 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kathy
Date: 1999-06-06 19:25
Does anyone know if the extra $$$ is worth replacing
worn pads with these. I have a Leblanc LX series and
it needs the lower pads replaced. Thanks.
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-06-07 14:41
My horn came with GoreTex pads, so I can't make a judgement call on replacing regular (i.e. "fish skin") pads with GoreTex pads for a clarinet.
I know that GoreTex as a material is highly resistant to water while insulating very well. It makes a superior insulating material for winter ski clothing and especially for winter gloves. It's lightweight and as far as I can tell it's also very rugged stuff. I personally used GoreTex gloves in 4 Ohio winters and 5 Colorado winters. Nothing else kept my fingers as warm in cold, wet weather like GoreTex.
So, if it's the same GoreTex that I had in my winter gloves, the pads made of the same stuff ought to be very good for a wet environment like a clarinet pad. Yep, it's expensive stuff. Only you can determine if it's worth the extra money for the GoreTex pads for your clarinet.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 1999-06-07 16:55
Actually, Gortex is a very thin plastic with microscopic holes in it. The holes are too small to let liquid through, so you keep dry in a Gortex garment, yet large enough to let water vapor through, so sweat can exit and the garment doesn't get clammy. Gortex has no insulating properties, so it is usually layered with light-weight insulators such as Thinsulate.
Gortex over felt has glamor value for pads. Since it's plastic rather than organic, it won't dry out like fishskin, and may be more durable, too. However, the tiny holes would let air through, so I'm not sure they would seal as tight as fishskin. Still, top repairers swear by Gortex....
Ken Shaw
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-06-07 17:47
Thanks for the clarification and information on GoreTex. My GoreTex pads came with my horn, straight from the factory. I've had some pretty sloppy practice times, with moisture gurgling from the usual places (C#/G# key hole, etc.). At no time has a GoreTex pad had any problem creating an airtight seal that's clean and crisp. As long as the pad itself is lined up properly (I had only one defectively lined up pad in the Bb trill keypad), the horn performs flawlessly every time.
Getting it totally technically correct or not, I am a staunch supporter of GoreTex pads - and for the exact reasons Ken Shaw gave in his posting above. I still like my GoreTex gloves, even though I rarely get to use them here in Texas. The GoreTex pads may get slightly moist, but they never stay wet for long.
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Author: donn
Date: 1999-06-10 18:11
I have never had any luck trying to find out where to buy Gore-Tex pads for Bb clarinet. I even tried Gore-Tex themselves, but they did not have the courtesy to reply.
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-06-10 21:25
Remember, the GoreTex company is a large order supplier to other businesses, so they probably never will reply to you. Ask your local factory certified clarinet tech to help you find GoreTex clarinet pads. I know that Buffet uses them on their horns, so you might want to find a Buffet tech nearby. I also believe that you might find GoreTex pad kits available through catalog sales sources, such as the Woodwind and Brasswind and other similar outlets.
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Author: Kathy
Date: 1999-06-12 12:32
Fred Weiner catalog sells Gortex pad kits for $82.50 a set
You might want to check other catalogs for their prices also
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