Professional Thumb Rest for Oboe

The Oboe Thumb Rest is the most sophisticated thumb rest that can be adjusted to the individual anatomy of every musicians hand and can be adjusted in all possible directions to meet the highest individual demands and ensuring an ideal hand position.

A direct and positive effect on the freedom of movement of the entire hand is found because of the improved position of the thumb in relation to the instrument. Especially of the ring finger and little finger.

Advanced features

Durable quality

The Oboe Thumb Rest is made of high quality metal parts and can be used for a lifetime.

Full Adjustable

The padded thumb plateau is adjustable in all directions by means of two ball joints and a hinge joint.

Mount and play

Once properly installed and adjusted, the thumb rest does not require any further adjustment.

Mounting slide

Is delivered with two solid metal mounting slides to use one thumb rest on more instruments.

Ergonomics

The ergonomics of the Oboe Thumb Rest is based on a hollow casing that can be adjusted from right to left. In this way the hand is allowed to “open”. Adjustable in height on the mounting slide. The padded thumb plateau is adjustable in all directions by means of two ball joints and a hinge joint.

The Pressure point on the thumb is moved from the first phalanx to the space between the two joints of the thumb. The Lever momentum is much smaller at this new point, which makes carrying the weight far more easier than before and enables an easier reach of lower keys.

Effortless

In this way the situation moves towards YOU, your individual unique demands, instead of complying to a given one. Instead of “hanging in the tendons”, the musician will now carry the instrument in an “active” way!

FAQ

empty first row
What are the ergonomic benefits of the Oboe Thumb Rest?

The Pressure point on the thumb is moved from the first phalanx to the space between the two joints of the thumb. The Lever momentum is much smaller at this new point, which makes carrying the weight far more easier than before and enables an easier reach of lower keys.

How to install Oboe Thumb Rest sliding plate?

The mounting slide of the Oboe Thumb Rest has three holes to fix it to the body. The upper two mostly coincide with the measurements of most Clarinets and Oboe’s. If not precisely, try to make the holes in the mounting slide a bit oblong, with a small round file ,and most of the times this will help. If not, one or two new holes have to be made at least. But the third hole below is always necessary to obtain a good solid fixation of the mounting slide. It is not a problem at all doing this. We have drilled thousands of holes and the little holes always can be filled practically invisible in case an instrument has te be sold without thumb rest. Drilling is done by hand by means of a hand vice and can thus be done very safely. Drill and screw one after another to prevent the mounting slide to shift.

How to adjust the Oboe Thumb Rest?

Adjusting the Oboe Thumb Rest is easiest in cooperation with you technician. To properly adjust the thumb rest, you should be able to fully relay your right hand. The nessesarry key wrench are included. Please read the manual for further information.

How to mount Oboe Thumb Rest?

The Oboe Thumb Rest can be put on (and off) the instrument in a few seconds by sliding it on the pre-installed slider plate. Once properly installed and adjusted, the thumb rest does not require any further adjustment.

What about different hand sizes?

The Oboe Thumb Rest that can be adjusted to the individual anatomy of every musicians hand and can be adjusted in all possible directions to meet the highest individual demands and ensuring an ideal hand position.

On which instruments can the Oboe Thumb Rest be applied?

The Oboe Thumb Rest can be used on th following instruments:

  • Oboe d’ Amore
  • English horn
  • Alto, Basset, Clarinet
  • Recorder
Is it possilble to attach a neck strap to the Oboe Thumb Rest?

Yes, you can easy attach the neck strap eye to the left ball joint arm. The solid Oboe Thumb Rest construction is suitable to support your instrument.

Whats are the differences between Oboe and Maestro?

The Oboe Thumb Rest and Maestro Thumb Rest are virtually the same. Only two parts are different and that is the casing which can be turned to the left and right, and the actual padded thumb rest. (smaller on the Oboe Thumb Rest). The Padded thumb rest on the Maestro Thumb Rest has extended sides to improve ergonomics, but makes it a bit larger. Oboists most often like a smaller thumb rest on their elegant instruments. The two parts (padded thumb rest and casing) are interchangeable. We were asked to make a thumb rest especially for the double reed market. The Oboe Thumb Rest has a casing already machined at an angle, whereas the hollow cavity of the Maestro is machined straight. But both can be adjusted to left or right at an angle. So that the thumb can be slightly bent instead of pulled upwards or being sagged. For this the Oboe Thumb Rest casing allows for more adjustment to the left, to compensate for the smaller body of the Oboe Thumb Rest. The thumb points to the index finger at a sharper angle on the Oboe. When only a Maestro Thumb Rest is available you could use this thumb rest as well. The Oboe Thumb Rest looks and feels a bit smaller.

What about hyper mobility?

The Oboe Thumb Rest is developed especially for every hand or condition, but people with hyper mobility or double jointed thumb base have difficulty in maintaining the relaxed, joint- neutral position you want to have on the clarinet. So because the Oboe Thumb Rest can be adjusted in many ways, it may sometimes be difficult to find the right position. The right position is very individual, but a golden rule is that for you this is your natural relaxed hand without “doing” anything. Joint neutral this is. People with hyper mobility however find it difficult to “maintain” this position as soon as they start doing anything like carrying their instruments. And tend to seek a extreme position as if they want to brace themselves. So when you adjust the Oboe Thumb Rest, do this with the help of another person who can tighten the screws and adjust the thumb rest. Sit in the correct playing position, hold the instrument with your left hand, the bell resting on your knees. With your right hand you are doing nothing yet! No carrying. And fingers on the keys. Note well, normally the thumb is the reference point for the fingers. For now, when you are adjusting, you feel the fingers first and let the thumb follow towards your neutral position. You are putting the hand with the very relaxed musculature on the thumb rest again and again to adjust to this position. Then you know that this is your best individual hand position to carry the instrument. Your individual point of reference. The more affordable Etude Thumb Rest is therefore sometimes easier to start with as this thumb rest “guides” you a bit more into the “right” position.

Most important is to know that the thumb has to be a little curved (like the bow of a bridge) pulling just a little the little muscle at the inside of the thumb. (The point of the thumb goes downwards instead of in the old way, upwards. 180 degrees different of what you are used to).

Reviews

Marko Kmet

Hello Ton! I just thought it would be nice to drop you a line to tell you that we have received and started using the thumb rests you had sent. It really has proved to be an outstanding device! My son’s teacher is very much impressed and she said that his right hand position had started to improve almost immediately. He is also satisfied and can practice for a longer period of time and the tones from H1 to G2 no longer pose a problem. Thank you again for you cooperation and all the best in the future!

Marko Kmet Medical Specialist (Slovenia)

Amy

No, the middle joint won’t fit in the case with the thumbrest on, but it slides off the plate (that screws to the oboe) easily. I just bought a plastic soap holder to hold the detachable part of the thumbrest so it won’t get crushed in the outside pocket of my case cover. Works great. I LOVE this thumbrest! Feels awkward at first but once you get used to it, it’s awesome!

Jean-Marc

I just installed a Kooiman thumb rest on my oboe and, so far, it looks like a real improvement for me. The thumb rest dissassembles and the oboe middle jointfits Ok in a normal case. You will have to keep the thumb support part with your reed case and other stuff since it does not fit in an average oboe case.

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