Klarinet Archive - Posting 000158.txt from 2011/08

From: "Forest Aten" <forestaten@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Rant against a trend in pad work
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:40:49 -0400

Clark

I haven't experienced the things you describe in/on my synthetic pad clarinets. I do all of my own pad/repair work and
have all (about 15) clarinets done in Valentino pads. They are tight and the sound off the pads even and clean. I have
no issues with legato playing, using synthetic pads. Also, because the pads seal so very well, technique is cleaner and
sound is quicker out the instrument. And the work is "clean". :-)
I use Valentino's on my bass as well....but only up to 20mm pads. Anything larger are extremely difficult to seat and
the pad slap is not acceptable.

Your comment about "easier to install" might be misleading. When moving from traditional pads to the "stiff" Greenback
Valentino pad, it requires complete removal of all key work, this to ensure absolute clean pad cups at installation.
This takes a lot of time. In addition, the placement of the pad in the cup and adjustment of key work to "get it
right"....takes careful consideration....just as careful as using traditional pads. In some cases, it's better to use
the traditional Valentino and use the traditional "float" method.

I have never experienced "noise" from a Valentino pad...or perhaps I should say, "not any more noise than from a
traditional felt/bladder pad".

All Valentino pads that I've ever used, have very stiff cardboard backing. ???? I don't understand your "eventually
creep up into any gaps" statement??

I'll sure agree with your observation about the lack of "artist level repair work". Not much of that going on....

Forest

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Clark Fobes [mailto:claroneman@-----.net]
> Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 11:40 AM
> To: klarinet@-----.com
> Subject: [kl] Rant against a trend in pad work
>
> I so rarely post to the Klarinet any more, but I have been seeing a disturbing trend in clarinet
> repair that I want to address. This is the use of synthetic pads for ALL pads on the clarinet.
>
> I want to say first that I am not against the use of synthetic pads entirely- they have a use,
> particularly in the upper joint pads of the bass clarinet. They are probably a good idea for student
> instruments that receive a lot of abuse. But for professional level clarinets I only use them in two
> places: the Ab/Eb pad on the lower joint and the F# ring key pad on the upper joint (opens over the
> throat G tone hole). Synthetic pads are not a good choice for pads that are sprung open.
>
> Here are several reasons. Once synthetic pads are seated they have almost no give at all. In the case
> of the long E/B of the lower joint, this can cause leaks unless the mechanism has absolutely no play
> and the F/C and E/B pads are in perfect synch. Because synthetic pads have almost no "give" or
> "cushion" they slap the tone hole and it is virtually impossible to make a good legato when slurring
> from G/D to E/B. The very crisp edge of the pads create turbulence and noise unless the pad is
> adjusted very high from the tone hole, which changes the pitch (towards sharpness) and creates too
> much distance for facile playing. And finally, most of the synthetic pads I have seen do not have a
> stiff backing, consequently the pad cup must be filled with glue completely (that technique seems to
> escape most repair men) other wise the synthetic pad will eventually creep up into any gaps in the
> glue and will eventually leak.
>
> A good pad job should be quiet, have a soft feel and look CLEAN.
>
> I understand the trend. Synthetic pads are much easier to install than traditional pads and do not
> require the skill or the sensitivity required to "float" a skin or leather pad and the job can be done
> faster.
>
> I am distressed at the lack of artist level repair work in general. I hope that players will start
> looking more carefully at the work they are paying for and demand a higher standard.
>
> Clark W Fobes
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