Down the years there have been many innovations in pad material.
Some have been more successful than others, and in recent years
there's been some development in synthetic pads.
But people seem to like the feel of leather pads, particularly on saxes,
even though the choices have been rather limited.
Traditionally, cow hide has been the commonest type of leather used -
but white goatskin ( or kid ) has been a popular option ( and one that
looks particularly good on clarinets ) for several centuries.
There are subtle differences between the two skins, but none that really
make an effective difference. Kid tends to be softer, which allows for a
greater thickness of hide to be used - and this should increase
resistance to wear...but then that may be offset by its comparatively
poor resistance to wear when compared with cow hide.
Some have been more successful than others, and in recent years
there's been some development in synthetic pads.
But people seem to like the feel of leather pads, particularly on saxes,
even though the choices have been rather limited.
Traditionally, cow hide has been the commonest type of leather used -
but white goatskin ( or kid ) has been a popular option ( and one that
looks particularly good on clarinets ) for several centuries.
There are subtle differences between the two skins, but none that really
make an effective difference. Kid tends to be softer, which allows for a
greater thickness of hide to be used - and this should increase
resistance to wear...but then that may be offset by its comparatively
poor resistance to wear when compared with cow hide.
And now there's kangaroo skin.
Various claims are made for the properties of kangaroo skin - and the
one that really counts is its comparative strength, a property I was very
keen to test.
And it was easy enough to test - the skin of a pad was taken off and
generally tugged, bitten, and torn to see how well it stood up to attack.
I say torn - I couldn't actually tear the skin. Compare this with standard
pad leather which tears quite readily. Even trying to pull it apart in my
teeth had no effect - whereas the leather would always break.
Both samples were of the approximate same thickness, which means that
the kangaroo leather is very significantly stronger than standard cow
leather.
one that really counts is its comparative strength, a property I was very
keen to test.
And it was easy enough to test - the skin of a pad was taken off and
generally tugged, bitten, and torn to see how well it stood up to attack.
I say torn - I couldn't actually tear the skin. Compare this with standard
pad leather which tears quite readily. Even trying to pull it apart in my
teeth had no effect - whereas the leather would always break.
Both samples were of the approximate same thickness, which means that
the kangaroo leather is very significantly stronger than standard cow
leather.
Another claim made is that kangaroo skin is less prone to sticking.
I'm somewhat sceptical of this claim because sticky pads aren't so
much about what the pads are made of but rather what gets on them
( your saliva, and various fats and sugars ).
However, new pads are often sticky due to the various treatments
necessary to prepare the leather - and the kangaroo pads exhibited
none of the usual stickiness. Only time will tell if this remains to be
the case once that pads have seen some hard use, but I believe it's a
promising start.
I noted the kangaroo skin is quite slippery when wet, far more so
than ordinary leather - and this may or may not be a problem once
the pads have been in use a while.
I'm somewhat sceptical of this claim because sticky pads aren't so
much about what the pads are made of but rather what gets on them
( your saliva, and various fats and sugars ).
However, new pads are often sticky due to the various treatments
necessary to prepare the leather - and the kangaroo pads exhibited
none of the usual stickiness. Only time will tell if this remains to be
the case once that pads have seen some hard use, but I believe it's a
promising start.
I noted the kangaroo skin is quite slippery when wet, far more so
than ordinary leather - and this may or may not be a problem once
the pads have been in use a while.
There's an issue of porosity. Whether it's due to the treatment that
plain leather receives, or the grain structure of kangaroo skin, it
appears that these pads let rather more air through that ordinary
leather pads.
I've been asked if I feel this is a significant issue - and I don't feel it
is. You'd need significant air pressure to blow air through a pad whilst
in situ - and if you could achieve such pressure in the bore of a horn
you'd be beaten by keys normally sprung closed opening under the
same pressure, not to mention lifting of the Auxiliary F and B keys.
There is some concern with regard to the ingress of moisture - but
then this applies to plain leather pads to. All leathers will absorb
moisture, which is why some pads are fitted with a polythene disc
behind the skin to protect the felt core, along with treatments to the
skin itself to make it more resistant to moisture.
Only time will tell if this is an important issue. I tend to feel that it will
only really affect the pads that usually suffer anyway ( such as the
palm key pads and the low Eb ) - so it's no change there.
plain leather receives, or the grain structure of kangaroo skin, it
appears that these pads let rather more air through that ordinary
leather pads.
I've been asked if I feel this is a significant issue - and I don't feel it
is. You'd need significant air pressure to blow air through a pad whilst
in situ - and if you could achieve such pressure in the bore of a horn
you'd be beaten by keys normally sprung closed opening under the
same pressure, not to mention lifting of the Auxiliary F and B keys.
There is some concern with regard to the ingress of moisture - but
then this applies to plain leather pads to. All leathers will absorb
moisture, which is why some pads are fitted with a polythene disc
behind the skin to protect the felt core, along with treatments to the
skin itself to make it more resistant to moisture.
Only time will tell if this is an important issue. I tend to feel that it will
only really affect the pads that usually suffer anyway ( such as the
palm key pads and the low Eb ) - so it's no change there.
I was suitably impressed with the kangaroo skin - so much so that I
believe its a significant advance in pad technology, provided it can
prove itself in the long term.
There are a few issues to contend with - that of availability and price
for a start, cost about 20 percent more per pad, but I believe worth it.
believe its a significant advance in pad technology, provided it can
prove itself in the long term.
There are a few issues to contend with - that of availability and price
for a start, cost about 20 percent more per pad, but I believe worth it.
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Here is what Gary Brooks, Manager of the Woodwind Department of the World
Famous Sam Ash store on New York City's 48 Street says about Roo pads
"I 've already had my horn repadded w/ black kangaroo about 2 years ago. I like 'em "
Here's what Long Island legend Pat Sciortino has to say about Roo Pads"
Thank you very much for recommending the kangaroo pads during my recent sax
checkup. As you know, I was having some serious problems with sticking pads in the
left hand section of my horn. The application of the kangaroo skin pads has
completely eliminated the problem. The horn plays better than ever and feels great
Thanks again Steve.
Famous Sam Ash store on New York City's 48 Street says about Roo pads
"I 've already had my horn repadded w/ black kangaroo about 2 years ago. I like 'em "
Here's what Long Island legend Pat Sciortino has to say about Roo Pads"
Thank you very much for recommending the kangaroo pads during my recent sax
checkup. As you know, I was having some serious problems with sticking pads in the
left hand section of my horn. The application of the kangaroo skin pads has
completely eliminated the problem. The horn plays better than ever and feels great
Thanks again Steve.