 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bwilber
Date: 2006-08-19 13:00
I am having a problem trying to figure out what is the best pads to put into a bass clarinet and where do I get them at a good price? I have been doing Google searches but there are so many ads and they are very confusing to me. Thanks for any help.
Bonnie Wilber
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2006-08-19 14:19
Best pads I ever had on my bass clarinet were made from scratch by Bill Brannen from skin, felt and cardboard. Bill told me that he got the particular skin from a tannery in Michigan. I still have some on my instrument that he installed more than 30 years ago -- still tight as a drum! (And in use almost daily for most of that period).
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-08-19 14:29
What make of bass clarinet have you got?
Most bass clarinets will do fine using white leather bassoon or contrabassoon pads (I recommend Glotin pads), but some basses need thicker pads - and sax pads with rivets (but no resonators) will work on these. If your bass has skin pads, chances are white leather will work best - don't use skin pads as they don't last long.
MusicMedic sell sax pads with all sorts of resonators, and with plain rivets if you need thicker pads. If your bass already has brown leather sax pads, then replace them with sax pads - using thinner pads will only cause grief when you try to seat them - they won't close at the back, and you'll need tons of shellac (or whatever glue you like to use) behind them to get them to seat, otherwise the backs of the pads will have to stick out of the pad cups while the front of the pads are almost inside.
If you replace thin pads with sax pads thet won't close at the front, and all your pads will have to be set at an angle with the front of the pad hanging out of the pad cup, and you won't get good venting.
But accurately measure the INSIDE diameter of the pad cups if you're using leather pads.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-08-19 18:48
I like Ferree's Tools #B32 tan leather pads -- I use them for every size clarinet from Eb soprano to contrabass.
But I could be wrong.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-08-19 18:52
Bonnie, what make of bass clarinet have you got?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2006-08-19 22:35
I agree with David. Not only does Ferree have the #B32 pads, but many other types to choose from, including nice dense cork pads for soprano clarinets and for oboes. The only ones I'm not impressed with are those synthetic ones - with the picture of the clarined submerged in water showing that it doesn't hurt them.
They have every special tool you would ever need to work on your instruments.
EuGene
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-08-20 01:42
Whatever you do, avoid the Norbeck synthetic pads (silicone pads poorly glued to an el-cheapo pseudo-cork backing) -- they are absolutely horrible.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2006-08-20 02:42
the norbeck pads are the ones eugene described with the photo of the clarinet in water.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-08-20 12:18
Also with Norbeck pads, you need to have perfect condition toneholes in order for these to seat - any blemishes, chips or deformities won't be sealed by the pads as the pads only sit on top of the tonehole rim (or bedplace) - but this is true with all pads - they're sealing is only successful if the bedplaces they're seating on are perfect.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: bwilber
Date: 2006-08-20 13:07
Thank you all for your help. The clarinet that I was going to get was a Leblanc wood bass but I asked to make sure it didn't have cracks in it and he took it to a music shop and refunded me back my money because he said it had cracks in it after all. I was very disappointed about that as I was really looking forward to padding one myself. But at least now I know where to start looking next time. Thanks again everyone!
Bonnie Wilber
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