Hello
I have a chinese bass flute with bad pads (nealy new, a shame). I bought replacement pads and tried to replace them but I noticed the key cups are quite concave (not flat at all), when I put the new pad and screw it, it distorts quite a bit, the skin becomes irregular because I force it to fit this concave shape. Is it normal ? I read somewhere I have to wet the pads to allow them to adapt to the shape. What do you think about this ?
[again, sorry for my bad english^^]
Repadding a bass flute
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fluttiegurl
- Posts: 882
- Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 11:05 pm
Re: Repadding a bass flute
There is a LOT more to replacing pads than just screwing them in. They need to be fitted, leveled, clamped, etc. in order to get a good fit. It is best to leave this up to a trained tech who spends a great deal of time learning how to do it properly.
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fluteguy18
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:11 pm
Re: Repadding a bass flute
A quality repad of a flute requires a lot of TIME, TOOLS, MATERIALS, KNOW-HOW, and lots and lots of PATIENCE.
If it is a pad that is secured by a washer and a screw then there are a lot of variables that go into properly seating the pad. Usually there is a stabilizer or disc that goes into the key cup to make the concave surface flat. Then there are various shims used on a case by case basis to level the pad to create a perfect seal around the tonehole. Some technicians will just wet the pad and clamp it until it dries creating a sort of indention around the pad. While this method works, eventually the indention shows wear and becomes inconsistent thereby requiring the pad to be readjusted if not replaced entirely.
Also pads must be ironed to make sure the skin is taught and that the skin stays wrinkle free as you fasten it into the tonehole. Furthermore, height gauges must be used to make sure the proper amount of space is between the tonehole and the pad surface. This helps in the process of balancing the mechanism and ensuring proper intonation of the instrument.
So to make a long story very very short, get a pro to do it unless you're wanting to do it for the experience without any guarantees of a quality end product. If you want more detailed instructions I recommend purchasing the Burkart-Phelan book entitled 'The Complete Guide to the Flute and Piccolo.' It's a fantastic read.
If it is a pad that is secured by a washer and a screw then there are a lot of variables that go into properly seating the pad. Usually there is a stabilizer or disc that goes into the key cup to make the concave surface flat. Then there are various shims used on a case by case basis to level the pad to create a perfect seal around the tonehole. Some technicians will just wet the pad and clamp it until it dries creating a sort of indention around the pad. While this method works, eventually the indention shows wear and becomes inconsistent thereby requiring the pad to be readjusted if not replaced entirely.
Also pads must be ironed to make sure the skin is taught and that the skin stays wrinkle free as you fasten it into the tonehole. Furthermore, height gauges must be used to make sure the proper amount of space is between the tonehole and the pad surface. This helps in the process of balancing the mechanism and ensuring proper intonation of the instrument.
So to make a long story very very short, get a pro to do it unless you're wanting to do it for the experience without any guarantees of a quality end product. If you want more detailed instructions I recommend purchasing the Burkart-Phelan book entitled 'The Complete Guide to the Flute and Piccolo.' It's a fantastic read.