Klarinet Archive - Posting 000207.txt from 1996/08

From: Dave Lane <davelane@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: Clarinet Ergonomics (was Re: Neckstraps)
Date: Thu, 8 Aug 1996 02:43:11 -0400

At 11:36 AM 8/7/96 -0700, you wrote:
>While we are on the subject, I am curions about adjustable
>thumbrests. It seems like these could be of value since players hands
>are of different sizes. Does anyone have any thoughts on them?
>
>I noticed two brands for sale in the Muncy catalog. One was a Buffet
>and the other, I believe, was a Bay. They were in the same price
>range (at least $80). Has anyone compared them?
>

Leblanc, Selmer, Buffet, as well as Charles Bay all make an adjustable
thumbrest. The Buffet and Leblanc are similar, allowing a vertical
adjustment of +/- about 1/4 inch from standard. They also swivel slightly ,
allowing the curved "cup" that touches your thumb to be aligned with the
angle of the player's particular thumb.
This is necessary because the cup is inverted in reference to a normal thumb
rest; the cup must conform to the radius of the shaft of the thumb, or it is
very uncomfortable. This is what I use and find it very helpful, despite
the fact that, for me, the best vertical position is the same as the stock
thumbrest. This rest is stock on the Prestige and Festival for Buffet, and
Opus for Leblanc.

The Selmer rest is wider and nicely curved, distributing the weight over a
larger area of the thumb. It moves vertically on rails for a slightly
larger range of motion that the Buffet. The only people I've ever known to
use one have very large hands and the rest was set lower that standard. The
rest is very large and would probably require modification of the case. The
last I heard, Selmer carefully guarded these parts and a repair person could
only order one by giving the serial number of the horn it was to go on.

The Bay rest is similar to the Buffet, excepting the fact that it is HUGE.
It moves up and down and swivels the same, but the "touchplate" is very wide
and long, distributing the weight over about 1-1/4" of the length of the
thumb. I found it difficult to arrive at the proper angle and height
adjustment, but once found, it was a very comfortable fit...for my hands.
The problem with it is that , in the case of my case, I would have had to
cut out a piece of the outer shell to get the joint to fit all the way in
the recess!

Dave Lane