 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kurt
Date: 2000-04-01 19:21
Are their any options for pad material that are similar to leather? I have a bass with the cloth(?) type pads but am not really happy with them as they tend to stick and pick up a lot of moisture. I'd like to replace them but do not want to use leather.
Kurt
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 2000-04-01 19:44
Kurt,
Yes, there are leather pads for bass clarinet which is what I use to repad bass clarinets, although I really do believe that the LeBlanc bass clarinets work better wtih the OEM bladder pads. Buffet also makes a Gortex pad. They are a little pricey. A set of Gortex for Bb soprano runs about $70 so I don't know what a set for bass would run. They are only available from Buffet as far as I know. The only place I know that sells Grotex sets for soprano is F.Weiner in NY. I don't know if they can order a bass set for you or not, but you could email them and find out.
J. Butler
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Author: SusieQ
Date: 2000-04-01 21:20
Kurt,
Why don't you want to use leather? My old Bundy has leather pads and I have only had to replace a few in the 16 years I have owned it. They hold up really well, however I don't know how much a whole set would be, but I am curios to find out. If you find a resource for bass clarinet pads and parts please let me know, it never hurts to have a few spare parts around when you play and old instrument.
SusieQ
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 2000-04-02 01:50
Karel,
Ferree's does not supply Gortex pads. Gortex pads are a Buffet product. You can only get them (currently) from Buffet. That is where Weiner gets them from and then resells them to the public.
J. Butler
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Author: Jesse
Date: 2000-04-02 02:22
I saw a commercial for Goretex on TV. Apparently, they also make raincoats that are very resistant to moisture. Makes sense...
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-04-02 04:46
Ferree's sells Norbeck Pads, supposedly superior to anything ever made in the past. I've never tried them because those who have tell me they're a real pain to seat correctly, they have to be exact or they won't work at all. But, when seated right, so I'm told, they're great.
ron b.
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 2000-04-02 14:10
Ron,
I've seen Ferrees ad (for Norbeck pads)for years in their catalogue, but I don't know of anyone who has ever tried them. Maybe I'll order up a set and try them out to let everyone know exactly how they work. I remember YEARS ago when Ferree's first started distributing them they came to TMEA (TX) and had a clarinet in a vial filled with water to prove the pads were waterproof or something----can't remember the exact reason. They have a picture of the same in their cataloge where they list the pads. Hum...maybe an experiment is in the works here with a post to follow up. Any votes as to which instrument to use? I've got the following stock clarinets that need overhauls or repadding: Normandy 4, wood Bundy, resonite Bundy, and a no name resonite.
J. Butler
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-04-02 21:12
Try it on a plastic marching band model then come to one of our outdoor concerts. We just got washed away in Alvin by a south Texas frog drowner. Fortunately we were just getting set up. Seriously though I for one would like to know more about them as the local school bands do play in the rain a lot down here thus many ruined pads. You'd think something made from a fish could handle water a little better, HA!
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 2000-04-02 22:52
Hey Willie,
I'm in Sugar Land and know what you mean. Today's weather is nasty. Well, I'll put your vote in for the resonite Bundy---anyone else?
J. Butler
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Author: Todd H.
Date: 2000-04-03 01:20
Yeah, go with the Bundy. It's a real severe test to leave the horn lying on the bleachers ice cold and then quick play the halftime show. That C#/G# key makes a great spit valve!
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-04-03 03:47
Well, J.,
I know the catalog pic you mention. Couldn't tell if it was a 'gimmick' or not but, if you saw the thing personally....
I wouldn't put anything but plastic under water for too many days but if you want to do the test - why not? I'm sure many of us would like to learn from someone we know rather than a company ad. You wouldn't need more than a pad or two to do that. Maybe someone out there would care to donate to the cause???
I believe you have to order a least a dozen (5 or 6 bucks). I wouldn't find a problem with a size to fit most register keys, at least it wouldn't be a total waste if they don't work out as claimed.
I've been *told* that they're hard to seat well but I don't know why they'd be any more so than a regular pad if the tone hole is ok.
ron b.
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Author: J.Butler
Date: 2000-04-03 13:42
I know they have a cork backing. That is described in the ad. I think that I'll order a set for the Bundy resonite. They only list for $8.50 or so and see how they work. They can't be any harder than Gortex, and after practice the Gortex even get easier. Of course, no one wants to have their instrument for the subject of experimentation that is why I "practice" on the stock instruments. At any rate, I'll post my observations and comments in a few weeks.
J. Butler
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Author: Dave Spiegelthal
Date: 2000-04-03 14:26
For what it's worth, I've tried some of the Norbeck pads (from Ferree's Tools) on a couple of B-flat clarinets I restored last fall. They are a silicone-rubber pad bonded to a disk of synthetic felt. I hated them, and have removed them almost everywhere I used them and replaced them with conventional double-skin bladder (fishskin) or leather pads. Why do I hate them? (1) The silicone material is very static-electric and picks up dirt and grime from everything. The pads are filthy after just a couple of days. (2) The silicone pad is poorly bonded to the cork backing. I've had a number of pads just fall or slide off the backing, either during use or during the (inevitable) pad-cleaning. (3) They don't seat particularly well, advertisments notwithstanding.
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Author: Alec Thigpen
Date: 2000-04-03 19:47
I have Gortex pads on my Bass Clarinet, love them, and am in the process of re-padding my R-13 next month with Gortex. I have never had the first hint of seating problems on the Bass Clarinet, or any signs of deterioration. My rain and cold winter outer wear is also Gortex and again I would not settle for less. It is all it is advertised to be and has provided many years of hard service.
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Author: James
Date: 2000-04-04 02:22
I wonder how the Valentino pads would do in the wet marching band weather? I know they are temporary pads, but maybe on a plastci old marching horn, they might work well. Or is that the Norbeck material? I am not familiar with the Norbeck pads.
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-04-06 05:42
That's what I've been told by at least three other (tech) people, Dave. That's why I haven't tried them myself, preferring to stick with (safe) standard double skin pads. Many years ago there were, I think, leather (tan kid?) pads that were popular for a while; Tonex or Tone-X? I don't remember exactly. But, I think they were pretty good trouble free pads. Anybody know about them, whether they're still available?
ron b.
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