Klarinet Archive - Posting 001053.txt from 1998/07

From: reedman@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Leather pads
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 19:05:15 -0400

I have used leather pads occasionally on soprano clarinets , but I prefer
to Use STRAUBINGER pads in the lower joint and cork pads in the upper
joint except on the ring keys.

I do use leather pads on bass clarinets. The best pad I have found so far
is carried by JL Smith co. 1-800-659-6073. These are called Lucien Deluxe
White bassoon pads. They are made from a very fine grained leather and the
wool has a nice consistency.

The principal problem with any leather pad is that they are quite porous
and leak through the surface. Tim Clark makes a skin covered leather pad
that is really the most beautiful hand made pad I have ever seen. I just
don't have the time to make pads and I have found the STRAUBINGER PADS to
be very consistent and stable.

When I use leather pads on bass clarinets, I remove the key after the pad
is seated and I seal the area inside the seat ring with paraphin.

I don't like cork pads in the lower joint because they are too noisy and
cork pads don't work well in conjuntion with each other. (As in the case of
long B that requires both the C pad and the B pad to close simultaneously)

Clark W Fobes

Clark W Fobes
Web Page http://www.sneezy.org/clark_fobes

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