Klarinet Archive - Posting 000188.txt from 1996/01

From: "Roderick E. Prior" <prior@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Gortex, Straubinger
Date: Tue, 9 Jan 1996 20:30:02 -0500

>There is a clarinet repairman in Maine by the name of William (Bill)
>Street, he uses Gortex pads and swears by them. They are made out of
>neoprene rubber. If you want to know more about them contact me in a week
>or so and I will look up his address for you.
>
I can add a little information about Bill Street's padding techniques.
As far as I know, Bill makes his own pads of neoprene rubber. I had my
clarinets overhauled by Bill 15 and 13 years ago. He repadded both of them
with neoprene at that time, excepting only the register key, which he padded
with cork, and the two upper-joint ring keys, which he padded with
traditional skin-covered felt.

Emilio at Rayburn's in Boston (sorry, I never remember his last name) played
my clarinet a couple of years ago and was interested enough to contact bill
about sources of neoprene pads. Bill told him that the repair tech must
make his own.

I've been very happy with my neoprene pads over the years. None have ever
had to be replaced. They seal very well.

Bill may have added gortex covers to his neoprene pads, but I'm not aware of it.

Bill's address is Green Street (7, I think), Gorham, Maine, 04038. His
phone number is 207-839-5922. I couldn't find an e-mail address, although I
know Bill is a faculty or staff member of the Department of Music at the
University of Southern Maine. Incidentally, Bill is also a terrific jazz
sax player.

Hope this helps.

Rod Prior
utter clarinet amateur
Farmington, ME