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There is always the old standby or soldering an extension on any rotary valve paddle. Quick, inexpensive, and easily reversible.

DP wrote:left hand paddles on the 5th valve

or even a 6th valve......

.........that'll never catch-on!

bdjwill wrote:I was wondering. I'm trying to wean myself off playing with a thumb ring on my tuba

You've got me wondering. Why?

How are you going to keep from floating away without something solid to anchor yourself to?

<img src="http://www.sbhonline.com/Anchor%20in%20Gustavia.jpg">

I took my thumb ring off for several years because my hand was cramping, and I fancied that I was relying too much on the leverage. What I found out was that it made the horn MUCH harder to control, and to get up and down. Sort of like a trumpet player does against the 1st valve, if I needed an anchor, I just hooked my thumb beside the first valve tubing, where it wasn't doing anything any good. Espescially the other 4.

So while it might seem like a good thing to try, I ended up going back.

I'm not real fond of most of the thumb mechanisms I see.... especially the ones on Mirafones. To me, the leverage just isn't right.... like it takes more pressure to work the 5th than the others and the angle is just plain awkward. I would agree with some of the previous posters... try mounting various extensions or risers on the paddle and see what it does for you. I don't think removing the thumb ring will be any help to you.