 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: katie_netie
Date: 2007-04-13 00:48
I just got a Fhred, as I have been struggling with tendonitis for 4 years.
I'm thinking it will be really helpful.
Has anyone else tried one?
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Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2007-04-13 01:04
The FHRED instrument support is a telescoping peg with an attachment for the thumb rest of your instrument on one end and a rubber foot on the other. The telescoping sections of the FHRED allow easy adjustment, extending to the length needed for playing and collapsing to a minimum length for storage and transport.
Read more...http://www.quodlibet.com/FhredGen.htm
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
Post Edited (2007-04-13 01:12)
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Author: Pathik
Date: 2007-04-13 07:41
I always use a Fhred when playing my clarinets, also while standing up, and without it I probably would have had to give up playing. My right thumb, hand and arm used to hurt like I don't know what, but after starting to use the Fhred, I've had no more problems like that, as it takes nearly all the weight of the clarinet off my right arm. It does require something on your thumb rest to clip onto though, so I've had a little ring soldered onto the thumb rest of each clarinet to fasten it. I hope you'll find it as useful as I have.
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2007-04-13 09:45
I gave up straight soprano sax due to the RH problem. On clarinet i resolved it using a neckstrap (and a fat O ring on the neck strap & over the thumb rest - does not interfere with my thumb).
Using the Fhred - do you have to stay relatively still, or can you move the instrument around a bit ? is it long enough for standing? I tend to be fairly animated while playing.
I had bad tendenitus a couple years ago - it was okay playing my strapped alto and tenor saxes but on sop and clarinet it was awefully painful. Thus i decided to get a fully curved sop and use a strap for the clarinet. FYI, can't use a strap on a straight sop because the strap interferes with your LH thumb due to the instrument angle. Luckily, my RHand has gotten alot better since then.
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Author: Pathik
Date: 2007-04-13 10:18
You can move around a bit when you use the Fhred with a clarinet, and if you want to use while standing up, you must use what's called a Sami, which is something you fasten to your belt or something like that, and then insert the Fhred into it. I tend to move a bit as well when I'm playing, and the Fhred doesn't seem to bother me in that respect. However, once you have adjusted the Fhred to the best length for you, then obviously you'll have to stick with that (until you have time to adjust the length again if you need to), so the angle (or distance from your body) of your clarinet will stay fairly fixed while using the Fhred.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-04-13 18:30
After recommending the FHRED but not using one myself, I think I could be a viable candidate for one as I dislocated my left shoulder this morning when I came a cropper on an indoor ski slope.
Luckily it's my left shoulder which won't be bearing any weight, but I don't want to cause any more damage than has already been done.
Now I'm annoyed with myself as this has put me back a bit (and I won't be playing bari sax for a while - and to think I've only just tweaked the 8ve mechanism to make it work better!) - I have most movement back again after it was popped back in place, though no doubt it will take time for the muscles and ligaments to recover.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: george99
Date: 2007-04-15 14:48
I've used a FHRED since I suffered a stroke about eight years ago. The stroke left me with weakness in my right hand and shoulder and without the FHRED I would not be able to play for more that a few minutes.
There are advantages and disadvantages to using the FHRED. It does a wonderful job of supporting the clarinet but I find that I can't move the clarinet very much once I've adjusted the FHRED. If not properly adjusted, the FHRED can walk right off the edge of the chair (which is a frighting sensation as the clarinet just drops).
I don't stand up to play so I've used the SAMI only a few times to see if I could move the clarinet a bit more while playing and to resolve the walking off the chair problem. I couldn't get used to the SAMI. I found it difficult to set up and generally uncomfortable and I don't use it.
But all in all I would recommend the FHRED to anyone who has trouble holding the clarinet. It's a relatively inexpensive solution to a serious problem and for me has allowed me to keep playing the clarinet for hours on end.
I am not associated with the sale or manufacture of the FHRED or any related products. Good luck and keep playing G
902 4049291
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Author: katie_netie
Date: 2007-04-24 05:38
Hey.
Yeah, I had to get a silver ring soldered on to my thumbrest... but I figure a couple hundred getting a fhred and rest setup is well worth a life free of pain.
So far it honestly seems to be the answer to my problems. Beyond a simple medical issue of tendonitis and cramping I simply am a tense player, and the Fhred reminds me not to tense my hands and allows me to relax and enjoy the music.
I'm glad to hear other people use them as I was worried about how it would come across to walk into shows or auditions with one of them. But truly I think that what should matter is only the sound you produce, with or without help from a Fhred.
In terms of being able to move around, I feel I have a lot of freedom when I'm playing. I am aware of the fhred, but that means that the movement that I am doing is likely minimized to a reasonable amount. I mean, you have to get used to any support. I personally never got used to the feeling of a neck strap and it bothered me quite a but. With the Fhred I am free to put myself into my music free of pain, so... even if it is a little different I think it is a change I'm willing to but the time in to make.
Katie
Yamaha Custom SEV, Vandoren M13, Vandoren Optimum Ligature
Buffet E11 Eb Clarinet, Vandoren leather ligature and B44 mouthpiece
Going into second year university for music
Post Edited (2007-04-24 05:47)
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Author: ned
Date: 2007-04-24 09:56
It's sometimes a problem for me, which I have solved by placing the rim of the bell (Bb clarinet) on my right knee.
It's usually the right knee too, as I tend to favour a sitting position which is somewhat less than perfectly straight ahead.
One can also sit ''straight ahead'' and with the knees together, the Bb clarinet will nestle in between both, quite snugly.
This won't work, necessarily, for others as you may be playing 1/ other than a Bb clarinet 2/ you may have short legs or 3/ you may have very long legs, in which event the dimensions involved may be particularly unsuitable.
It may be useful to try though.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2007-04-24 11:37
How long is a Fhred? I'm wondering if I could use one while practicing sitting down with my alto clarinet, which has no peg, if the Fhred would reach from the thumb rest down to the floor.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-04-24 11:57
The Fhred might not be long enough for that - though it can reach from the sling rings (either one) to the chair seat as it's adjustable.
Best try one out in a music shop to see if it works first.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: katie_netie
Date: 2007-04-24 21:40
There are different supports made by the same company. try the website to see. they make supports for saxophones and bassoons so you never know. The Fhred itself comes in a variety of lengths so you could see if there is one that would work for you. Also, on the site I noticed when I was looking that they will make one to fit our needs.
Good luck! I was asked to play the alto this year in my ensemble and it was way too hard on my hands and I actually had to go to the conductor and tell them that I couldn't play it anymore, not something I would ever want to do. So I applaud your efforts and wish you luck!
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2007-04-25 11:43
Thanx for the information! I'll look into the Fhred. Good to hear that it's available for saxophones, too. The neck strap I use on alto clarinet works well enough for me, but it does dictate exactly the position of the clarinet. Holding the instrument out even an inch farther on the strap takes the weight off my neck and puts it on my thumb. I'd like to experiment with a peg that reaches the floor, to see whether I might prefer to hold the instrument out a bit farther than I do now.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-04-25 12:36
A floor spike is the best solution for larger clarinets, but on alto it depends on what type you have and what angle the mouthpiece is, and what is comfortable for you.
On pro Leblanc altos the crook puts the mouthpiece at a flatter angle, though on Noblet, Normandy, Vito, Bundy, Selmer, Yamaha etc. the mouthpiece is at a more downward angle.
But which ever type of alto you have, you'll be used to the mouthpiece angle, and a floor spike will take the weight off you completely.
If you can't find a Fhred or Quodlibet support for your alto, try a bassoon or bass clarinet floor spike - it will mean having the attachment either screwed into the bottom joint above the tenon, or soldered onto the bell socket - but this depends on how well the bell fits onto the bottom joint tenon. If it rocks, then the low Eb might not work.
Having it fitted onto the bottom joint is more stable, and best fitted by someone that is experienced so they don't drill holes all the way through to the bore!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2007-04-26 17:54
I like the idea of the Fhred better, because from the sound of things, it doesn't require a permanent or disfiguing modification of the instrument. My alto is a good one, a Paris Selmer that I'd like to leave in original condition for whoever owns it after I'm off the planet.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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