Klarinet Archive - Posting 000070.txt from 2004/09

From: "D. Blumberg" <FilmPromotion@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] re: B-10 Buffet sticking pads w/Valentino
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 15:35:22 -0400

Clyde - I'll play Devil's advocate and put the blame solely on the
students. It's possible that they aren't brushing their teeth before
playing like I instruct them to, or not rinsing their mouths well
enough and that causes the pads to stick. But I see it consistently in
the Buffet B-10 Clarinet and not at all in the B-12.

It's the pads that are reacting a lot more to the students lack of
care than the regular pads do.

So, they are probably fine for more advanced use (professional use? -
can't say as I don't know them well enough but I would try them), but
for the B-10 student Clarinet, they are a lot more trouble than
benefit it seems.

Improvement to your sound would be from the pad replacement not
leaking. Players often get leaks in pads that they aren't even aware
of and little by little they get worse. I do think that the Valentino
pads are a great invention, but wish that they could some how not
stick with young students use (or misuse).

David Blumberg
http://www.mytempo.com

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"Clyde Lansing" <chlansing@-----.net>
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 12:24:51 -0400

After lurking behind these pages for several years, happily pick out
the
gems of wisdom, scratching my head on occasion, and chuckling quite a
bit,
this seems like the time to finally ring in.

The reference here seems to be that the Valentino pads are the
problem. I
can not speak to the B10, but I would like to speak about the pads,
and
their developer Pete Valentino.

I live in the Central Valley of California where Pete's passion for
music
and instrument repair developed. I know him on a *very* casual basis,
but
have a good friend that has been involved with Pete and this project
for
many decades. After years of encouragement to try out his pads, I
bought a
kit, through regular retail, and gave my old trusty 60's R13 the
treatment.
After a little fussing with the large pads on the lower joint I was
able to
return my friend to service and must report that I am very pleased
with the
results. They seal very well and *I* can hear a bit of improvement in
my
sound (darker? richer? I wouldn't dare go there). Going on 3 years now
and I
can report no leaks or sticking.

My original intent with this post was to encourage those that have
experienced problems with the Valentino pads to report such.
www.valentinopads.com . I know that there have been a number of
reformulations of the pad material over the years. If there is a
problem
that may affect the public outlook on his *baby*, I am sure that Pete
would
want to know about it. Now that the likes of Rico, Buffet and Yamaha
are
involved in a project, it must be harder for an individual to affect
change,
but I can't believe that, as long as Pete is involved in the project,
he
will not be in there trying to create the best pad possible.

Clyde

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