 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: gigaday
Date: 2011-07-21 08:20
I hardly dare mention this again, but I thought I would report back on my experiments with neoprene pads mentioned in my previous thread:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=331401&t=327546
The neoprene faced pads in the upper joint are now a year old and are working perfectly. A couple of months ago I replaced the lower joint pads with neoprene too. Absolutely no problems at all, no sponginess, feel great, work great. I can't imagine ever having to replace a pad again; but if I do I have enough neoprene for my 2.50 euros to do the job at least a hundred times more.
Tony
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2011-07-21 14:39
Tony,
I believe Mr. Bill Street here in the States uses neoprene for his black pads. The only down side I saw was that you do need to be careful not to let any petroleum based oil (ie key oil) touch the pads since this will cause them to break down. Otherwise a great sealing pad with a great deal of longevity. Personally I don't see a reason to hold onto the felt/skin tradition anymore. If enough companies manufacture enough pads out of alternate materials like this, the price points will come down.
Just one example of "alternative" pads to look at are the Kraus Omni Pads.
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2011-07-21 15:07
Sounds good to me. I padded the old-fashioned way- cork with much time to arrive at a very effective seal by carefully working every pad to have a uniform seal indentation. ( Something like the oboe technique, I'm told. )
richard smith
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-07-21 15:46
Cork pads aren't old fashioned as cork padding is the most recent form of natural padding used on clarinets - leather and skin pads go back much further than cork pads.
A fairly local repairer once smugly commented on my Selmers one evening in a dismissive manner 'cork pads are an old fashioned way of doing things' implying leather pads are the 'in thing' and what everyone who's anyone uses - having seen most local repairers attempts at cork padding shows why they're reluctant to use them. From what I was told, this same repairer threw in the towel when trying to seat a single cork pad when he did a trial at Howarth. And from what I've seen it has to be said his work in general has a lot to be desired.
Provided the tonehole bedplace (rim) is in top form and completely level and the cork pad likewise, then you shouldn't have any trouble seating them. I find cork pads much easier to work with than skin or leather pads due to their firmness and flatness as skin or leather pads may not always be flat or remain flat.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: JEG ★2017
Date: 2011-07-22 01:50
As Bill Street was mentioned, I feel that I must share the fact that he installed neoprene pads on my A clarinet, I think in 1974, and on my B-flat clarinet after I bought it new in 1979. The pads lasted in excellent condition, just becoming a little compressed, until I had the A overhauled in 2009 and the B-flat in 2010, also done by Bill.
I never had a problem with the pads. I did not play for 12 years and the lower joint pads on the open keys held their seats even though I didn't have the keys wedged shut.
When I had the clarinets overhauled Bill and I decided to use mostly cork pads in the upper joints and skin pads on the lower joints, only because I decided that the corks would give a little more brightness to the sound. Neoprene was an option but I thought I'd go with something different.
I'm not sure about the effect of petroleum-based oil on neoprene pads. I worked at a NY Thruway service area when I was in college and we were encouraged to wear shoes with neoprene soles, as they were impervious to gasoline and oil. Maybe there is some long-term effect but if so, I am not aware of it. Of course, I never put gasoline in my clarinet.
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