Tech/maintenance Prestini pads - any good?

[DavidUK]

Zhenghao are dead. Already tried that route. Ordered, no delivery, no response, PayPal tell me their account under review, refunded.

 

[zapatista]

That’s just it. I went through like something like 15 pad sets. None fit.

Agreed. I just bought a bunch of sets hoping to support someone local (one state over). I was able to use roughly 80% of them so still better than buying individual. I've stocked up on some of the "old stock" Instrument Clinic pads listed on eBay @ a little under ~50 cents a piece with 20% volume discount. Most of them are roughly .160 thick which is thin enough for my Martin/King/Conn menagerie. Photos are of the pad cut out sans resonator. Saxophone pad assortment of 70 | eBay

 

[TobyB]

My experience with Prestini mirrors the above-
the order filling was glacial. About a month. Their communication
was good, though- I eventually got a shipping notice,
the pads arrived correctly (I ordered by diameter and thickness)
and they work fine. They were no more varied than other sources.
The leather was 'grainier' than most, and took a bit more
seating to seal, but have been 'fine' since. As in, they work,
you don't notice them one way or the other, and 6 months later,
they haven't burst into flame or anything.

I'm new to all this, so I've been 'ordering around' to see what
works for me, who has what, and what it eventually sets me back
in time, money and mental overhead. If I need something that Prestini
offers exclusively (or attractively) and I'm not in a hurry, I'd order again.

t
just one data point

 

[JayeNM]

Yeah Prestini...they are just sorta jerks, sorry to say.

I mean their products may be fine, it's just I have experienced some issues with them as far as getting my order out, and they are just generally very unresponsive towards an individual buyer's queries/concerns.

It's a few things:
~ do you wanna give your money to folks who place very low priority to a private individual's small order (even if that individual IS a tech) ?
~it's highly likely the order will be delayed significantly
~it's somewhat likely there will be inconsistencies in what you receive

 

[DavidUK]

Thanks George. Like I said earlier, I've done my own checking and I won't be buying from Prestini currently.

 

[PigSquealer]

My experience with Prestini mirrors the above-
the order filling was glacial. About a month. Their communication
was good, though- I eventually got a shipping notice,
the pads arrived correctly (I ordered by diameter and thickness)
and they work fine. They were no more varied than other sources.
The leather was 'grainier' than most, and took a bit more
seating to seal, but have been 'fine' since. As in, they work,
you don't notice them one way or the other, and 6 months later,
they haven't burst into flame or anything.

I'm new to all this, so I've been 'ordering around' to see what
works for me, who has what, and what it eventually sets me back
in time, money and mental overhead. If I need something that Prestini
offers exclusively (or attractively) and I'm not in a hurry, I'd order again.

t
just one data point

Yeah if I’m in no hurry I’d order again. Maybe on a project I don’t need to get out in the next six months. The leather they use is sheepskin. it’s got a different texture than cowhide or a kangaroo. I’ve got to set on the bench right now of the TS pads. ‘25 Martin HC with the nice broad rim tone holes. Setting a light impression shouldn’t be a problem.
@zapatista The felt on these TS pads are just like your cut away. Very firm !