The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-11-11 14:05
Is it ok to put cork on the Eb/Bb and the F#/B-natural sliver keys? I remember posts talking about how cork keys, in general, are better for the tone holes that normally remain closed for a variety of reasons (they last longer under that pressure, resist swelling with moisture better, and sound just fine on them whereas they'd get a large "pop" if they were on an open one that has to close).
When I looked at these pads they looked significantly larger than the pads I have corked already (most of the upper joint).
Just wondering.
Alexi
PS - I just brought it to the shop and had that broken G# pad and the old A pad replaced with cork as well.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-11-11 14:22
Cork pads are fine for those keys.
A cork pad is slightly smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the pad cup.
A bladder pad looks larger because it is. A typical modern bladder pad is 'stepped', with the felt a larger diameter than the backing cardboard, so that that the pad overflows the metal edge of the key cup, such that the pad diameter is almost (or equal to) the OUTSIDE diameter of the key cup. (If it is larger still it looks bad, is subject to damage, and may affect venting.)
On SOME clarinets, some tone holes can be large relative to key cups, making cork pads unsuitable.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-11-11 15:26
Thanks. And you explained it well so I could understand. I'll have to take a look and see how large those tone holes are.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-11-11 21:30
A pad is like a bed mattress. There is much less support near the edge. (With a good mattress there is added springing near the edge to compensate.)
If a pad is slightly off-centre to the tone hole (and this is not uncommon, because of scruffy manufacture), and the tone hole contacts the pad very near to the edge of the pad at one part of the circumference, then sealing is likely to be unreliable, with less pressure against the tone hole where the sealing line is closer to the edge of the pad.
I have sometimes cut a key cup arm to shorten or lengthen it, in order to establish reliable pad sealing.
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