 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DougR
Date: 2025-12-30 11:55
Hello all--can I get some expert opinion on repadding a vintage instrument with Kraus synthetic pads as opposed to using standard skin and cork pads? Is there a downside with Kraus pads? Asking out of ignorance since I have no experience with them. Thanks!
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Author: Jeana769Hadley
Date: 2025-12-30 14:01
Kraus synthetic pads offer consistency, durability, and resistance to humidity compared to traditional skin and cork pads, but some players feel they change the instrument’s tone or response slightly, and fitting them to vintage keywork can require extra care. They’re a good choice for stability and longevity, while natural pads remain preferred for preserving authentic vintage feel. Welcome To E-ZPassRI
Post Edited (2025-12-31 08:52)
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Author: DougR
Date: 2025-12-30 17:33
Thanks, Jeana769Hadley. One question I forgot to ask: would Kraus pads be used on an older instrument to get the instrument to "speak" better (i.e., to address stuffiness or an overly dark tone)?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-12-30 19:57
Skin pads should be consigned to history as they're shite.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: DougR
Date: 2025-12-30 21:25
thanks, Chris, well I might be using the term "skin pads" wrong, but appreciate your input since I know you do a lot of work on older Selmers. I kind of was curious in light of discussions I've read with some restorers questioning the wisdom of using Straubinger pads on older (Louis Lot, Rive, even older Haynes) flutes, in terms of changing the character of the instrument in some detrimental way. thus my question about Kraus pads. So you'd be fine about using Kraus pads on e.g. a Selmer CT or an older R13?
thanks again for the responses, folks.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-12-30 23:48
Flutes are a different matter (as are flute players), but as for clarinets and oboes, skin pads are the worst and least durable pads of all types. Leather, cork and synthetic pads are far better when used in the right applications.
I tend to use a mix of cork and leather pads on CTs and synthetic pads on Buffets, Leblancs and Yamahas, with a couple of cork pads for the speaker key and LH1 ring key. I won't use Gore-Tex pads either as they're ridiculously expensive and only marginally better than skin pads.
I use cork pads throughout on piccolos, oboes, d'amores and cors.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2025-12-31 12:00
There isn't something inherent to old/vintage clarinets that make new/synthetic pads worse for them than for any other clarinet. The only thing is the feel, but current leather and bladder pads often feel different from original pads on those clarinets so it's pretty much a moot point.
Possibly (but not always) an old clarinet is more likely to need tone holes levelled and refaced but they would benefit from that regardless of the pads used. Cork pads actually benefit the most and they are common in some countries, meaning it's not something specific to fit Kraus or other synthetic pads.
Kraus synthetic pads have changed over the years but they have always been excellent.
I prefer their radius taper back in general, but the step version can work in some of the rare cases where a key and tone hole are misaligned and sized such where the seal is at the very edge (or even past the edge of a regular non-stepped pad). It's not common but definitely happened more in the past than on current (considering good quality clarinet, not the cheapest ones where it's more common even now).
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Author: Ed
Date: 2026-01-02 02:46
I have had synthetic pads on my clarinet(s) for years. I am not sure what brand they are, but I suspect they may be Valentinos. There are a few reasons that as pads needed replacing I went that route. They seal incredibly well and last for ages. For years I often found myself having to run to the shop to deal with a skin pad that developed an issue- torn skin, no longer sealing, etc. Since I went to synthetic I have been happy with the results and have never looked back. I would not use anything else. For me, they just work
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