 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: clarimad
Date: 2021-02-27 20:22
I require some very thin pads and I can only find 3mm thick. Any tips on how to cut the backing without damaging fingers or might there be other solutions?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2021-02-27 20:49
Do you know how thin they have to be? It's rare to need thinner than 2.5mm.
Consider whether the pads are stepped or not. For non-stepped pads, the thickness is the thickness and 2.5mm is 0.5mm thinner than 3.0mm.
It's different with stepped pads. The thickness of the back only makes a difference if it is so thick that the shoulder doesn't touch the key cup rim. This is usually for thin key cups which would need a thin back. Otherwise, and this is the case most of the time, it is the "front" (or "face", not sure how to call this part) thickness that is important. Most thin stepped pads have a thinner back, but the same thickness face, or an almost insignificantly thinner face. It would be best if both thicknesses were in the specs, but I don't know of any pad maker that lists this (I asked a couple of makers before ordering).
Keep this in mind if you get thin stepped pads.
Music Center has 2.5mm thick pads, both bladder (stepped) and leather (non-stepped).
Music Medic has 2.5mm thick stepped bladder pads.
J.L. Smith has 2.8mm thick Valentino pads.
If 3.0mm stepped pads are too thick, and that is because of the face thickness, then it's possible that the same thickness non-stepped pads would be "thinner" for the same key.
Post Edited (2021-03-01 09:28)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2021-02-27 22:36
I have run into the same need with a Leblanc Opus. The original leather pads were still in it (they were installed so as to be barely visible beyond the edge of the cups) but I wanted to change to Valentino Masters. I went to a tech who was unfortunately not that experienced and he put them in "as is." The pads protrude too far out of the cups and and the choice now is to have the tone holes covered too much or to bend keys. When I bend the RH sliver key, the thickness of its architecture makes playing technique almost impossible (the tone hole bumps open ALL THE TIME).
So can standard Masters pads be thinned down? Do you have to order special thin ones?
...............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jimis4klar
Date: 2021-02-28 17:47
I recommend you trying Yamaha 0.5mm pads. They are my personal favourites! I know you asked for very thin ones but you might be wrong and just really need something else to experience with....
Post Edited (2021-02-28 17:48)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2021-02-28 22:51
If you're using stepped pads, then the thickness of the felt disc is critical - especially with Buffets as they require stepped pads with thin felt otherwise they won't close at the fronts.
You can use leather pads that fit within the pad cup and 3mm thick pads are suitable for most clarinets including Buffets. You can bulk them out with more shellac should you need to.
Some companies offer thinner leather pads for use on oboes if they're sat on a thick layer of shellac filling in the entire pad cup, effectively making them like a stepped pad but with a solid shellac backing.
With synthetic pads you can easily trim the backings down by sticking them onto a flat metal or plastic bar and slicing the backing off with a razor blade, then install the pads with hot glue as that will stick to them and the lower temperature needed to melt it won't distort them.
Unless key arms or pad cups have been bent out of shape or they simply weren't mounted well, you shouldn't need pads any thinner than 2.5mm thick. If you do, then look at the geometry of the keywork and alter it so you can use better thickness pads.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarimad
Date: 2021-03-01 12:24
Thanks to you all for your valued responses - I've located a supplier of both neoprene and rubber discs available in various thicknesses and diameters. I've ordered the required sizes in white rubber at 2mm thick.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: modernicus
Date: 2021-03-15 07:17
What kind of clarinet out of curiosity? I have some very old Buffet Crampon & Cie Boehm clarinets with brass keywork, probably 1860s-1870s, that have extremely shallow pad cups and set up for very thin pads, but it's looking like the thin Music Medic will work.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
