I had been utilizing the Kooiman Maestro 2 thumbrest on my prior clarinets for a few years, after a very long and challenging recording session that left me with 2 weeks of zero control of my thumb due to a pinched nerve from the pressure. I had used a neckstrap for quite some time but it quickly lost its effectiveness to ease the pressure and weight my thumb was carrying from the instruments. The Kooiman has been a career-saver for me, as it moved the weight of the clarinet to the "crook" of my hand and not on the end of my thumb, allowing for effortless holding of the clarinet. No more pain or numbness in my thumb or wrist, and no tension in the right hand fingers. The Kooiman has multiple adjustment points (up and down, left and right, rotating) and a unique ball-and-socket mechanism, and is fully adjustable to any hand. I was able to adjust it as needed for both the Bb and A clarinet.
I received the new brass plate for my MoBas this week. The custom brass plate replaces the original thumb rest plate and it fits seamlessly into the inset for the thumb rest on the custom clarinets. The Maestro 2 slides onto the brass plate with ease, and is then adjustable on the plate as it is on the standard flat plate. NO drilling needed as the plate utilizes the screw holes from the original thumb rest (new screws provided as well). I have no words to express how happy I am to feel like myself again with the Kooiman and Backun perfectly paired! Thank you, Backun, for once again providing your customers with another great tool in our arsenal to make beautiful music.