 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: K.B.M
Date: 2005-07-15 01:24
Hello everyone,
I have recently been looking into buying a Ton Kooiman thumb rest. I have had arm trouble for the past few months. Although this has gotten better, my arm still hurts after 30 min. of practicing. I have been using a neck strap, but I think the problem is the thumb rest is to low, on an R-13. I have been considering buying the Maestro model, since it is more adjustable. However, I read that you have to drill a hole in the clarinet to install the thumb rest.
I have a few questions about drilling a hole:
How damaging is this to the instrument? If I drill a hole, will the hole cause the instrument to crack years from now? Also, I have read that the screws that come with the thumb rest used to be to short. Is this still a problem? Finally, if I decide I do not like the thumb rest, after it is installed, is it damaging to the sound of your instrument after the hole is filled in?
I know these are a lot of questions in one post, but any answers would be appreciated. I have searched the thumb rest on the board, but if anyone has any recent experiences I would like to hear about them.
Thanks,
Katie
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Author: LeeB
Date: 2005-07-15 02:23
A really good technician can fill the hole in with wood powder, and it's hard to see the repair. Still, I would think the less you do to an instrument as far as drilling holes goes, the better. I definitely think it would be something you'd need to mention when selling the instrument. OTOH, you've got to weigh that against permanently damaging your right hand with carpal tunnel, etc. You can always buy a new clarinet, but you only get one right hand/arm to last your entire life. I think it's wise to worry more about your hand/arm than the clarinet.
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Author: contragirl
Date: 2005-07-15 02:30
For 20 bucks I got a local music store to install an adjustable Buffet thumbrest. The did the drilling and installed it.
--CG
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Author: K.B.M
Date: 2005-07-15 02:33
I have an adjustable Buffet thumbrest already, but it still does not raise up high enough. Thanks for the suggestion though.
Katie
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Author: MikeH
Date: 2005-07-15 02:37
Before you do anything to your clarinet I would suggest that you try some light weight lifting directed to the problem area in your arms. I am serious- light lifting after practicing can be very beneficial. Get a small set of dumbells and try it. I have done some very stressful playing with very large tip opening mpc's but light work with weights prevented muscle problems from developing. It doesn't need to be extensive, just a set of arm curls and a set of wrist curls after each playing session.
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Author: cujo
Date: 2005-07-15 02:42
I have ordered an adjustable one. The cheap $6 Diamond one. I plan on cutting of the thumb tab off and soldering it on upsidedown.
It should be high enough then to play nicely and would not involve any drilling.
I will also probably end up bending the piece away from body so my thumb will have more room away from body, making a more comfortable/natural position.
>i guess i didnt answer any questions.
A properly dilled hole should have a extremely small chance of cracking.
All insturments eventually will crack somewhere, no matter how hard you try.
A good tech can make the fills invisible or nearly invisible depending on how
well oiled you keep the clarinet.
A filled hole will leave no noticeable sound deficiencies.
Post Edited (2005-07-15 03:03)
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Author: b.roke
Date: 2005-07-15 03:21
i bought a Ton Kooinan Etude thumbrest 4mths ago. It was the best investment I have made. The screws were fine and when I got a different clarinet I was able to change it over without any problems. There were no marks left on my 1st clarinet.
The Etude has a very wide range of adjustment vertically, but none horizontally. I think this is the mani advantage of the Maestro.
For me the Etude works wonderfully and I can see no reason to 'upgrade'.
Good luck.
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Author: hans
Date: 2005-07-15 14:10
K.B.M.,
Re: "will the hole cause the instrument to crack years from now?"... unlikely if it is perfectly symmetrical. That may be difficult to achieve with a hand-held drill. IMO this should be done with a drill press and it is best to have it done by a professional repair technician.
Regards,
Hans
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2005-07-15 14:30
Quote:
Before you do anything to your clarinet I would suggest that you try some light weight lifting directed to the problem area in your arms. I am serious- light lifting after practicing can be very beneficial. Get a small set of dumbells and try it. I have done some very stressful playing with very large tip opening mpc's but light work with weights prevented muscle problems from developing. It doesn't need to be extensive, just a set of arm curls and a set of wrist curls after each playing session.
Never work out if you're injured, unless you do it with professional guidance. It could get worse you know....
Post Edited (2005-07-15 14:31)
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Author: cujo
Date: 2005-07-15 17:47
http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/ctexercise.htm
Someone long ago told me exactly to do this. Really helps.
Also I noticed right after a really hot shower to do basic back streches really helps back pain. I asked my chiropractor about cracking knuckles and of course its not good. He suggested using hot water and streching. I play guitar so much I literally cannot move my hands. Hot water clears this right up better than knuckle cracking. I hope that last paragraph isnt too random.
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Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2005-07-16 16:11
Don't know if this applies to the Maestro but you can drill the Etude's mounting plate to match the existing clarinet holes, rather than drill the clarinet.
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Author: Firebird
Date: 2005-07-17 03:47
I would suggest the use of a strap. I would have purchased it if not for the fact that is isn't sold here.
Chan
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2005-07-18 23:38
The manufacturer drills holes in the wooden body of your clarinet to mount their thumbrest... yours will use two additional holes of the same size and depth.
I found the thumbrest plate a little wobbly with only screws to hold it in place and put in a small dab of epoxy to take up the slack.
Once mounted and adjusted to your satisfaction, you'll never concern yourself with this problem - you'll be too busy practising!
**********
Wrist injuries of this type can be debilitating for MONTHS if ignored.
The hand is asked to carry a great deal of weight, while maintaining dexterity.
This is a challenge that often meets with painful results.
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation
Until you can get to the clinic for some professional treatment - and put down the horn for awhile, hmm?
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Author: Andrewcn
Date: 2005-07-19 02:04
This is all good advice - I have personal experience that wrist injuries should not be ignored. Please, do not play through the pain hoping it will go away! It just gets worse ....
There are supports available that take all the weight of the clarinet. They may look a bit cumbersome, but don't feel that way when you use one. You could always just use one at home for your intensive practise and use an ordinary neck strap in public if you are shy.
But rest the injury first.
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Author: K.B.M
Date: 2005-07-19 02:11
Thanks for all the advice. I have rested my arm for about a month while I was recuperating from having my wisdom teeth extracted. It was a very helpful to rest for a month, and my arm does not bother me that much when I am not playing. It only starts after practicing for 30 min. I am going to start wearing an arm brace at night and see if that helps.
Thanks again,
Katie
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Author: rc_clarinetlady
Date: 2005-07-19 05:01
Katie,
The principal in our orchestra uses the Maestro and loves it. He didn't want to drill the additional hole in his clarinet either so he didn't........ and so far the base is holding just fine with the holes that were already there. Yours may do fine too without the extra hole drilled.
I had to have thumb surgery several years back for an injury from what the surgeon said was "overusage". Don't let this happen to you. If a Kooiman will keep you from this kind of injury, (and I think it will), then get it and figure out a way to make it work. Your thumb and wrist will be much happier with you.
Feel better,
Rebecca
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Author: Wes
Date: 2005-07-20 04:31
About 10 years ago, I also had a problem with tendonitis from holding the clarinet with the thumb. I found that it went away after I started a short dailyl calisthenics effort, including weight lifting. It also helped to think of rotating the right hand counterclockwise as viewed from the body while playing. I even had to use a box to support the bell while playing at home. It completely went away.
One can get a special thumb rest made from a small sheet of nickle silver, drilled with two holes, bent and polished so that the thumb can be higher on the clarinet. It would take a craftsperson to make it, although it is simple enough. One would pad it with cork where it fits to the thumb. Good luck!
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Author: GoatTnder
Date: 2005-07-20 22:46
A friend of mine has similar wrist pain troubles. She uses a glove like those typists will use. The compression combined with the braces built into the glove seem to alleviate much of the pain. And, it doesn't affect fingers, which makes sense considering who they were developed for. You can find them at any drug store for about $8.00.
Andres Cabrera
South Bay Wind Ensemble
sbwe@sbmusic.org
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-07-20 23:48
Get a repair tech to do it - self drilling usually doesn't have positive results. The screws should be tapped, not just drilled as I was told by a repairtech a while back when I asked a similar question.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2005-07-21 04:28
Drilling and using a tapered type of screw will almost certainly damage the timber. This is typical of home jobs.
I agree that the holes need to be drilled AND tapped.
If the tapping is not done, and a screw is forced in, it will either be too loose, or it will put significant stress in the timber (precursor to splitting), or the screw will break off before fully installed.
Some technicians do not tap, but heat the screw prior to installation, so it sort of melts/burns its way in. This, in my view, may avoid the last two problems, but not the first.
An ideal tap (in both diameter and pitch) can be difficult to obtain, and many technicians probably do not have one.
Somebody mentioned screws that were rather too short. The larger the rest assembly, the more secure it needs to be, or the screws are likely just pull out of the timber.
An excellent alternative - just the right amount longer, and perhaps 0.1 mm larger diameter - is a "valve guide screw" for a Yamaha flugel horn. Most technicians probably are not aware of this. I discovered it by chance.
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