Wrist pain switching to straight horn?
- jorymil
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Oct 26, 2019
Hey there folks,
After getting it back from the shop, I've been loving my straight 3b. I hit a high G for the first time ever!
But... my wrist is hurting now, which was not the case with my 3b+f. Anyone else run into something similar? Normally it's the _trigger_ horn causing the problem! I am one of those folks, btw, who likes King triggers.
Rest and ice can solve this in the short term, but I'm left-handed, so left wrist pain is no joke.
After getting it back from the shop, I've been loving my straight 3b. I hit a high G for the first time ever!
But... my wrist is hurting now, which was not the case with my 3b+f. Anyone else run into something similar? Normally it's the _trigger_ horn causing the problem! I am one of those folks, btw, who likes King triggers.
Rest and ice can solve this in the short term, but I'm left-handed, so left wrist pain is no joke.
- BGuttman
- Posts: 7368
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
Does the straight horn have a counterweight? Often wrist pain is due to the horn being "nose heavy" (slide side weighs more) and the pain results from constantly having to tip it back.
- Doug_Elliott
- Posts: 4155
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
You can give it some rest by playing left-handed for a bit. I have done that, for my shoulder.
It takes time to get used to a different hand position. You'll really understand that when you play left handed.
It takes time to get used to a different hand position. You'll really understand that when you play left handed.
- johntarr
- Posts: 368
- Joined: May 07, 2018
I’ve found that having some weight on my thumb can irritate my shoulder. It doesn’t make sense but if my thumb needs to extend to take the weight of the brace between the bell and neck pipe, it can cause my shoulder to flare up. Using a Neo tech grip or an axe handle brace has been very helpful for me.
- jorymil
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Oct 26, 2019
The horn does have a counterweight: I picked up one of those new removable King weights for it. I might have to add a second, though probably just a generic one.
And honestly, it's about time as a lefty that I try playing left-handed. I expect it'll be like me and trumpet: some notes will come out, I'll remember not to take myself too seriously, and might learn something.
Thanks to you all for the support.
And honestly, it's about time as a lefty that I try playing left-handed. I expect it'll be like me and trumpet: some notes will come out, I'll remember not to take myself too seriously, and might learn something.
Thanks to you all for the support.
- hyperbolica
- Posts: 3990
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
The distance between thumb and forefinger is different between horns, especially different between straight and trigger. I run into this between 8h and 88h. Stretching out your hand can hurt your wrist. The only thing you can do is to modify the grip/trigger position so all your horns have the same grip. Counterbalance definitely has an effect, but just be aware of your hand spread.
- BGuttman
- Posts: 7368
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
[quote="hyperbolica"]The distance between thumb and forefinger is different between horns, especially different between straight and trigger. I run into this between 8h and 88h. Stretching out your hand can hurt your wrist. The only thing you can do is to modify the grip/trigger position so all your horns have the same grip. Counterbalance definitely has an effect, but just be aware of your hand spread.[/quote]
That's not true on a King 3B vs. 3BF. The bell brace is in the same place and you put your thumb around the bell brace to work the trigger. This is ergonomically better than the typical setup where you have to hold the instrument by wrapping 3 fingers around a tube. Certainly makes it easier to march with.
Of course the 3BF has more weight over the shoulder than the 3B, hence the suggestion for a counterweight.
That's not true on a King 3B vs. 3BF. The bell brace is in the same place and you put your thumb around the bell brace to work the trigger. This is ergonomically better than the typical setup where you have to hold the instrument by wrapping 3 fingers around a tube. Certainly makes it easier to march with.
Of course the 3BF has more weight over the shoulder than the 3B, hence the suggestion for a counterweight.
- Macbone1
- Posts: 501
- Joined: Oct 01, 2019
I'm not fan of 3Bs so probably not the most objective. The bell brace on those feels "far back" from the slide grips compared to other horns. Since you are already gripping a bell brace, an added handle won't help much and probably not room enough for it anyway. Modify your left thumb placement to not include the bell brace.
- BGuttman
- Posts: 7368
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
[quote="Macbone1"]I'm not fan of 3Bs so probably not the most objective. The bell brace on those feels "far back" from the slide grips compared to other horns. Since you are already gripping a bell brace, an added handle won't help much and probably not room enough for it anyway. Modify your left thumb placement to not include the bell brace.[/quote]
You are probably going to have a problem trying to do that on a 3BF. The paddle setup is similar to mine on my King 7B that you have probably seen at one time or another. The paddle is close to the bell brace so you could have the bell brace in the crook of your left hand and the thumb can reach over the brace to work the paddle.
I suppose you could put a pull ring on the side of the paddle nearer the bell and adjust your position so you just put your thumb through the ring without putting it around the brace, but that's not how they are supposed to work.
You are probably going to have a problem trying to do that on a 3BF. The paddle setup is similar to mine on my King 7B that you have probably seen at one time or another. The paddle is close to the bell brace so you could have the bell brace in the crook of your left hand and the thumb can reach over the brace to work the paddle.
I suppose you could put a pull ring on the side of the paddle nearer the bell and adjust your position so you just put your thumb through the ring without putting it around the brace, but that's not how they are supposed to work.
- Macbone1
- Posts: 501
- Joined: Oct 01, 2019
Well the 3BF is a different animal for sure. Doug Bert once told me he couldn't take decent solos on a borrowed 3B because the left hand grip tension was so distracting.
- BGuttman
- Posts: 7368
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
I've found that people used to the grip for Conn/Bach/Holton/Yamaha often have problems with the old King (and 3BF) grip. I've never had such a problem. I guess I'm an odd duck.
- CarlVicVogel
- Posts: 61
- Joined: Jan 11, 2022
I was noticing a similar issue with my Bach LT16M, so I added a Bach counterweight. Looked OEM and fit perfectly!
Your mileage may vary.
Carl Vic Vogel
Your mileage may vary.
Carl Vic Vogel