Ah! Thanks Kara. The poem is my own.

Oh, that is awesome Stephen! I love poetry. Have you written a lot of poetry? If so do you ever post them on any of the poetry sites?

I used to write a lot of poetry when I was younger, but pretty much have stopped. Kind of a past time when sitting in a boring class.

Wow - I was surprised to read all the bad comments about these pads! I just bought a Miya Brogger mech flute and absolutely LOVE it!! My friend has had one for several months and I had been drooling over it. She hasn't had a single problem with her pads and I have students on Miyas, Powells and one on a Brannen (with Straubinger pads) without problems, too. (One Powell had a key problem, but it wasn't the pads.) Just thought people should know that they're not a problem for everybody.

Cynthia,

You should know that it greatly depends on how they ( the straubs)were installed, Many, if not most, "straub certified" techs do lousy installations. That includes the factory jobs as well. And there is still (IMO) that design flaw. They will tear sooner or later, It's not a question of if, but when. Let's just hope it's later rather than sooner...But there are alternatives too...

You don't want to know how many bad straub jobs I get to "fix"
Most notorious were the Powell 2100's They were by far the absolute worst I have ever seen).

And I have seen a very small percentage of Straubs that have lasted well. (but they are in the minority)

Joe B

Well, I'm glad that people I know and work with are doing well with them! I heard somewhere that Miyazawas and Brannens are made in a way that is more compatible with Straubingers. From what you're saying, this makes sense. But I guess there are always cases where something doesn't go the same - that's the way life works!

You don't want to know how many bad straub jobs I get to "fix" Most notorious were the Powell 2100's They were by far the absolute worst I have ever seen).

JButky,
What can you tell me about the newer Powell models such as the Conservatory and Handmades? Do you think that pad jobs are better on these? Thanks!

With all these bad experiences about Straubunger pads, I can't understand why I am being charged so high for them. My flute pads need replacing and one of the best technicians here gave me 2 options: double skin bladder pads or Straubinger pads. The former along with other 'mandatory' services that come with will cost me about $190 while the latter will cost me $540. My flute is a Yamaha 311 model and its cost when I bought brand new is exactly the cost of Straubinger pad installation!!

Yamaha pads will cost me $130. So now I am thinking if it is better for me to buy a new flute instead. Please shed some light.

If I were to choose, I would just have the Yamaha pads put on the flute. They last just as long as Strubinger pads in my opinion and are also more durable and as delicate. If you like your flute and it still good, then I wouldn't bother getting a new one. If you tried to sell it in the condition it is now (needing new pads) in order to get a new flute, price wise, you would only get most likely a third of what you would get if it didn't need new pads.

What can you tell me about the newer Powell models such as the Conservatory and Handmades? Do you think that pad jobs are better on these?

Traditional Felt padding is OK. It's just the straub jobs...

Joe B

My flute is a Yamaha 311 model and its cost when I bought brand new is exactly the cost of Straubinger pad installation!!

You wouldn't want to put straubs in a yamaha 311. They weren't designed for that. Costs of synthetics is high compared to felt. And you are required to do ALL the necessary prep work to make them work right. Hence the huge differences in cost between the two.

If you wanted a synthetic for the price of felt, you could try omnipads..but they are in beta testing even though they are now readily available.

Joe B

I think Kara you are right. I also think that Yamaha pads are more appropriate for my flute and they are cheaper and more reliable as they are more specialised for my flute. I am not planning on selling my flute to get a new one, it is dear to me.