 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: m1964
Date: 2024-07-03 23:43
Does anyone know the thread pitch of the thumb screw on Buffets?
The thread is M3 x 4. I do not have a digital caliper to measure the pitch.
Don't want to buy the whole new TR just for the screw.
Thanks
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2024-07-04 01:39
Older Prestige ones are M2x0.4 (same as the throat G#-A adjusting screw) and the more recent ones are M3x0.5.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2024-07-04 06:43
Do you mean the screw holding the thumb rest sliding plate in place or the screws attaching the thumb rest itself to the clarinet?
If it's the former, those parts often strip, both because it's a bad design with very short thread and because they are usually made of of some kind of pot metal.
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Author: John Peacock
Date: 2024-07-04 17:05
The current thumbrest is such an appalling design: the screw always works loose, and the only solution is to use superglue to fix it in place. Even leaving that aside, I personally find this rest less comfortable owing to the wide thumbplate. If I ever got an instrument with that thumbrest, I'd immediately take it off and put on a traditional fixed one. Buffet seems to have changed to this design in about 1997, and prior to that the Prestige instruments had a different adjustable thumbrest that looks much nicer and more similar to the Selmer ones. I've never actually had the chance to see how that felt in practice - was there some criticism of the design that meant they didn't want to continue with it?
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Author: LFabian
Date: 2024-07-04 18:38
Are these screws the same on vintage R-13s? Because I used the same screws to mount a new Kooiman etude instead of the screws that came with them. I guess the original screws were steel that needed no tampering.
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Author: m1964
Date: 2024-07-04 19:15
Thanks a lot to everyone who replied to my post,
esp. to Chris P.- I need to replace the locking thumb rest screw.
I will, or course, ask my repair tech when I see him, but if he does not have one, I will look for a knurled screw with M3 x 0.5 thread.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2024-07-04 19:21
The real problem with Buffet's adjustable thumbrests (besides them being weak zinc alloy castings) is the baseplates are still in the same location as the fixed ones as they use the same screw holes drilled into the lower joint, so that only offers downward adjustment which doesn't suit everyone.
You're best removing the baseplate and locating it around 10mm higher up the back of the lower joint or to around a minimum distance of 2mm below the base of the socket - measure the depth of the socket and mark it on the outside with a pencil line to be sure as you definitely don't want to drill into the socket.
You'll also have to drill a blind hole for the locking screw tip to be sure the locking screw makes use of all the threads in the baseplate and just beyond by around 1mm to give it security and less likely to strip the threads.
The wood screws Buffet use are stainless steel and are fairly robust, but I prefer to use Howarth's self tapping wood screws which are a bit beefier and use a 1.7mm pilot hole drilled into the wood to a depth of 5mm.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2024-07-04 19:21)
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Author: m1964
Date: 2024-07-05 05:59
Chris,
Thank you very much for your very thoughtful reply.
A few years ago, it was painful to hold the clarinet with the thumb rest in the original position. I had it re-located about 10mm up and it worked- the pain stopped.
I then had the TR relocated on my A as well.
However, I could only play those two clarinets and no other instrument.
In addition, it was difficult to reach the Rt. E/B key.
I started from moving the TR down one notch, playing for a few minutes and then moving the TR back up. Slowly increased playing time until I could play in that position for an extended period of time.
I then would move the TR down two notches, play a little and move it back up one notch. Kept repeating the above and eventually got to the point where I could play comfortably with the TR in original location.
When In replaced my pair, I did not have to relocate TRs anymore.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2024-07-05 07:49
>> I will, or course, ask my repair tech when I see him, but if he does not have one, I will look for a knurled screw with M3 x 0.5 thread. <<
If they have an original, it would possibly be another pot metal screw and likely to strip too eventually. It would also engage the same tiny amount... which is weird... the design itself is such that the screw could simply be a little longer and engage more in threads, but I guess they already had thousands of them made this way.......
I think some models have similar screws made of brass or cupronickel... but how can you know when you order...? Also it helps with one of the issues only.
It would be better to use a screw that allows more engagement with the threads. It would also be better to have it fit into the notches, either by a lucky coincidence or by modifying the screw. Relying only on the tightening would likely mean you tighten it even more firmly and it would raise the chance of the threads stripping.
If you need to replace it because it doesn't tighten, check that the female threads aren't stripped either... they definitely could be.
I occasionally replace just the screws or the plates, but more often than not if a Buffet thumb rest screw is stripped I recommend replacing the entire thumb rest with a better made one.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2024-07-05 22:03
The thing with Buffet is their way isn't the best nor the be all and end all as there are always far better ways of doing things for the sake of improvement.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2024-07-06 09:20
The Yamaha, Jupiter and Votaw thumb rests (and occasionally a non-adjustable Buffet or equivalent) are the main ones I use to replace stripped Buffet thumb rests. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
>> I am one of those people who like to keep things original. <<
Sometimes I do replace a Buffet screw with an original or a modified but better quality standard thumb screw, with the explanation (or disclaimer) that it might strip again.
>> I always tighten by hand <<
I don't think I've seen anyone not tighten it by hand only. The constant force from playing could increase the chance of stripping, but tightening it with less force might do that too, if it gets loose occasionally and needs re-tightening.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2024-07-06 16:41
As far as discomfort goes, the older pillar-style Buffet Prestige adjustable thumbrests and Selmer 10G ones seem to be designed for one player's physiology rather than designed to suit everyone. The sliding section on Buffet's ones were also hollow, so the locking screw could easily squeeze it oval if you overdo it. I've resorted to filling them in with a threaded steel insert to give them some backbone.
Even Buffet's fixed thumbrests aren't particularly comfortable as they have gaps either side of the plate where your thumb can get pinched, so I've often soldered on a tombstone-shaped piece of thin sheet brass (with a layer of thin sheet cork glued to it) that has the lower curve made to fit and sit flush with the radius of the joint instead of there being a gap which can be felt whilst playing.
Howarth adjustable thumbrests are also worth considering as they have a solid bar on the back of the thumbrest plate and the plate is a generous size and shape which sits close to the joint surface. They're similar in design to the Yamaha one I posted a link to and have been standard equipment on Howarth XL oboes and cors anglais (with a sling ring) since the late '80s and cast from solid nickel silver.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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