Kooiman Maestro 2 Ergonomic Thumb Rest

It’s not just a thumb rest — it’s an existential upgrade: a fully metal, fully adjustable, 3‑axis ergonomic marvel that lets you dial in your unique hand anatomy so your thumb stops screaming and your hand stops fighting the horn. Or the horn fighting the hand. Or something. Here’s why it slaps: Adjustable in every direction via ball joints and hinge — this thing bends to your thumb, not the other way around. Shifts the weight — moves pressure away from the tip of your thumb to where your hand is actually strong: between the joints, toward the palm. (The “first phalanx,” if you want to get anatomical about it.) Built like a tank from high-quality metal, and mounts with a slide system so you can easily swap it between horns. I’m not exaggerating when I say this thing has saved careers — people report less pain, longer practice sessions, even better tone. Think of it as steroids, minus the drugs. FAQ:  Q: Do I have to take my current thumb rest off? A: Yep. The Maestro replaces your existing thumb rest completely. It mounts to the same general area, but uses its own metal mounting bracket and screws. Q: How is it installed? A: A metal mounting plate is installed on the clarinet body. Most of the time, the existing thumb rest holes are not in the correct position, so at least one new hole usually needs to be carefully drilled. The plate uses three screws for stability, and once it’s attached, the thumb rest itself is slid on and adjusted. Q: Can you install it for me? A: Yes — I offer installations for $160 (2-way shipping & insurance included). But honestly, it’s faster, cheaper, and more convenient to have a local woodwind tech handle it. It’s a quick job for anyone who works on woodwinds. That said, if you want me to do it, I'd be happy to, but I'll need your clarinet (obviously) for a few days. Q: Can I install it myself? A: Maybe. It’s not TOO hard. But drilling is involved, so you’re better off having a tech do it. Once the plate is installed, you can adjust the thumb rest itself (angle, tilt, height) using the included hex wrenches.  Q: Is it hard to adjust? A: Not once it’s installed. It comes with hex wrenches, and everything locks down solid once you dial it in. Best case: have a friend hold the clarinet while you position your hand, and they tighten the screws. Worst case: do it alone with a mirror and a little patience. Q: Will it damage my clarinet? A: Not if installed properly. The mounting plate attaches using screws in the same area as your original thumb rest. Of course, you're drilling 1.7 millimeter holes into your clarinet body, which is a one-way-street. But a qualified tech will know how do this while avoiding damage to the bore or body.  Q: Won't it leave holes in my clarinet from my old thumb rest?  A: We fill the holes left by your previous thumb rest using Cyanoacrylate and Grenadilla dust. You may see where the holes were, but it'll be pretty unnoticeable. I promise.  Q: Can I remove it later? A: Yes. You can unscrew the mounting plate and reattach your original thumb rest if you want. (You’ll just have extra screw holes left behind that you might want to fill.) Q: Will my clarinet still fit in its case? A: Yes...but you will need to detach it from the mounting plate before storing your clarinet in its case. The Maestro adds too much bulk to stay on inside most cases. Q: Can I use it on both my Bb and A clarinets? A: Totally. It comes with two mounting plates that you will need to install on both clarinets. The Maestro itself slides on and off in seconds, so once both horns have the bracket installed, swapping is quick. Q: Does it work for kids or small hands? A: Yes! In fact, it’s especially helpful for smaller hands. The adjustability means you can move the thumb rest up, down, in, out, and angled to match your hand size and playing position, which often improves reach and reduces tension. Q: Is it compatible with all clarinets? A: It fits most standard Bb and A clarinets, but some (Backun MoBa, Lumière) models can take advantage of a specially-designed plate, which requires no drilliing — just a small screwdriver. If you play Backun contact me and I can order you this plate for a nominal fee. Q: How does it feel to play with? A: It feels weird at first. Your thumb won’t be where it “usually goes” — and that’s kind of the point. Most players adjust within a few days, and after that, going back to a standard rest feels like wearing shoes on the wrong feet. You’ll likely notice less tension in your hand, more freedom in your fingers, and better posture overall. Q: Can I attach a neck strap to it? A: Nope. There is no place to hook a strap. I suppose you could rig something DIY, but it’s not officially supported. Q: What if I hate it? A: You probably won’t. But if you do, you can remove it, reattach your original rest, and fill in the extra holes (or leave them). That said, give it a week or two — the weirdness is usually just your hand unlearning a bad habit.