 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Anne
Date: 2002-01-25 00:06
Dear Members,
I have a silver Conn clarinet. It is not the student junk, but appears to be a truly professional model. (I did find one other regular who has a very similar clarinet, and confirmed the quality assessment)
The clarinet is currently out for total overhaul. I am trying to create one instrument of this genre that is a positive example of metal clarinet making. Later in life I want to donate it to an appropriate displayed collection. The biggest question is what type of pads might work best?
The initial thought was bassoon pads. But the height seems too low. Then the idea of sax pads came up. But isn't there a rivet in the middle that might affect the seating? Deer/calf for the mellowing of the tone.
So, does anyone out there play on a good metal clarinet regularly enough to offer an experienced opinion/ suggestion on pad types to try?
Also, I know there are seasoned tinkerers and craftspersons who might share some answers. Hardly anyone wants to work on metal clarinets. Bad memories?? But maybe the seasoned readers might remember some tricks? Any ideas are appreciated.
Thanks,
Anne
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Author: Fred
Date: 2002-01-25 00:53
White Kid pads like those used on alto/bass clarinet and bassoons are pretty popular on metal clarinets. They work well, last almost forever, and hold up during those longer times of non-playing that metal clarinets sometimes go through. That's what I'm going to put on my Silva-Bet the next time it is repadded.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-01-25 02:54
Regular best quality double skin clarinet pads work fine on a metal clarinet. I used them for repadding a full Boehm Silva Bet clarinet that I have. Sax pads and bassoon pads have porous skin on them which can result in distributed fine leaks in the instrument. The Fox bassoon company uses liquid carnuba wax on their pads to fill these tiny pores to give a good leakless seal. Cork pads work as well as they ever have but they are more difficult to seat, react to the environment some, and fail in unexpected ways(cracks, holes). Good luck!!
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-01-25 14:28
My preference is tan leather (kid) pads for metal clarinets, although I also frequently use them on wood soprano clarinets. Rivet-less, medium-thickness pads generally work well (e.g. part #B32 from Ferree's Tools).
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-01-25 19:05
The advice above re: pads is very good, I've only "worked-up" a few metals, and believe the white kid pads are my choice for looks, and good long-life seating. Recently we had a Bettoney thread , Harry's only patent I've found is on the Silva Bet, US 1,705,634 [1929] for those interested! Don
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Author: Anne
Date: 2002-01-25 20:02
Thank you for the suggestions. I now have a few options to try, all tested. I'll keep you up on the sound.
Thanks,
Anne
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Author: willie
Date: 2002-01-26 03:05
I agree with the kid leather pads. Although I have double skins on my Elkhart, they just don't last on my Holton or Olds as the tone holes seen to a bit sharp edged and eventually cut into them. Also with a metal clarinet, I recomend trying as many different mouthpieces as posible including some of those you would never think about for a good wood horn. Not just for tone but also tuning at different levels of the scales. Of the three I have, none play the same. A 2RV works great on the Elkhart, but sounds gawd awful on my Holton. The Holton actually played best with an old white plastic mouthpiece from my junk box. I have yet to find a cure for the Olds yet.
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