 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bill
Date: 2020-02-20 06:42
Even the best techs who (are willing to) work on vintage instruments are, these days, using leather pads. They seat better on old tone holes, etc.
What are others opinions on using leather pads for instruments designed for bladder pads ... clarinets presumably tuned and voiced for bladder pads?
An aside: how long (forever?) did Boosey & Hawkes use leather pads on their 1010s?
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2020-02-20 14:45
I have a 1950's 1010 which the previous owner assured me had not been repadded since new. The leather pads are still serviceable and seal well. I like leather pads and often use them on older instruments. They seem to be a bit thicker than bladder pads and sometimes a bit of "form to fit" work is necessary.
Tony F.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-02-20 20:01
Leather pads are far more durable than skin pads. Provided the ventings are set well, you shouldn't have any voicing problems. If they're set too low, then things will get stuffy and uneven in the lower register.
B&H used leather pads right up until the end of the production of 1010s in 1984. They used Gordon Beeson leather pads, but they stuck them in with contact adhesive instead of shellac so they can't be adjusted.
Some makers do offer leather clarinet pads that are thinner than the usual 3mm.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2020-02-21 09:43
>> What are others opinions on using leather pads for instruments designed for bladder pads ... clarinets presumably tuned and voiced for bladder pads? <<
It's a non-issue. Part of the evidence is how manufacturers use different pads with no change to design. Setup sometimes needs to be a little different (e.g. venting), but just as often as not, not from the manufacturer (or not in a good way necessarily).
>> They seat better on old tone holes, etc. <<
Do you mean tone holes with chipped, or not flat? Tone holes (no matter how old) can be made as good as or better than new.
The only reason to use softer pads (regardless of material) to compensate for non-flat tone holes is cost (or I guess lacking the ability to repair it can be the reason for some repairers too).
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