Klarinet Archive - Posting 000860.txt from 2000/08

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Cork Pads?
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2000 10:59:42 -0400

Because cork pads are a harder surface, they absorb less of the energy or sound
being produced within the tube. Conventional pads are softer and, therefore,
absorb some of the sound.

This could be good or bad depending upon what kind of speaking response and
tone quality one likes. Some might describe the sound as "harder, brighter or
having a greater amount of the upper partials in the tone."

They definitely do last longer, don't swell when flooded with moisture and
don't make that "ticky" sound that double skin pads sometimes will make. They
are also hermetically tighter and are not subject to migrational air loss as
skin pads can be.

There are also several brands of synthetic pads that can be used. One that
creates a very good seal and has long life is the Valentino pad. These pads can
achieve an extremely tight pad job, but like cork pads, do change the playing
characteristics and tone quality.

While there is a fair amount of expense involved and a cork pad job on an upper
joint of a clarinet will cost more, nothing is permanently altered and if one
does not like the results the clarinet can always be returned to a
conventionally skin padded state.

Will Cicola wrote:

> I was reading through some old articles today and I noticed some comments on
> cork pads. I remember reading that they have their advantages, but a lot of
> people don't like them. Why is this? What are the advantages and
> disadvantages of cork pads? The only disadvantage I could think of was cost,
> but I'm just guessing about that. I thought I remembered reading that they
> don't absorb water so they last longer. Anybody have any experience with
> cork pads? What's good and bad about them?
> --
> Will Cicola
> I don't need a life. I've got orchestra!

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