Hi List!

I've posted in the a past about the sound quality problems with my Gemeinghardt M2. The post was "Cleaning-Oiling-Adjusting"

Many people helped and I received several very useful ideas, tricks and technical counseling.

I have finished (for the moment) with the shimming and leveling of some pads that had problems (Bb, G, G# and F flat). The sound is now almost as it was when new and I am very happy as it was a big challenge for me to be able to repair it.

But I still have a couple a questions:

I tried to replace the pads with new ones, using a set of yellow pads with the mark "Lucien deluxe" on the back. I obtained it from Musical Wheel in USA.

However, it did not work and I had to re-install the old pads. One problem was these new pads have a smaller thickness than the original and I had lot of difficulties to level them.

Question 1 is:

Does anybody know this brand/type of pads? Are they good and it was just a problem with my lack of expertise?

Second question:

Right now the note with worst sound quality is C2# (C2 sharp). It sounds fuzzy or "dirty".

I cannot figure out why this note, that is played with has all holes open, can sound bad. The trills seem to be OK, both to light test or by adding additional pressure directly on the trill plates while playing C2# (no change in sound).

Any hint to this problem?

Could it be that famous cork that seems to be placed too far to the crown side, albeit it's been there since I got the instrument new from the store?

Or anything else?

I will really appreciate your answers, thank you.

Lera,
The silencers do not go under the pads. Please be careful about information that you are giving out.

Thanks Lera anyway.

But C2# is played with all holes open,(except for 2 trills and G#), so that the pads should have no influence. For me it's perplexing.

Thank you Micron. As always, you are very helpful and with so much knowledge and experience. It's always a pleasure reading your posts.

I understand the potential problem with the C hole not venting enough, I had not thought about that...

I bought those Lucien deluxe at about 12 $ the set in Ebay. I tried to use them, concluded it was beyond my expertise (well, I concede it is still very small) and so I reinstalled the factory pads in their original positions. I keep those nice yellow new pads for some future opportunity...

I also used the method you told me wit a small light from inside. The pads are very translucent and the results were not concluding for me.

I think I also had a problem that I neglected at that moment; the central holes in the new pads are too small for the round nut in the keys and so the pads are a little forced and cannot adapt to the small imperfections and level problems the tube holes sure have. Maybe I should have made them larger but I did not have the right tool and did not want to risk.

Shimming was also a difficult issue; not only it's very time consuming, if the pads are not thick enough or they are too thick, they are no longer parallel to the hole ring and do not close properly. So the total thickness (including the paper shim) seems to be critical.

I learned lot of things, could improve the tone enough as to continue with my classes and I'll wait until I get more experience, If I can ever get it.

Right now I can use the instrument until I get a new one. Then I may send it to a local technician or just keep it as is now.

Very true. That is why I very rarely shim - almost never on student flutes. I bend the key cup arm to the correct alignment, and have developed my own tools to speed even that process.

Really?! That is very interesting. I will have to try that instead of using the shims.

Micron, can I ask you how you set your pads on flutes? I have heard of different ways of doing this and would like to know what you think is the best. Thanks!

Sorry Micron about the wrong reference to using a light. It was probably suggetsed by someone else. Bbut I do not want to mess it further. It was just my fault.

I also used the paper feeler, but is dificult to test on the inner side of the ring (too many little parts and springs are in the way).

I meant with "set" a kind of kit of pads of different sizes a total of 16 pads. That complicated things further, as there are 18 mm and 19 mm pads, plus the small ones. The money invested was not important and that's why I decided to give Musical Wheel a try.

Nyway I am far from feeling capable of bending the cup arms...

Thanks Micron, you did answer my question. One more thing..in you opinion what is bettter to use on a flute cork or felt? I like cork, but have heard different opinions on this.

Bingo!

Micron, you are a genius!

I have changed the C# pad and the tone is now beautiful!

The original Gemeinhardt pad has a central bulge of 3.7 mm, while the thickness at its edger is 2.8mm

I used one of those Lucien deluxe. Just pressed it in place ant tested. It was OK.

If there is something I should care concerning this change, I would appreciate your feedback.

Thank you very much indeed!