 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: cuscoclarinet
Date: 2006-09-17 17:27
I've recently purchased a LeBlanc Eb alto clarinet that is in need of a full overhaul. The original pads are both kid skin (on the larger tone holes) and bladder, but my tech is suggesting bladder pads throughout. What research I've done so far suggests some pretty good arguments for using both types of pads as consistent with the manufacture, and I was hoping for more insight from the community.
Can anyone see any reason not to use kid skin pads on the larger tone holes, and aside from the "less noise factor" can anyone see reason to use the bladder pads on the same?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-09-17 17:38
I'd use leather pads (kid skin) throughout rather than skin (bladder), but with cork pads in the speaker key, throat Bb vent so they don't stick and LH 1 fingerplate as it's perforated.
Maybe cork pads on the side keys as well and RH cross B/F# ('sliver') key, but that's how I'd do it.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-09-18 06:32
I prefer bladder pads for their feel and sound (I mean the noise from the pads, not the clarinet sound). The only disadvantage to bladder is they don't last as long as other pads, but they still last very long if they are good quality pads. For example a clarinet I have from (I think) 1992 only needed 1 or 2 pads changed since then, and even the register pad is bladder and still the original one which works very good.
Many times leather pads will have a kiss type sound when you open a closed key, but maybe that's somehing that can be fixed?
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-09-18 12:01
Here goes the old pad discussion again..............
OK, I'm weird, I use tan leather pads almost exclusively on all sizes of clarinet, from Eb soprano on down, for sizes 7mm and up (other than soprano clarinet register keys for which I make tapered cork pads).
I've never liked bladder (a.k.a. "fishskin") pads, because they can't take any nicks or cuts, and when they do tear they flap around and buzz and generally behave badly. Leather pads, I feel, are tougher and more 'damage-tolerant'. But many other technicians disagree. Whatever.............................
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2006-10-29 02:36
Superpads(they are black coverd with some satin like fabric) I don't remember the website url but my teacher got his bassclarinet overhould with Superpads.They both make the key action a lot more quiet and also most average reeds will perform superb. They also last 15-20 years or even more. But you will have to send your clarinet to England were they were created.
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2006-10-29 02:51
Holy smokes! That sure would make for an expensive pad job sending a bass clarinet round trip from US to UK and back. I would think the pad manufacturer would distribute them through the repair parts houses that wholesale to the repair techs - companies like Ferree's here in the US - so we could have pad replacements done a little closer to home.
Let's see what our techs can tell us about these new pads. Eu
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2006-10-29 09:14
Superpads?
http://www.musicalchairs.info/superpads.htm
If these are as good as they claim to be, then they probably perform rather similarly to the (white) "Omni" pads recently produced by Kraus, not yet in their catalogue, I think.
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Author: jez
Date: 2006-10-29 22:28
Superpads;
http://www.woodwindco.com
I've never come across anything that is so comfortable, effective or long-lasting.
The cost of postage may seem prohibitive, but it's notable that people in Iceland consider it worthwhile!
jez
ps
On the issue of their being supplied to others to fit; the point is that they are built into the key to become an integral part rather than something which is simply 'glued in'
Post Edited (2006-10-29 23:18)
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2006-10-30 05:49
"On the issue of their being supplied to others to fit; the point is that they are built into the key to become an integral part rather than something which is simply 'glued in'"
That should be no barrier to other technicians fitting them.
When a pad is "glued" in it becomes "built into the key", and is just as much an "integral part" as the pad that is secured by any other means. These ones look as if they may be clipped in, in the manner of old Buescher saxophone pads.
I hardly think that cork can become "integral" with metal in any deeper sense!
That said, they may be very good pads.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-10-30 05:52
What if you do the Superpad repad (ship your clarinet) and then one pad gets ruined? Will they ship you one superpad to replace? Will you have toi ship the key (for example) for them replace the pad? Will you have to use a different local pad if you don't want to ship anything?
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