Fingerbutton extender?

[T. J. Ricer]

Hello, All,
I've been getting some hand pain from playing that I'm attributing to the size of the hand spread. . . I know I've seen people mention fingerbutton extenders on the TubeNet, but can't remember who or where. . .

Anyone have any ideas where to get these?
Do the alleviate hand pain?

thanks for any help,
T. J.

[hnoyes]

I had this problem as well, and I ended up supergluing a quarter onto my fourth valve lever. I put it on in '99 and its still there with no problems-strange looks, but not problems!

Good luck.

Heather

[TonyZ]

Hi'ya, TJ!

My concern with the extenders has always been that you end up pushing the valve down off-center. I know many people have had great success with them, but how long does it take to re-break in the valves to the new angle, and have there been any problems? Are there other solutions? I passed on a PT-22P because of the hand spread.

[windshieldbug]

Look at the threads Here and Here

[Art Hovey]

Here's another example; I have been using this tuba for casual lightweigh stuff for almost a year now and still like it.
http://www.galvanizedjazz.com/tuba/frugalhorn.html


p.s. The clothespin on my big tuba is for outdoor concerts.
Doesn't everyone use them?

[T. J. Ricer]

Thanks for the help, guys. . . keep the ideas coming.

Art, that looks really comfy. I like the idea of having the fourth valve be a rotor, I would think that would allow you to have a larger bore for fourth valve (sort of a graduated bore) while still having a shorter throw for the weaker/shorter pinky finger. Great web page, I wish more instrument manufacturers were able to use "logic" and make horns compatable with the human body (but, of course we are all shaped differently). . .

--T. J.

[T. J. Ricer]

Thanks for the help, guys. . . keep the ideas coming.

Art, that looks really comfy. I like the idea of having the fourth valve be a rotor, I would think that would allow you to have a larger bore for fourth valve (sort of a graduated bore) while still having a shorter throw for the weaker/shorter pinky finger. Great web page, I wish more instrument manufacturers were able to use "logic" and make horns compatable with the human body (but, of course we are all shaped differently). . .

--T. J.

[thedeep42]

i switched from a 3/1 euphonium configuration to an all 5 CC tuba configuration. ended up with tendonitis due some of the odd angles involved, mainly concerned with the smallest finger, but especially on 5 and 4 combinations. still working on it. even with 4, i've found that a lot of tubas are designed with the thumb ring in some random place that (depending on your physiology) puts your wrist and hand in some bizaar position. my problems got a LOT better when i got the thumb ring moved to fit my hand. the straighter you can get your hand to the rotors, the better. i liked the support of the ring, but it left me with a nightmare stretch to the 4th valve, making technical work super hard and ended up with me injuring myself. the physiotherapist took one look and said 'duh'. so... i'd say start there and if you need, try to get your hand/wrist/forearm as straight in as you can, making sure you're also high enough up to get some good leverage on the keys. if all else fails, glue stuff. yep.

[tubeast]

Just make sure you scrape superglue off of any metallic parts of your horn, will ya ?
As I learned on TUBENET, the next repair person wil be MOST grateful upon doing solder work if you do.