 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-02-22 10:33
Recently had one of my clarinets repadded and was persuaded to try a new system my tech. is offering. Each pad has a cork base topped with a layer off rubbery stuff. It certainly seals well and feels much more comfortable under the fingers (I used to have cork)
Others who have tried them tell me they last well and are resistant to water. I'll keep you posted.
You can see details thru sneezy's link to www.musicalchairs.eu.com then link/clarinet/superpads.
jez
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-02-22 11:27
Are they grey? If so they may be 'Norbeck' pads. Silicon rubber with a bonded chip-cork back.
1. They never 'bed in', so tone hole edges must be blemish free.
2. Pivots must be very secure with no sloppiness.
3. They must be very accurately installed for reliable seating.
4. They do last very well, without trouble, and are waterproof.
5. They have a slightly sticky feel as if sticking to the tone holes. Some players would object to that.
6. They must sit freely INSIDE the tone holes, whereas normal pads overlap the edges of the tone holes. This means they must be smaller diameter. If a key cup is undersized for a tone hole, or is not concentric to the tone hole, the pad may be simply too small to cover the tone hole reliably.
7. A register key pad should be shaped to get a clear Bb. These pads resist being shaped.
So, only suitable for very well made instruments, serviced by a very competent technician, an played by a player who does not mind the slight sticky feel, even though they do rise when they are supposed to.
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-02-22 12:05
Gordon,
they're not grey they're black and they don't seem to sit inside the tone hole, they're very flat and seem to overlap the edge as usual, so I don't think they are 'Norbeck' but thanks for the warnings about them.
The register key pad is still cork. I think that's the norm now.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-02-22 17:27
I took some of those out of a Bundy I overhauled a couple of months ago, Jez. I didn't find any identifying marks. They're black with a regular, but quite stiff backing. The face feels to me sort of like vinyl. Unlike skin pads, the face appears to be glued (fused?) to the backing. A local tech told me the name of them but I can't recall it now.
They're somewhat like the old (tan) Tonex pads but don't have as many layers. If you liked cork, Jez, you'll probably like these too in the long run. They look like very durable material. I think you'll enjoy them for a long time.
If you find out the name, let us know. You've re-kindled my curiosity
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-02-23 05:41
If these pads are non-foamed synthetic then most what I wrote above will still apply. Overlapping the key cup edges is certainly a plus though.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-02-23 16:35
The pads I took out seemed to have been seated just like regular skin pads, Gordon. They overlapped. They didn't feel sticky and did not sit inside the holes. I don't know for sure what kind of cement was used; it looked like caramel candy but was hard like shellac and melted the same way. It had a little different look than most brown or amber shellac I've encountered, though I'm quite sure I haven't seen everything yet :] The pads have very little 'give' to them. I think they must seat accurately but maybe not so much as Norbecks to have a good seal. I can't say more because I've not worked with them.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-02-24 09:43
If it seats, and there is nothing behind it containing gas such as felt, then I presume it is foamed, even if the bubbles are microscopic.
There is a new breed of pads made from microfibre. Also Gortex. Hmmm.
A closed-cell form of wet-suit material is another possibility - neoprene?
High density polyurethane foam may also be suitable.
I have met a foamed teflon that would be great, except this version was probably too soft.
I suspect traditional pads will be obsolete within a decade or two, and we will initially be enormously ripped off by the replacement polymers. However attempts at polymers have been sad so far.
The new model student Yamaha has a synthetic pad which will be interesting. Yamaha (Japan) have a reputation for using good materials in woodwind.
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