The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2023-04-27 00:56
The Tosca, which I do not own, (instead a golden era R13) features what I think are a combination of gortex, leather, and cork pads:
https://www.buffet-crampon.com/en/instruments/clarinets/tosca/
As I am considering getting my instrument re-padded I am wondering if anyone knows where on the Tosca instrument Buffet uses these 3 materials, or if people have recommendations on where to use these 3 materials (or fish skin pads for that matter) on a re-padding job.
TIA.
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2023-04-27 01:19
My 2004 Tosca originally had all Goretex pads. Despite that I would strongly advise against using the Buffet (Pisoni?) Goretex pads. Not only are they extremely overpriced ($169 for a set...) but they have a tendency to turn brown after a few years.
There are much better synthetic pads on the market. Your repair tech will probably have a type they prefer. I've heard good things about Music Medic's new synthetic pads, will need to try them on a future overhaul. The Valentino Master Series pads are quite good as well.
-JDbassplayer
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-04-27 02:49
Many folks find cork a little noisy, but it is certainly not what anyone at any distance would hear. The format for many top techs in the States was to use cork for the entire top joint and the fork key on the bottom joint then use custom built triple fish skin (just nomenclature) pads for the bottom four and the top pad on the bottom joint. The reason for that top pad to be more "squishy" is to allow some "give" for the 1and1 bridge key mechanism.
That said I've had clarinets done with ALL Valentino Masters. The big pads at the bottom are a little noisy but much less so than if you used cork for those.
Another interesting choice would be the Quartz Resonance pads for everything. Those pads seal like cork or the Masters but they are "spooky" quiet. Only drawback is that you have to find someone willing to install them.......tricky and they need to seat perfectly flat.
............Paul Aviles
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-04-27 02:56
Many folks find cork a little noisy, but it is certainly not what anyone at any distance would hear. The format for many top techs in the States was to use cork for the entire top joint and the fork key on the bottom joint then use custom built triple fish skin (just nomenclature) pads for the bottom four and the top pad on the bottom joint. The reason for that top pad to be more "squishy" is to allow some "give" for the 1and1 bridge key mechanism.
That said I've had clarinets done with ALL Valentino Masters. The big pads at the bottom are a little noisy but much less so than if you used cork for those.
Another interesting choice would be the Quartz Resonance pads for everything. Those pads seal like cork or the Masters but they are "spooky" quiet. Only drawback is that you have to find someone willing to install them.......tricky and they need to seat perfectly flat.
............Paul Aviles
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2023-04-27 06:16
Paul, may I pick your (or anybody else's) brain for an opinion....
https://store.weinermusic.com/pages/repair-shop
the $250 Glotin-Buffet Double Skin Pads, or
or the $350 cork pads on top joint using imported cross grained cork, or
the $395 Overhaul with Gortex Pads.
The clarinet was last in for a major overhaul in 2005.
I've replaced pads here and there with Valentino stick on ones.
Thanks for people's opinions, here.
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Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2023-04-27 06:22
I had my eb completely repadded with valentino master pads 2 years ago, with the exception of one or 2 of the smallest keys which were done with cork because there was not a small enough master pad available. I have been very happy with the performance thus far.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-04-27 06:31
I'm not familiar with Mr. Kasten's work, but I can vouch for Jonathan Copeland of Louisville KY.
https://www.betterclarinets.com/
(you need to use Google Chrome for his website)
I'd recommend all Valentino Masters as well.........can't go wrong and they last and last.
...........Paul Aviles
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Author: Hurstfarm
Date: 2023-04-30 01:08
In partial response to the original question, based on my Legendes which have the same keywork, cork pads are on the speaker key, the throat A and G# keys, the C#/G# key and the Eb/Bb side trill key.
Post Edited (2023-04-30 11:09)
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2023-05-16 09:54
I didn't write it down or paid special attention to it... but from memory the couple of Toscas I saw recently had the same arrangement that Hurtsfarm above of the Legende.
I'll re-emphasize what jdbassplayer wrote about Goretex not being worth it. They cost about four or five times more than almost any other excellent pad and they aren't better.
One thing worth mentioning, Goretex (and bladder) pads on Buffets are stepped, which is sometimes important, but usually not, and on Buffets it's almost never an issue.
I recently had a clarinet (not Buffet) which did require stepped pads on some keys, with the key cups not being much larger than the tone holes on a couple of the lowest keys (they really should have made the keys slightly larger). I don't remember that happening on any Buffet, but I have seen a couple of older Buffets where the key arms were too long and it was borderline. Not enough to absolutely require stepped pads but close (modifying the key arm length is possible but in those cases the owners chose to not have this done, so I did go with stepped pads as the better option in some cases). Though I don't remember seeing any Buffet from the last couple of decades with that problem, the few I've seen were from the 80s and older.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2023-05-16 19:57
Cork pads last forever. If you don't play regularly, however, they dry up. They actually thrive on moisture. That's why wine bottles are preserved in a lying position: it keeps the cork moist so it doesn't crumble when pulled out. On the other hand, cork is generally not used for the big holes of the bottom joint, as it isn't flexible enough to ensure proper sealing.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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