Klarinet Archive - Posting 000011.txt from 2007/11

From: "Forest Aten" <forestaten@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] "Effer" Pad Preference poll
Date: Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:06:13 -0400


Gary,

My Buffet Eb is much too old for "stock padding" to be an issue. I'm sure
the pads were all bladder/felt when I got it (slightly used) in the 1960s.
However, I've over the years replaced most of the small pads with cork. The
larger pads (and a couple of the top trill keys) are still felt. Cork pads
seem to have the potential to seal better, and whether because of a better
seal or the different surface, they also seem to give the sound more
clarity. I think they're harder to seat on the larger holes on the lower
end, and they're a little noisier than other pads when they close, which
gets more audible as the surface area hitting the tone hole increases. But I
have nothing to compare against other than the pads that were replaced
(which were faulty, or they'd still be there). Replacing everything with
Gortex, leather or any of the newer synthetic pads is a project I've just
never felt the need to take on because the instrument feels fine they way it
is. I do prefer cork in the upper joint of my bigger instruments, again for
the improved seal it seems to provide.

Just one opinion, FWIW, since you've not gotten many others.

Karl Krelove

Valentino....they seal great and they last....and....I love the way they
sound/feel.

Forest

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