To all tuba manufactures of the world: "Thumb rings"

[bisontuba]

Hi-
Just had to get this off my chest...
To all tuba manufacturers in the world-- whether Asian, European, USA, etc.
Just because something was 'old fashioned ' doesn't mean it was bad. Modern adjustable tuba thumb rings are awful! Go back to the good old days of donut style thumb rings (reference an Old Cerveny, for example) they were big, thick, AND comfortable. They weren't fancy--but were fine. Modern adjustable thumb rings are fragile, hard to keep in the right place, uncomfortable for both thumb, hand and wrist...and just are not needed. Go back to 'donut fat thumb rings.' Thank you.
Ahhh , I feel better....
Mark

[tofu]

+1

Love the old ones and hate the thin sharp edged new ones.

[hbcrandy]

Just because something was 'old fashioned ' doesn't mean it was bad. Modern adjustable tuba thumb rings are awful! Go back to the good old days of donut style thumb rings (reference an Old Cerveny, for example) they were big, thick, AND comfortable.

+++++

[mckay]

Have to agree with this one. I have three Mirafones, and although I like all of them in most respects, the thumb rings all tend to swivel at inopportune times. I'd rather have one that was soldered in place.

[iiipopes]

Agreed.

[The Big Ben]

Scroll down this post. Thumb ring ala Oberloh:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9824&hilit=oberloh+ ... 40#p327978" target="_blank"

[bisontuba]

Scroll down this post. Thumb ring ala Oberloh:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9824&hilit=oberloh+ ... 40#p327978" target="_blank" target="_blank"

Hi-
Yes, now that's what I'm talking about...very nice!
Mark

[Art Hovey]

Small, sharp-edged thumb rings are not "modern", they are just cheap. (Old King tubas, for example.) The big rings found on Cervenys are especially appreciated on cold days when you need to wear gloves.

Adjustable thumb rings are a good idea, since the best position for one person is very wrong for the next. Once you get yours where you want it you can very easily solder it in place.

[SplatterTone]

A detachable ring is good so your can trade with your girlfriend when you want to go steady.
(Do kids go steady any more? I know initial rings are long gone.)

[amg123]

I really like my adjustable thumb right because I can easily take it off.

Thumb rings in general seem to get in the way for me. I can see myself getting frustrated at having a thumb ring fixed, soldered on to the instrument.

[MartyNeilan]

I don-eed no steenkin' thohm reeng.

I will have to agree with da bloke, most tubas seem more ergonomic without them.

[cjk]

I used to have thumb rings, but penicillin cleared them up.

[SplatterTone]

I used to have thumb rings

Me too. But the foreman made us stop standing around with our thumbs up our ...

[Jess Haney]

Or you can buy a Willson with an adjustable donut ring

[ppalan]

[GC]

Also in the dumb thumb ring design category: ring holders that clamp onto a valve slide. That's a perfect recipe for a messed up, sticking slide if the holder is tightened too much to keep it from slipping.

[dwerden]

Check out this Adams Custom tuba. The thumb ring is thick & round and appears to be fully adjustable for reach and angle. This horn is engraved and done in an antique finish.

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

I've found that most thumb rings are a little bit unhelpful. They're either too high, too low, or too thin, as the OP described. I've only played a few horns where I felt that a thumb ring was both necessary and helpful. I personally like 5-valve CC and BBb tubas without thumb rings, where you just rest your hand on the third or fourth valve slide.

[TubaSteve]

I recently had to chance to unpack and play a new King 2341 and was very impressed by the size of the thumb ring. I enjoyed playing this horn very much.

Steve

[Michael Bush]

I would advise everyone to avoid these Thein thumb rings.

Being either foolish, or not very worried in real life about what lies in Mordor, or both, I would have a thumb ring like that on my tuba without a moment of hesitation. That would be more than excellent.