Using Leather Pads for Vintage Clarinets

​For a few years now, I've been using tan or white kidskin/rooskin pads almost exclusively on my older horns. Folks ask why, from time to time, so I thought I'd take a moment and answer some of the implicit questions:

 I find that they last longer than bladder and can be oiled occasionally, further extending their useful life. As an experiment, I once oiled leather pads that had been in an early R-13 for 40 years and, after softening and adjustment, the instrument played fairly well! 

 I find that they take a better impression from aging tone holes. Slight warp-age, small nicks, uneven wear, can all be forgiven by a leather pad, which will take a better seat than the harder double skin felt pads in common use in modern horns. This often saves me having to reface a  tonehole made slightly uneven from wear or abuse, which is my preference when possible: the Hippocratic Law for clarinets being "First do no harm".

 I find that they give closed keys a feeling more consistent with bare fingers on open holes (especially on Albert/ simple system horns) versus hard felt. I am often distracted by the difference in feel between my fingers and hard felt or cork pads; its somewhat uneven.

 Finally, I find that the tan kidskin shows less wear and discoloration than white bladder, keeping the horn looking fresh longer.

 I hope that players and other techs will consider these pads and their advantages next time they undertake the overhaul of a vintage instrument of quality!

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