 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Trunks
Date: 2001-09-10 18:09
I have a few questions regarding pads.
First, what are the advantages and disadvantages of having cork pads?
Second, why does the R-13 have a cork pad on the register key, but not the rest of the upper joint?
Third, is the primary advantage of Gore-Tex pads more durability?
Thanks to anyone who can give me any insight into these questions!
Trunks
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2001-09-11 00:43
short answer: search the archives for lots of pad info. especially gortex.
slightly longer answer: cork may last longer, and is very water resistant. It may be noiser when the keys close and may or may not affect the tone. It may be harder to seat. If you were going to use only one cork pad, then the register key would be the obvious choice since 1) it gets the most moisture, and 2) has the smallest hole (i.e. easiest to seat, least noisy, least impact on tone.)
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-09-11 02:08
I am becoming curious about white leather pads on a clarinet. I know Dave S. favors them on overhauls, and I respect his opinion. Personally, I've only experienced leather pads on a metal (Silva Bet) clarinet and they have lasted forever there.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of leather pads? From my experience on metal horns, they last a lot longer than standard double-skin pads. There must be a reason that they are not common . . . what is it?
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Author: Wes
Date: 2001-09-11 02:13
In regard to pads, I prefer doubleskin pads over cork pads for my oboe where possible(some cups have holes in them) because cork pads fail in ways that are hard to detect. They get tiny cracks in them or a tiny piece of dirt will sit on the edge of the tone hole and poke a little hole in the pad. These failures causing leaks can only be seen under magnification or found by a water bubble leak test. Cork pads sometimes seem to be a little affected by environment causing slight changes in sealing of those double sprung lightly oboe pads. They are also difficult to initially set in place.
However, on the clarinet upper joint, these pickly little problems may not be so important as the pads are under more spring pressure and even may have slight seat indentations giving an ok seal. Good luck!
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-09-11 13:37
I've been using tan (not white) leather pads for my clarinet overhauls. I believe they seal better and reduce key noise compared to bladder (skin) pads, although they are a bit more "spongy" and some players prefer the more positive feel of bladder pads (or the still harder feel of cork pads, which I generally don't like because they are very hard to seat and are noisy when they hit). On the larger instruments (saxes, bass clarinets, etc.) leather pads are used almost exclusively, and work quite well for a long time, especially when renewed occasionally with conditioners such as Ferree's Pad Preservative.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-09-11 14:46
If thick cork is used on the register key it can be shaped to a decapitated cone (frustum?) which makes the throat Bb far clearer, I suppose because air vibration in and out of the hole is less turbulent, hence less restricted.
The key needs to be bent sufficiently to retain good venting with this thick pad.
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-09-12 19:31
There is something to be said for the newer Valentino Green Back pads especially for the metal clarinets. I am starting to use them on clarinet register keys on student pad jobs. I think they would work exceptionally well for metal clarinets. The older Valentino products were not very widely accepted, but the newer pads are of very good quality. Francois Kloc gave me a few dozen try, and I must say that they are very good. I will not use them exclusively, but they are worth a serious look.
John
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-09-13 12:00
jbutler, are they self-adhesive, and if so, how do they sit/adhere to a conical cavity in a key cup. Also, are they sandable like cork is for register keys.
I would consider them if these factors are OK and they are less inclined to severe dents from the register tube (probably from squuzing the key during assembly) than the cork ones are.
I find that the pads whose diameter is restricted to the inside diameter of the key cup have limited use for many instruments simply because with this reduced diameter the coverage of tone holes can be precarious, especially if pivot tubes are sloppy and/or key cup alignment is poor and cannot be altered.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-09-13 17:19
No adhesive on the Greenbacks. These Pads have been maligned by many. They are thought to be the same or associated with the pads included in Band Director Repair Kits ... the ones with peel off, self-adhesive backs. I have recommended these for quite some time. Most repair techs are (still) EXTREMELY negative. IMO, this is a case of ignorance. I am not saying that these pads are greatest thing since sliced bread. Just that they deserve a "look-see" and have a place in every repair shop. The Link provides dditional info.
http://www.ricoreeds.com/lavoz4.html
best,
mw
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Author: David dow
Date: 2002-04-26 10:03
I like the Glotin pads that are leather, they last a long time and seal beautifully...
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