Klarinet Archive - Posting 000525.txt from 1998/10

From: "Brent Eresman" <Beresman@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Cork Pads
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 09:27:47 -0400

Graeme Cox wrote:

> Recently, I became interested in cork pads, so as an experiment, I have
> replaced all the pads on the upper joint of an older B&H Emporer Bb clarinet
> with cork. Now I am doing almost all my practice on that instrument to see
> how the cork pads settle in and last.
>
> I found that getting some of the cork pads to seal was more difficult than
> with bladder pads, and even now, the result is not totally satisfactory
> (although the overall improvement from the old badly-worn pads is dramatic).
>
> I'd be very interested in hearing others' experiences with cork.
>
I recently bought a LeBlanc Eb clarinet (the original Symphonie
model) which needed almost a total repad. I had some cork dowel i
had been given a long time ago, so i made pads out of that (except
for a couple keys which were the wrong size to use it). I don't
know if this cork is any different than the stuff which can be had
now, but i installed each pad and leveled it as best as i could, then
clamped it down for a short time (until the next one was ready to
install). They all seal very well, and i have enjoyed playing this
instrument quite a bit.

I did not use cork on the lower pads. I would think that the larger
the diameter of pad, the more difficult it would be to get it to
seat, so my experience would have been more difficult had it been a
Bb i repadded.

Brent Eresman
beresman@-----.com

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