Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-04-06 13:47
Also Norbek, which I have sometimes used where water is a problem. They stick very slightly to the tone holes, being solid silicon rubber - I think - which many player probably would not like. They need perfect tone hole edges and tight pivots on the keys because they never get an indentation. They probably last many decades. accurate installation is crucial.
All leather pads I have seen, like the synthetics and cork, are restricted in diameter to the INSIDE diameter of the pad cup. The synthetics and cork have defined edges and just get away with this, but leather does not, so on many clarinets the diameter of the pad is not quite enough to be reliable, especially if the pads do not line up perfectly with the tone holes. By contrast, quality bladder pads are stepped, and are very nearly the diameter of the OUTSIDE of the pad cups.
Even with a well defined edge to the pad, if the tone hole seals close to the edge of a pad in only one locality, there is the greatly increased possibility possibility of unreliable sealing. Just as with a bed mattress, there is less support near the edge unless special support is provided at the edge.
In response to jbutler, I am quite happy to do a 6 yearly tweak of mechanics without changing pads if they don't need changing.
To Dan: many factors affect pad life. Some suggestions are:
Life of pads depends on many things, to mention just a few:
- How often the instrument is played.
- Whether the pads themselves go through a regular dry-wet-dry-wet... cycle.
- How sharp or rough the tone hole edges are.
- The nature of the timber probably has an effect. Mpingo sure blunts tools quickly!
- What contaminants from the air collect in the surface of the timber.
- The material of the pad.
- Single or double bladder, and the thickness/quality of each layer.
- The hardness of the felt?
- Whether any dies or other timber treatment damage the pad membrane or make it brittle.
- How much moisture condenses inside the clarinet (depends on outside air temperature) and whether it runs to pads.
- How waterproof the pads are.
- How much actual saliva reaches the pads.
- How destructive this saliva is. The compounds, bacteria and enzymes differ from person to person. Calcium deposits make a hard surface on pads, causing leaks.
- Whether the player blows in other contaminants such as food or shedded mouth lining.
- How hard the keys are pressed, which is largely determined by...
- The state of adjustment (pad sealing etc) and ......
- How tense the player is.
- The state of the pivots, that may allow pads to slide across tone holes.
- Abrasive action of dragging paper, bank notes, etc across pads
- Abrasive action as the user rubs a cleaning cloth over the edges of pads.
- Contaminating fluff build-up from swab or pad saver
- The extent to which a swab or pad saver actually wipes the 'water' into the tone holes, to be held around the pad's sealing ring by capillary action.
- Extent to which hard calcium deposits are left by saliva on the pads.
- The strength of springs.
- Whether the user or a technician burns the edges of pads in a flame, attempting to adjust the sealing, or damages a membrane with a hot pad slick.
- What destructive powders or liquids the ill-advised player might apply to the pads.
- etc.
Pads last a very long time on the technician's shelf!
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