Reddit reviews Ridenour Clarinet Thumb Saddle
We found 2 Reddit comments about Ridenour Clarinet Thumb Saddle. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
The Ridenour Thumb Saddle eliminates the "pinch" tension between the thumb and fingers by simply opening the hand upThe increased openness promotes the needed relaxation without throwing the thumb and fingers out of balanceThe curved fingers promote a much more efficient finger motion and increased endurance due to the absence of tensionThe Ridenour Thumb Saddle it the right hand solution that feels great, works great and looks great! You'll never play the clarinet again without it! The Ridenour Clarinet Thumb Saddle reduces tension, increases relaxation and endurance and promotes correct hand positionYou'll never play the clarinet again without it! The Ridenour Thumb Saddle eliminates the "pinch" tension between the thumb and fingers by simply opening the hand up
R13s are still considered a great intermediate/professional-level clarinet, but they have plenty of competition now! Yamaha is their main competitor, and Backun (Ricardo Morales backs them) is getting pretty successful, too.
You might have to find new reeds... D'Addario bought Rico, so what used to be Rico Reserve is now D'Addario Reserve. They still make the orange box Ricos and blue box Rico Royals, though. My favorite reeds are theD'Addario Reserve Classics, but they just started making a new line called D'Addario Evolution that a lot of my friends are playing now. Vandoren V12s and v21s are popular, too.
Thumb supports have gotten really popular, like the Ridenour Thumb Saddle and this Kooiman thing that transfers a lot of the weight to your hand rather than just your thumb. I have the Ridenour, and I love it because it makes your hand more open, like a c shape rather than a pinch.
Good luck and have fun! It might be worth bringing your clarinet into a shop to have the pads checked out, and after you've gotten into the swing of things, maybe take a lesson or two and get some pointers to stop bad habits from forming.
I'm actually at a similar point... I just graduated college (not for music), and I'm hoping to find an ensemble to play in now so I keep my skills up. I loved being in the wind ensemble at my school!
Backun MoBa Grenadilla Clarinet Bell - $675
Silverstein Works Cryo4 Gold Ligature Small Clarinet - $200
Ridenour Clarinet Thumb Saddle - $15 X 2 clarinets = $30
Vandoren V.12 3 1/2 Reeds - $30 X 3 = $90
Hodge Clarinet Silk Swab - $10
675 + 200 = $875
30 + 90 + 10 = $130
875 + 130 = $1005
=)