 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-02-01 17:51
From time to time, people ask about solutions for thumb pain. In addition to adjustable thumb rests and physical therapy, the usual recommendations are neck straps and instrument supports.
See http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=93697&t=93658
http://quodlibet.com/FHREDFrames.html
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=18028&t=17926 http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=89138&t=88913
I have come across an additional item, the PAN support harness, which takes the full weight of the instrument. http://www.panclarinet.com.au/
It sells for AU$150 (US$116) plus shipping, which seems a little high for a relatively simple device, but it's ingeniously designed and looks to be steadier than many of the others. I haven't tried it, or even seen it live, but from the look of it, you can't point the instrument further downward. Side-to-side and upward movement look possible. For those with severe pain, it could be useful.
Ken Shaw
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-02-01 18:07
In order to incorporate a neckstrap type device, could it be plausable to drill a hole in the thumbrest? This could be where the hook would hook into (lets say from a neotech sax neckstrap), and it wouldn't be uncomfortable to play WITHOUT a hook if you slip a thumbrest over it, would it?
Would this work? Anyone tried (I have a feeling Dave S may have . . . ! Seems like his kinda experiment!)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2005-02-01 18:16
Hi Ken,
This device reminds me of something I ran across about 40 years ago called the Schmidt Clarinet Positioner. As I recall, Schnidt was the clarinet professor at either U of Florida or Florida State University.
I did a quick Google Search and came up with
http://patenting-art.com/database/clarinet.htm which covers a lot of clarinet iterms. Go down to clarinet positioner, click it, and sure enough, there it is and my memory has not failed me. Check out the diagram.
Don, I had a little trouble with getting to all the text; perhaps you can offer a tip or some help.
HRL
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-02-01 19:43
Hi Hank - Yeah, its hard to do more than just read [on-line] the patents older than 1976. I couldn't print any of 3,192,817 Schmidt as you found, maybe my Acrobat Reader PGM has died, or the USPTO has done something funny [prob. needs more money], Dern that Iraq Debacle ! TKS for alerting me [et al] to the "patenting art and entertainment" site , it was new to me !! Off hand this looks like a limited search of the appearance of "clarinet" in patent titles [+?], not a more exhaustive search of specific items [which is what I like] on uspto. Its possible that your local library, or certainly a PDL [patent depository library] can provide a full copy. I'll try further, may need more "reader/printer" software. Very interesting, Ken, these supports should help quite a few of us. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Tom A
Date: 2005-02-02 02:42
Coupla years ago I posted on this piece of equipment:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=124493&t=124398
As I said then, a big advantage over the strap, apart from the steadiness, is that it transfers the weight of the clarinet through the shaft to the player's body. This weight transfer is along the almost horizontal shaft pointing out from the body, in the same way that an abseiler going down a cliff will keep his legs pointing horizontally into the cliff face and be held there by the laws of physics. On the clarinet, the effect is to take most of the weight away from the neck and thumb.
The straps are adjustable like a sax strap, and the shaft is extendable to hold the clarinet further out. As Ken says, it can't be held closer to the body than the length of the un-extended shaft.
Other opinions on this BB will be found using a search something like "pan support".
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-02-02 13:27
Yes, Alexi, the hole in the TR is feasible....I've done it. However, all neckstraps I've tried (2) leave me cold. The complicated devices almost seem indecent......and maybe even dangerous.....and at least ridiculous looking. I have seen a photo of Stoltzman with one neck strap.....looked something like the Jacques leStrap design.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-02-02 16:03
William t C -
Thanks. I had forgotten that you had posted before about the PAN support.
Lots of people use neck straps. Michael Nuccio used one at a recital I went to. He's the consummate professional. If he uses one, anybody can.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-02-02 16:12
Hank/Ken - If you Quick Search on USPTO for 3,192,817, you will retrieve 5 pats in which it is cited as prior art. The #5 has a paragraph of discussion of it, and some of the others may have "comments" as well, which may be helpful and "enlarging" . Also one may purchase, ?how much?. a copy of one or several pats from the Pat Office [shopping cart], an easy way around "bad weather travel". Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Todd W.
Date: 2005-02-02 19:13
BobD --
"Jacques leStrap" !?
Le tongue in le cheek, n'est-ce pas?
Todd W.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-02-02 19:27
Not true Todd....there is such a strap....check WW&BW or similar music catalogues....it's usually found in the saxaphone section....
Bob Draznik
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Author: Todd W.
Date: 2005-02-02 20:05
BobD --
Zut alors! So there is (more or less). I found the De Jacques ultra neck strap for saxophone on an English web site. No other info about the manufacturer, though. Or the inspiration for the name.
Todd W.
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Author: Andrewcn
Date: 2005-02-02 23:41
Ken Shaw wrote "but from the look of it, you can't point the instrument further downward".
Agreed, because the shaft is fixed (though adjustable). But because the attachment to your thumbrest is flexible, you get a surprising amount of freedom of movement. You can nod your head up and down and side to side as much as you want. I thought from the look of it that it would be simply too restrictive, but when I tried it I was converted.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-02-02 23:55
--------------------------
In order to incorporate a neckstrap type device, could it be plausable to drill a hole in the thumbrest? This could be where the hook would hook into (lets say from a neotech sax neckstrap), and it wouldn't be uncomfortable to play WITHOUT a hook if you slip a thumbrest over it, would it?
Would this work? Anyone tried (I have a feeling Dave S may have . . . ! Seems like his kinda experiment!)
Alexi
----------------------------
Actually Neotech makes a neckstrap with the leather piece so that it can be used with Clarinet thumbrest - no ring needed.
Same for BG
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-02-03 02:15
Thanks DavidBlumberg. I read in one of those posts of someone who switched a leather piece from one neckstrap to a neotech. I guess neotech caught a clue and developed one to work with clarinets then.
I'll check that out. Thanks much.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-02-03 14:16
Clarinet thumb rests exist with an eyelet to hook a sax neckstrap through. They're standard on Jupiter clarinets and should be easy to order.
Every repair shop has a drawer full of thumb rests, at least one of which should have an eyelet. If not, it's easy to solder on a metal washer.
By the way, I was the one who switched the leather strap (from an elastic ClariCord, which was too bouncy) to a Neotech, which has a wide, comfortable pad.
Ken Shaw
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-02-03 15:11
Thanks Ken. Didn't even think to check out a music shops drawer'o'stuff.
I'll check that out.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-02-03 21:29
"You can nod your head up and down and side to side as much as you want. "
But.....can you bow?
Bob Draznik
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Author: Andrewcn
Date: 2005-02-03 22:41
BobD wrote:
> "You can nod your head up and down and side to side as much as
> you want. "
>
> But.....can you bow?
>
Yes you can! And will need to, because your playing is so much improved! Without weight on your hand, your fingers move easier and your technique is freed up.
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