Klarinet Archive - Posting 000185.txt from 2011/08

From: sfdr@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Rant against a trend in pad work
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2011 21:08:28 -0400


To Whom It May Concern:
Earlier today, I made a statement regarding my experiences with clarinet pads made by Wolfgang Lohff and Valentino. Mr. Lohff was a former co-worker at my old music store, The Woodwind Clinic. We learned a great deal from each other. I should have said that I was his apprentice instead of "my former apprentice" and I am sorry for the confusing wording. I have learned many great repair techniques from him over the years and I am very thankful for his help.I also said that said that during a previous visit, I tested the vacuum on a Buffett R-13 that he had installed his new pads on. It was not an R-13, it was a Tosca Model. Also during that visit his partner, Birgit Pfeiffer overhauled an R-13 with cork pads which belonged to an American customer. I tested the instrument when she finished the overhaul and the vacuum was excellent. It was so tight, it held a 2 minute vacuum and it would have probably held for 10 minutes. Although I preferred the corkpad overhauled clarinet, many players and repairmen would prefer the Lohff pads. There is no right or wrong when it comes down to various styles of repair, types of instrument and schools of playing. I can only render my opinion based on my professional experiences. If my opinion has offended anyone I am truly sorry.
As for the Valentino pads, I gave an opinion base on the sheet pads offered in a student repair kit that has been on the market for many years. I now realize that there are many different varieties of the Valentino pads on the professional market which I am sure are well designed. Again, I apologize for any confusion in my earlier post.
Thanks,
Alvin Swiney

> Hi Keith,
> I purchased my first Magnehelic testing machine in 1978 from Hugh cooper
and Bob Williams of the
> Detroit Symphony.
> When I saw my former apprentice Wolfgang Lohff a few months ago, he showed me
a Buffter R-13 with the
> new pads
> that he had invented. I was quite curious so I took a Moennig style cork pad
clarinet and plugged the
> finger holes and
> lower tenon of the top joint with test tube corks. I used corks to eliminate
the finger pressure
> factor. I then took a Lohff
> pad clarinet and plugged it in the same manner. When I tried to pull a soft
vacuum on the Lohff
> clarinet I got no suction
> at all. However when I pulled a soft vacuum on the cork pad clarinet, the
vacuum lasted for 2 minutes.
> I have never used Valentino pads because they remind me of paper dolls. They
come on a big sheet and
> you have to
> punch them out. In the German-Moennig school of padding, the pad should always
rest on the rim of the
> the key cup for
> support. The trouble with straight or trianglular shaped pads if that that are
only attached on the
> bottom surface so the
> edges are left exposed and dangling. This exposed pad edge tends to curl and
warp over time.
> Do you know what type of pads Anthony Gigliotti or Stanley Hasty used? Just
wondering?
>
>
> Alvin Swiney
>
>

_______________________________________________
Klarinet mailing list
Klarinet@-----.com
To do darn near anything to your subscription, go to:
http://klarinet-list.serve-music.com