anywhere else on the upper joint.

I have use a Valentino pad on the Ab/Eb key in the lower joint because I
can set the spring very light and the pad will still cover.

Clark W Fobes