Klarinet Archive - Posting 000394.txt from 2003/09

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Pads deteriorating quickly
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 11:28:11 -0400

In a message dated 9/15/2003 9:15:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time, vbrincat@-----.com writes:

> I have recently replaced the pads in several of my clarinets. (As recently
> as 5 months ago). The clarinets were cleaned, oiled and polished when the
> new pads were done.
>
> Many of the pads have already turned brown and even appear to have become
> somewhat brittle. Some make a "crinkling" noise when they
> close…obvious sign of them breaking down.>>

Vic, there's some bad pads floating around out there. A student of mine brought in his brand new A clarinet, purchased a few weeks earlier, for me to look at before he went off to school.

I replaced two pads. They were as you described, brown, dry, and crinkly. Worse than the appearance, was the fact that they really did not "grasp" the feeler guage I use, the horn played "wolfy". I replaced them with some (I believe) Glotin pads I purchased from Allied and things were a lot better.

Also, I had a young man bring in his Bufet E-11 for some work. The clarinet looked almost brand new, couldn't have been more than 2 or 3 years old. It was immculate, he takes good care of his horn. But, I wound up replacing every damn pad, they were falling apart!

Now, I have some pads on my A clarinet that are 20 years old. I don't get it.

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress

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