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Higher thumb rest

Author: aalex
Date: 2019-11-14 04:31

Hi,
I have big thumbs, and my thumb is most comfortable when in front of my index, when my hand is closed.

Which thumb rest replacement should I use, without the need to create new screw holes? Are there thumb rests whose area that is in contact with the thumb is above the screw holes, instead of below? If so, which ones?

I have read good things about the Kooiman thumb rests - https://www.tonkooiman.com/ - what do you think about those? Are there other alternatives that you'd recommend?

Thanks a lot!
Best,

Alexandre Quessy
Software developer for new media arts

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Re: Higher thumb rest

Author: m1964
Date: 2019-11-14 04:59

aalex wrote:

> Hi,
> I have big thumbs, and my thumb is most comfortable when in
> front of my index, when my hand is closed.
>
> Which thumb rest replacement should I use, without the need to
> create new screw holes? Are there thumb rests whose area that
> is in contact with the thumb is above the screw holes, instead
> of below? If so, which ones?
>
> I have read good things about the Kooiman thumb rests -
> https://www.tonkooiman.com/ - what do you think about those?
> Are there other alternatives that you'd recommend?
>
> Thanks a lot!
> Best,
>

Hi Aalex,
I am not aware of any replacement thumb rests that places the thumb above the holes. However, any competent tech can relocate a thumb rest so there would be no need to buy expensive gadget.

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Re: Higher thumb rest

Author: kdk
Date: 2019-11-14 05:48

aalex wrote:

> Which thumb rest replacement should I use, without the need to
> create new screw holes?

I don't know if there are any standard adjustable thumb rests that sit that high above the screw holes. Used to be you could turn many of the old fixed-position rests upside down using the original holes to raise the thumb level. But it really isn't a big deal to have new holes drilled (and threaded) and have the old ones filled. A good repair person can make the old holes nearly invisible.

Karl

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Re: Higher thumb rest

Author: JMason
Date: 2019-11-14 12:04

I really like the Kooiman thumb rest I have used it for years. It can be adjusted so the thumb is above the index finger or below. It looks to me to be more than an inch of adjustment range. The screws holes match the holes in my Buffet so I did not need a tech to change it out. Just unscrew the three screws for the metal thumb rest and use two screws for the Kooiman.

But the best feature is that it moves the the weight of the clarinet from the outer thumb joint to closer to the hand and takes a lot of stress off of the thumb. The rest also gently curves around the thumb with a large surface area instead of just a small piece of metal sticking out on the thumb joint.

Jeff

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Re: Higher thumb rest

Author: aalex
Date: 2019-11-14 15:42

Thank you! Drilling new holes is an option, I want to change my thumb rest, because I don't like it, so I'm trying to find a model that I could use with the existing holes.

@JMason (Jeff) : Are you referring to the Kooiman Etude3, (50$) or the Kooiman Maestro2? (300$)

Alexandre Quessy
Software developer for new media arts

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Re: Higher thumb rest

Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2019-11-14 17:21

Flipping the old style thumb rest around will raise the thumb position. Some padding in necessary so the thumb rest edge doesn't cut into your hand.

Steve Ocone

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