We are very pleased to announce that we now have an additional Straubinger-certified tech here at our full-service repair shop, Ben Bruemmer! He has successfully completed training to become a certified Straubinger Pad Technician. These pads are specifically designed to be used in higher end professional flutes and require specialized training.
Straubinger™ Pads are designed specifically for hand-made flutes and consist of different materials and components than a traditional pad. The patented pad support unit and profiled washer are machined to close tolerances, one at a time, on a high precision lathe. The actual installation of the Straubinger Pad requires careful preparation of the flute. The instrument must be in the very finest mechanical condition in order for the pads to be installed properly. The tone holes must be shaped correctly and the cups perfectly aligned over the tone holes. The spuds must be at a precise height, and the screw washers and bushings (grommets) a particular shape. Special tools are required to perform this work.
The pad certification training is an intensive three-day course, designed specifically to cover the concepts, methods of application, and procedures required to install Straubinger Pads correctly. This very specific training is designed exclusively for experienced repairmen. We are very excited to be able to continue providing high-end repair services on the flutes sold here at the shop! Please call or email Erin with any questions or to schedule maintenance on your Straubinger pad flute.