 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kristen Denny
Date: 2001-11-16 07:14
Hello everyone!
I thought I would fill you in on my experience with the Kooiman Thumb Rests (plastic
model).
At the time of purchase, I was working on my undergrad and playing a lot (I'm now in
graduate school). I was searching for an alternative because of wrist and thumb fatigue
that I'm sure you can all relate to. I purchased my first Kooiman rest at the ICA convention (2000) in Oklahoma. There, a display table was set up and I was able to see and feel how the thumbrest worked before I purchased it. I was also able to see the professional rest, but due to
costs, I chose to try the plastic student model.
The rest was about $25. Not a bad price! It is made of plastic. The rest consists of
a plate that is mounted onto the clarinet body and a separate piece that slides onto the plate (you can adjust it to the height that you prefer). The thumbrest attachment that slides onto the plate consists of one plastic piece that the thumb rests against and another plastic piece that acts as an "arm" that fits over the greater part of the thumb. There are also 3 sets of holes in
the plate so that you can match it up with the existing holes in your clarinet and mount it at the
desired position. The way the rest eases tension is that it spreads the weight of the clarinet out over a larger area of the thumb instead of the concentrated pressure just above the thumbnail. Its curved molded plastic design is also very comfortable. Another benefit is that it opens up the hand into a more natural position, because it is thick and protrudes out from the body of the clarinet. For me, it made it easier to keep my fingers curved and relaxed.
I had the rest mounted on my Bb clarinet. It took a few days to get used to, but it became
a wonderful aid in my playing. I could play longer while my wrist and thumb both remained comfortable. After a few months, I was so happy with my new find that I ordered another rest
to have mounted onto my A clarinet. I was very satisfied with the product and my prolonged,
comfortable practice sessions.
As I enter this next portion of my story, please keep in mind that the thumbrest is a student
plastic model, and I did have the option of buying the professional model (which is made of
metal parts) but chose not to because of costs.
I have had some problems with my Kooiman thumb rest. First, the device initially came with
two screws that were too short. The reason this was a problem is that after about 4 or 5
months, the screws began to work themselves loose and eventually stripped the drilled holes
in the back of the instrument (by the way, I play on wooden clarinets). I took my clarinet
to my repairman. He found a little bit of a deeper and wider screw that worked just fine.
Problem solved, right? Unfortunately not. It did not take long for the bigger screws to work
themselves loose and strip the holes even more. At this point, I was running out of screws
that would fit. I could not use a longer screw or I would have drilled through into the bore of the
clarinet! Eventually, the holes had to be refilled with epoxy resin and then redrilled. My
repairman then suggested drilling two more holes to make the plate more secure. Now, it
is secured with two screws in the top two holes of the plate and two screws in the bottom set
of holes. Problem solved, right! Well, as far as holding the plate on is concerned...
YES! Finally! In addition, now when you order the Kooiman thumb rest, it comes with longer screws! Go figure.
However, my problems have still not been solved. The other problem I have had could easily
be attributed to the long durations that I play or how "hard" I am on my instrument, but
regardless of the reasons, this next (and final) problem has given me grief. Not once, but
twice during rehearsals (thank God not during a performance) the plastic arm that swings
out over the thumb has cracked and broken off! I did nothing unusual in my playing. I did
not pull up excessively with the thumb or knock it in any way. This gave me a great deal of
a fright. Not to mention the possibility of it happening again (next time maybe in a
performance) makes me not feel as secure. As a performer, I must be able to depend on
my equipment... or at least feel secure with it so that I am not distracted by such issues.
Allow me to restate once again... I chose the plastic student model. The two I have had
to replace have been a fraction of the cost of a professional model. However, I do not feel
that I can depend on it.
Since these instances, I have replaced the original thumbrest on the A clarinet. I feel I can depend on the original rest to not break or move. Also, I do not play the A clarinet as much
as I play the Bb, so the thumb and wrist only suffer in small doses. I have come to enjoy the
comfort of the Kooiman rest so much that I have chosen to keep it on my Bb clarinet for
the time being. However, I have ordered a "back-up" rest to keep in my case at all times in
case the unfortunate should occur again.
My current teacher uses the Bay adjustable thumbrest which is similar in design and
function. In cost, it lies somewhere between the cost of the Kooiman plastic and the Kooiman
professional model. I am considering a change, but probably not until the summer when
I am free from university ensembles and recitals.
Thanks for reading my story. Please share your thoughts or experiences with the Kooiman
thumb rest. I would love to hear any other anecdotes or solutions that you may have found.
Thanks!
Kristen Denny
GTA: Clarinet
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2001-11-16 13:21
Hello Kristen:
I purchased the Koonian Etude TR also. I used it for about 2 months before I removed it and returned to the original TR on my Yamaha. There were a number of nice features of the Etude, and in general I enjoyed the feel of it. What I didn't like was that the pivot point for the clarinet was moved away from the center line of the clarinet. This is not a problem most of the time. However, those musical phrases that leave few fingers on the clarinet bothered me. I kept feeling like the clarinet was twisting out of my mouth. I glued moleskin and even rubber inner tube onto the portions of the TR that made contact with my thumb to no avail. It just never seemed to give me a feeling of confidence.
Does anyone else have any thoughts on this subject?
MOO (My Opinions Only)
Matt
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Author: William
Date: 2001-11-16 14:50
I have had Bay TR's on my LeBlanc Concertos for many years and they have held up well under heavy use and feel comfortable during performance. BUT, I also continue to play on my R-13's--one has an adjustable Selmer TR and one has the original Buffet TR with a rubber hose section "slip-on"--and, to be perfectly honest, I do not notice any apprciable difference in thumb fatigue or instrument stability with any of my clarinets. Someday I would like to try a Koonian product, but for now, with the TR's that I use and the hours I spend practicing or playing gigs, thumb fatigue and pain are non-issues. IMHO, all of these "high tech" thumb rests may be a waste of money when just a simple relocation of the original issue TR may be all that is needed--such as moving it upward a bit to relieve the downward angle of the thumb and free up the action of the r-h little finger. Even moving it "off center" serves to relieve your "crunched" thumb if they are longer or shorter than normal. Too truely gain relief from the weight of ones clarinet, the downward pressure really should be transffered at least beyond the base of the thumb and almost to the wrist to completely give comfort and free up the finger action. So far, no TR I have seen does that. Again, to be fair and honest, I have not tried the Koonian, but pics that I have seen do not seem to off set the weight significantly far enough. All I really know is, that if I didn't already have a set of Bay's and know what I know from years of their useage, I would not be running out to the "clarinet gadget shack" to buy some. (Sorry Charlie, your mpcs and bass clarinet set ups are quality products and well worth the expense, but your TR's are a bit "overblown.") Good Clarineting!!!!!!!!
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Author: MsRoboto
Date: 2001-11-16 15:44
I use the student model Ton Kooiman thumbrest as well. I was having problems with the screws backing out. In fact after a performance I was lucky that I removed the thumbrest over the case because the screw fell out. I solved it by adding a bit of wood glue to the hole. It has held for about 6 months.
I also had the lever part fall off and have since bought a new thumbrest to replace the old one.
I know these thumbrests may not be ideal but without it I would not be able to play. My thumb was literally going numb after just a few minutes of playing. A 2 hour rehearsal resulted in overnight throbbing of the thumb area. I was starting to feel like an athlete needing to ice down after practice.
This has been eliminated with this thumbrest. I had tried thumbrest pads and the neckstrap but they did not relieve the pain and numbness like this thumbrest.
I am just a returning clarinetist trying to play in the local community band and I would not say I was over doing my practicing/playing maybe 1-2 hours a day max.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2001-11-16 19:11
I had pretty good experiences with the student model version and it did relieve my hand cramping & thumb fatigue. The screws didn't line up exactly on my Concerto but I was able to get 2 of them to line up and they held fine. I didn't have any problems with breakage. I did however switch back to the stock TR when I recently moved and swithced instructors - she was trying to resolve some other hand/finger placement issues I had. Since then I haven't really had the fatigue that I had prior to using the Koimann.
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Author: MsRoboto
Date: 2001-11-16 20:09
Now that is interesting. Maybe I will try that in the future too. Maybe by using the TK thumbrest it may have allowed your / my hand to heal and maybe it can take the pressure of the normal thumbrest.
BTW - my reason for getting the second TK was two-fold. 1 the other one was kind of in bad shape. 2 needed to get rid of the canary yellow contraption and get the black one. It just bugged me.
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Author: Daniel Bouwmeester
Date: 2001-11-17 09:31
I bought the kooiman student model TR while preparing for a music competition (6 hours per day was quite hard for my thumb) I played a week or so on it and was very dissapointed.
It did remove the thumb pain. But, my fingers fellt "handicaped" especially when having to deal with trill combinations (like the ones in the last movement of the martinu sonatina). So I switched back to the standard buffet TR, with a rubber cushion.
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Author: BelgianClarinet
Date: 2007-04-26 17:38
Some days ago a bought the etude (cheapo) model.
Sofar mixed, but mostly positive feelings
Some pain in upper right arm muscles due to totaly different position of right arm (but hope this is temporary).
positive : some very hard (right hand) passages in Armenian dances (A Reed) just seem to become a lot esayer to play because the fingers of the right hand feel a lot less stress and feel as if they are in a far more natural position.
Because I think this is a major topic in clarinet world (this is a major change in clarinet design over the last years) , I just 'reopen' the topic for new experiences.
Any other opinion, or any idea why the big 4 (and others) do not by default change the (very) old classic thumb rest in there products ?
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Author: grifffinity
Date: 2007-04-26 18:10
BelgianClarinet wrote:
>
> Any other opinion, or any idea why the big 4 (and others) do
> not by default change the (very) old classic thumb rest in
> there products ?
I have a student who recently purchased a Buffet w/ Silver keys and came with an "adjustable" thumb rest. However, the thumbrest is still placed in the same position as stationary ones, therefore lowering the thumbrest moves your thumb lower. So stupid! Also, those screws always losen - I had owned a Prestige A in the past and had to take that adjustable thumbrest off, it was such a pain.
I have to wonder if the plastic Kooiman thumbrest, the Etude, is more appropriate for rubber or plastic horns, which are substantially lighter than wood. Most complaints about the Etude are that either the screw strip the wood or the plastic cracks. I'm guessing that the weight of wood is too much stress on the plastic.
I've never heard complaints about the Maestro causing stripping, or breaking. It is attached by a metal plate with 3 screw holes. It seems for wood horns or players who spend many hours on the horn, the Maestro is more bang for the buck - after you consider the draw backs of the Etude. Also, some people with small hands find the Etude is uncomfortable. The Maestro has a smaller padded balance point and is full adjustable.
I have a Kooiman Maestro, but have been lazy about getting a tech to drill holes for attaching the plates. My only complaint is that 3 new holes must be drilled, and if one is not comfortable doing this themselves, you have to take it to a tech. And one that is reliable, as someone recently on the BBoard had their tech drill through the bore while installing the Maestro.
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2007-04-26 20:44
I have a Kooiman Maestro... and it was the best money that I've spend on my clarinets. It's much more adjustable than the etude model and a very strong design. So if you like the feel of the etude but found it to be to fragile, than consider buying the expensive model. The Maestro doesn't break that easy.....
Eddy
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Author: b.roke
Date: 2007-04-26 22:29
i have had an etude t/r for just over 2yrs and apart from the screws working loose 2x i have had no problems. careful tightening has fixed it so far.
as far as my thumb is concerned, the considerable pain stopped over the 1st month of using it and the swollen joint at the base of my thumb has eventually gone too. i was unable to play longer than 10mins on a normal t/r until recently. even now, it gets uncomfortable quite quickly.
they are made of plastic so i am always very careful with it. i would like to try a maestro but the cost is a bit daunting and the etude has been great for me. even if i needed a new one every 2yrs the benefits are more than worth it.
steadfastness stands higher than any success
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-04-27 00:14
I have been using the Maesrto Model for years and have never been more satisfied with a product in my life.
Having said that, it is not perfect and all the parts of a musical instrument are delicate and require care and attention.
Bad stuff (IMO) that you need to be aware of to get the most benifit from the product-
- I do not use the stock Kooiman Screws. The thread is too wide from the shaft of the screw.
- Due to the way the product works the screws often can back out. I use gel super glue to stabilize the screw head with the plate. DON'T USE REGULAR SUPER GLUE UN LESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND HAVE A REASON!! IT WILL FLOW INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN THE SCREW AND THE WOOD!!
- The plastic model will break. The Maestro will not. The Maestro has a lifetime warentee. The plastic does not.
All in all- they are great, but they are not instant and they require time to get used to.
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