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Re: Most air-tight bass clarinet pads

Author: clarnibass
Date: 2019-03-16 08:03

>> How would you check an individual pad for its sealing ability? <<

I did exactly that by using a "tone hole" made of a plastic pipe, checking many different models of pads with a magnehelic machine.

Almost all pads I checked sealed the same (max on the mag).
One exception was saxophone roo pads from Music Medic, which consistently showed slightly less seal. That was a couple of years ago so I don't know if anything was changed since then.
If I remember, J. L. Smith (Valentino) saxophone pads might have also had less of a seal... but not sure.

Here are some of the other pads I checked (not sure I can remember all).
Several models of saxophone pads from Music Center: Mypads, Premium Deluxe, Waterproof, PRO.
Music Center clarinet and bassoon Premium Deluxe pads (the same other than colour).
J. L. Smith / Valentino saxophone pads.
Black and white saxophone roo pads from Music Medic.
Music Medic regular pads (non-roo).
Precision saxophone pads.
Clarinet bladder pads from Music Center (Mypads and Premium Deluxe), Music Medic (old ones from over five years ago), Precision.
Synthetic clarinet pads (Omnipads, Valentino Masters and Greenbacks).
Some random Chinese saxophone pads.

One of the main reasons pads need to be replaced is that the skin and/or the felt hardens over time. So a great seal at first isn't necessarily the most important. Some pads, like the Music Center Premium Deluxe leather pads have a plastic layer between the skin and felt to help against that. I think the Music Medic clarinet roo pads have a layer of bladder. I haven't tried the Music Medic clarinet roo pads, only the saxophone ones.

The best pads for bass clarinets (and saxophones) are the Music Center microfiber pads. Unfortunately they are only special order direct from them and extremely expensive. Although mainly for vegan reasons, the microfiber (which looks like imitation leather) is tougher than leather on pads. I haven't found synthetic pads that I liked enough for such large keys.

Having said all that... I'd say any decent pad would be good.

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