Klarinet Archive - Posting 000169.txt from 2011/08
From: "Forest Aten" <forestaten@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Valentino
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:30:52 -0400
Since Clark brought up the synthetic pad issue, I thought I'd write a brief note to discuss Pete Valentino and whatever
little knowledge I have about his pad. I'm sad to say, Pete passed recently. The "Pete Valentino Memorial Scholarship
for Music Education" is being established at Fresno State. Remembrances may be sent in care of the Fresno State Alumni
Association, 2625 E Matoian Way, SH124, Fresno, CA 93740-8000.
I met Pete Valentino at a trade show...many years ago. He was at most of the music education trade shows and stayed on
the circuit for years. Pete suffered severe bronchitis and/or asthma. Being on the road was tough for Pete. I talked
with Pete many times over the years.
Pete was an "in the trenches" bench repairman for years. He knew his stuff and could and did work at the highest levels
in the trade. He was innovative....and he loved to work with new materials. Since he had an active "bench", he was able
to really put new materials to the test. He was critical (and skeptical).....but also very objective in his evaluation
of anything "new". Pete worked with several companies (chemists/manufacturing) in collaboration, to develop the first
Valentino pad. The pad has gone through several changes/developments over time.
Pete's first target in this effort, was the band instrument repair guys. He knew that's where "the money was" and this
was business, after all. His first pads were cardboard backed, foam of the proper density with a high tech viton cover.
Because of this target market, he applied a double sided adhesive on the back of the backing. The "pull off" sheet
protecting the adhesive may be what Alvin is remembering about the early Valentino pads. Many folks were
skeptical...both repairmen and musicians....and as with anything new, lots of misinformation about the pad swirled
around the community. I really feel that early on, Pete's pad took a beating because it was associated with low end
repair work (Clark's observation) and "band instruments"....not pro equipment. Pete didn't approach the best repair
benches in the industry, early enough in the game. I feel that was a mistake.
So...a bit later came the "Greenback" pad. This pad didn't have adhesive on the back. The adhesive was between the
cardboard back and the foam and was only apparent if one took time to very carefully rub the edge of the pad to detect
the adhesive. This pad also simply pressed in the clean pad cup. To expand on Clark's comment about Valentino being easy
to apply, I'd say for the top quality installation, it's simply not the case and especially with any of the "press-in"
Valentino pads. The pad cups must be perfectly clean. Also...the cups must be absolutely parallel to the instruments
tone hole seat ring to pad surface. This takes careful consideration and time on the bench to achieve. Another important
development with the Valentino pads...about the same time as the Greenback was introduced, was the very needed addition
of variety of size in both diameter and thickness. (Smith has expanded this choice of size...even more in recent years)
This helped when selecting pads for the Greenback installation and gave repair techs who loved the Greenback pad...but
hated the way it was applied the opportunity to install pads the traditional way...floating using heat sensitive
adhesive. Along with the variety in size, Valentino introduced pads without adhesive. This allowed techs to use whatever
backing adhesive they were currently comfortable with. The one big problem with this for the tech....most of the glues
used required heat. Heat isn't so great around foam/viton pads. Repair techs using traditional methods had be very
careful when installing these pads using traditional methods.
I had been working with Pete on the development of larger pads (for the larger clarinets/bassoon) in the year or so
before he sold his company. He really never quite solved the material problem related to the surface of the larger pads.
The traditional Valentino surface was simply too thin and hard for larger pad applications. First...it made it nearly
impossible to seat properly and second....the pad slap was not acceptable.
Keith mentioned that Smith (now owner of Valentino pads) has introduced a new "premium" pad that's a bit different than
the old standard. I haven't purchased the new pad design yet...but will order some to become familiar. I'm sure as
materials improve, so will the pad...and I'm also sure that Smith will continue to work to make the pad better and
better.
I love my Valentino padded clarinets.
Forest
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