azgoth wrote:I think it's a pad skin that buzzes when it's not pushed with enough strenght against the hole... I noticed every pad of my flute have a loosy skin. Maybe Pearl are not good at making pads... (my flute is only 6 months old
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I would like to know, with your flute, can you have a good sound (perfect pad sealing) with a very very light touch, very light pressure/strenght on the fingers ? I realized that I cannot do this, but since it was the same with my previous flute, I wonder if it's normal. (the pressure I have to put is about the pressure required to play an acoustic piano, so nothing really strong or tiring for the fingers)
Pearl doesn't make pads, We buy them from Pisoni just as about everyone else does. The impression in the center is from the pad washer being screwed down on the pad to hold it in place. All felt pads will do this. It's a result of installing them..
If you turned a screw and the buzzing stops then the issue is likely not with the pad. It sounds like a regulation had slipped a little and the screw tip was vibrating against the tab just enough so you could hear it. (even with the silencer on the tab).
Pad skins can buzz every once in a while. If you've got a pad that happens to have a deep impression on it, the skin can buzz while playing. Changing that pad should solve the problem. This is most likely to occur on a closed pad, like G#, or D#.
Defining "light touch" is subjective as people play with all sorts of different touches. The ultimate in light touch for fast response requires repadding like you would a pro instrument where time is taken to control all the necessary parameters to allow that to happen, some of these items include, surfacing and thinning (dressing) tone hole rims, controlling exposure / compression and adjusting mechanical geometry if necessary, etc.
Student and intermediate flutes (in general from all manufacturers) are not given this treatment because it is time consuming and expensive as it adds a lot of time and labor and cannot be automated. So to achieve that touch, you most likely need to get a pro model flute. OR you can make a student or intermediate level flute to do this, but you'll have to get a pro repair person to do all those steps and re-set up and/or repad to those higher tolerances.
Also, There are not pivot bearings on Pearls. They are all of the pilot variety.
6 Months is a good time for a service call on any new flute. In my previous gig as a retailer, I offered this adjustment as a free service to all my flute buying customers. (if you didn't buy the flute from me, it cost you $125!) It is necessary within the time frame of 6 months to a year for most people's playing habits. After that, without a necessary adjustment, you run the risk of substantially shortening your pad life. (of course, that effect is highly dependent on any player which is why it is important to establish that relationship with your friendly local flute technician
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