 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: poopsie
Date: 2004-05-14 02:51
Has anyone ever tried the Ton Kooiman professional thumb rest (the silver one)? I have been having troubles with my thumb for the longest time because of the weight of my clarinet and I came across this one in my search. Does anyone know about this thumb rest or have experience using it? I will greatly appreciate the answers given! thanx
A quote from Jack Brymer:
~The ability to play the clarinet is the ability to overcome the imperfections of the instrument. There's no such thing as a perfect clarinet, never was and never will be.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2004-05-14 03:54
I've never tried the silver Kooiman thumbrest, just because it is pretty pricey. I did try the plastic version, and it worked OK, but the screw holes didn't match the existing thumb rest holes in my clarinet, and thus it was a little wobbly. It could have been redrilled, but I didn't want to, for aesthetic reasons having to do with the the appearance of a black plastic monstrosity on the back of my instrument. ![[huh]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie11.gif)
I have resolved the problem of not being able to keep a steady grip on my HEAVY R-13 in a very low tech way. First of all, I cut a piece of black mouthpiece protector and put it underneath the thumb rest (trim to fit). Then I cut a good hunk of a finger out of a latex surgical glove (both ends open), and I slip that over my thumb. The rubber-against-rubber gives me a very steady grip.
I have to replace the latex "sleeve" every few days, because they don't hold up to perspiration and repeated stretching, but the gloves are very cheap and available at most drug stores -- and you can get four or five sleeves out of each glove, depending on your thumb size. ![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif)
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2004-05-14 04:23
Please check some of these older thumb rest postings from the clarinet BB. They may be helpful in deciding on another type?
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=108503&t=108424
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: jack
Date: 2004-05-14 05:10
I tried the expense metal Kooman. Had high hopes for it. Was installed by a fine repairman. Tried it a while and did NOT care for the positioning it set up for the thumb vis a vis the fingers and hand overall. It wasn't just that it was different, but that it just wasn't working for me at all. Plus: It really won't stay in adjustment without a lot of fiddling and one must slide it off when putting clarinet away. So it's now somewhere collecting dust. Tried the inexpensive wooden based Kooman again with high expectations and didn't care for it either.
Here's how I made it all better: Put on a standard Buffet adjustable thumb rest with plenty of SOFT rubber padding - Sometimes use a strap for long practicing, it works very well. Best solution: get a Rossi Cocobollo wood model, they are very light. I suppose a Buffet Elite model would be similarly light.
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Author: mw
Date: 2004-05-14 10:41
The inexpensive Kooiman T/R is called the ETUDE. It sells for about $20 & is made of plastic. I've never seen a Kooiman "wooden based" model. My son used the Etude for a 2+ years & liked it. There have been complaints of plastic parts breaking, but Neckstraps wear out, too. All in all, it's a very good product. IME, the Kooiman Etude will fit directly into Buffet T/R holes. I would recommend installation by repair professional so that screw holes are not over-torq'ed (& thus buggered beyond use). Of course, the installation of a T/R is an opportunity to change location (move up?) of T/R. Old T/R Holes are easy to fill on a wood-bodied clarinet & can easily be finished so that no one will ever know that "extra" holes existed. Again, a job for a repair professional. As suggested, search archives. Good luck.
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2004-05-14 14:20
I replace the thin cork on the TR with a very thick cork--about 1/8" or so. Then I place a thick Yamaha rubber Thumb Protector over that. Very comfortable and very secure. Even fits in the case without problems.
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Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2004-05-14 16:32
I've used the plastic Etude model; it definitely eases the burden on your thumb. I used it not for that purpose but because I, a beginner, was not able to keep my RH fingers perpendicular to the axis of the clarinet and thus was not covering the holes very well. The wide height adjustment range of the Kooiman helped enormously in this regard.
I abandoned it several months ago for a different reason - the same wide loop that fits over your thumb also meant, for me, that I couldn't grip the clarinet firmly enough to prevent it from pivoting along its long axis when certain RH finger movements were involved.
My solution - reinstall the conventional thumbrest considerably higher than it had been and use a neckstrap.
My suggestion - - try the $20 Etude first; it definitely eases thumb problems (and/or try a strap).
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Author: Todd W.
Date: 2004-05-14 20:15
ohsuzan --
As an alternative to latex gloves, you might want to try those old-fashion rubber thumb/finger covers (the Staples chain calls theirs Finger Pads) used in offices to make paging through stacks of documents easier.
They are inexpensive, come 12 to a box, and are made in various sizes. (Although I note that, like a certain reed brand, there is some variation within a box.) They are thicker than the gloves for better cushioning, but may not grip your thumb as tightly. I use one for comfort, with, like you, a padded thumb rest (BG large).
Todd W.
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2004-05-14 21:58
I have used the plastic version...
I had three in the end I think on my b flat alone, they kept snapping.
In the end, the thumbrest (or rather the screws...) did serious damage to the back of my instrument, which meant that I had to have the holes filled and redrilled before I could put another one back on.
However, my hand position is greatly improved!!
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Author: mw
Date: 2004-05-14 23:58
RAHman - I've done my share of buggering & lousing up. It sounds to me like your BASE became loose & thus "worked" the screws in their holes. Working the scfrews in the hole can have a dastardly effect on the hole OR someone could have over-torqued the screws when installing the base or upon later tightening same.
Yes, the plastic piece that comes into contact with our thumbs can break. However, I've contacted Ton Kooiman when that happened & received a replacement. Ditto the base, ditto screws.
I think the greater part that has a problem is the "small protruding point" which makes the clicking noise as the rest is slid on over the base.
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2004-05-15 13:00
MW,
Whenever one broke, I just went back to the place that sold it to me to get another.
In hindsight, I would have had the holes in the back of the clarinet redrilled before I put the base on in the first place, the screws are VERY different from a standard thumbest.
I also remember now that you've mentioned it, that I had trouble with ratchet section, it used to just slide on without biting!
At the end of the day, the whole lot (thumrests, repairs etc.) probably cost me less than £50 and I'd say that worth it for the help it gace me with my hand position.
Now I'm back on a normal thrumbrest, I never have problems!
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Author: mw
Date: 2004-05-15 13:32
RAHMAN, when saying that the holes lined up I was talking about Buffet Clarinets, in this case it was 2 different E-11's. Sorry, I probably did not make that clear. Since Buffet T/R's are interchangeable, I assume that the Buffet E-11 T/R's have the same pre-drilled hole configuration as, say, a Buffet R-13.
Anybody try a Kooiman Etude directly on a Buffet R-13 & have a different result, holes need to be re-drilled or added?
Frankly, I don't know how the Kooiman Pro Model will line up to (Buffet) holes? I have 1 around here somewhere & will check.
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Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2004-05-15 15:35
I had to slightly enlarge the holes on the the Etude baseplate to get it to line up with the existing holes on my R13. I later added a second pair of screws for even greater stability. The plastic 'hook' snapped off once; I e-mailed Kooiman and he immediately shipped me a replacement, a redesigned version that was much more substantial than the original. I never had any problems at all with the slide on/off height adjustment; works like a charm.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-05-15 23:52
A little epoxy under the baseplate of either model makes for a much better fitting... for the money, the Etude model is terrific.
I use a soft pink foam (moleskin with adhesive on one side) on both the 'hanger' and indentation for my thumb.
As with many other users, I modified the plate to get the origina screws in;
hence the use of a little epoxy to keep the plate steady.
These things have saved me from debilitating wrist strain.
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Author: msroboto
Date: 2004-05-16 04:01
I had one on an R-13 and it did not sit quite right and I used glue to help with that. So I would say that at least for me the TK etude did not line up on a regular R-13.
I had to have those holes filled and new holes redrilled when I wanted to go back to the regular thumbrest.
I had the screws back out a couple of times and it was a huge pain to not lose the screws.
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Author: mw
Date: 2004-05-16 17:55
Ferree's & Allied both sell "same size" and slightly over-sized T/R screws when last I looked. No one wants to lose an odd-size screw - the key then becomes WHERE you do work & a safety-net to help catch "errors".
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