Can a Thumb Hook Really Affect Your Sound?
Introduction
I have seen new accessories hitting the market to address or improve upon specific areas on the saxophone that are seen to be lacking resonance or feel not as comfortable when playing. Some of these after-market accessories are neck screws, thumb rests, necks, and thumb hooks just to name a few. The thumb hook in particular is getting more and more buzz around it. At first, I thought what could a thumb hook possibly add or do to the saxophone besides adding additional comfort or aesthetic. I recently received 2 thumb hooks from Tino Schucht who is known for his after-market necks that are based on the Balanced Action, Super Balanced Action, and Mark VI necks. I will be giving you an overview of the Tino Schucht Dirty Punch and Gentle Touch Thumb hooks as well as provide my review and overall thoughts.
Product Overview
Dirty Punch
The new JodyJazz DV HR Tenor uses the patented DV secondary window to add mid and low harmonics, resulting in a more authoritative tone than normal tenor sax mouthpieces provide. And the long straight somewhat high baffle gives the mouthpiece it’s fantastic projection and cutting power along with excellent altissimo.
JODYJAZZ.COM
The New DV HR Tenor from JodyJazz
According to Tino, his Dirty Punch model “produces a dirty, rough and explosive sound with a very good response, core and dynamics levels suitable for any music style. This thumb hook is designed for Selmer, Yanagisawa, Keilwerth, and Yamaha saxophones thumb hooks across the saxophone family (soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone). The thumb hook is made out of brass that has been untreated which gives it an old or vintage finish. Each thumb hook is polished and comes either in brass, silver plated, or gold plated.
Gentle Touch
According to Tino, his Gentle Touch model “produces a smooth, dark, warm and deep sound with a very good response, core and dynamics levels suitable for any music style. This thumb hook is designed for Selmer, Yanagisawa, Keilwerth, and Yamaha saxophones across the saxophone family (soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone). The thumb hook is made out of brass that has been untreated which gives it an old or vintage finish. Each thumb hook is polished and comes either in brass, silver plated, or gold plated.
Review
I compared the Dirty Punch and Gentle Touch to the standard metal thumb hook on a Lupifaro Platinum tenor. I first started with the Gentle Touch and noticed that sonically the sound was less edgy and more mellow with clean clarity and projection. I found the standard metal thumb hook to resonant more but the Gentle Touch per Tino’s description did offer a mellower tone when sub-toning and playing softly which was noticeable with the Gentle Touch. When I tried the Dirty Punch in comparison to the standard metal thumb hook and Gentle Touch, I noticed the sound was edgier, darker, and fuller as well as the response was more immediate with less air. From a comfort-ability standpoint, I found the Tino Schucht Gentle Touch and Dirty Punch to be a more comfortable and both were easy to take on/off and adjust.
Overall Thoughts
Per David Liebman ” Tino has for years been experimenting with the effect of thumb rests on the sound and to be honest there IS a difference using his hooks. You have to try it because it wouldn’t seem on paper to make a difference but it definitely helps the sound.” Besides mouthpieces, saxophones, ligatures, and reeds, I do not experiment much with thumb hooks. I did find that both the Dirty Punch and Gentle Touch Tino Schucht thumb hooks were very comfortable and made a difference in the sound. Sonically, I did notice a difference between the Dirty Punch, Gentle Touch and standard thumb hook for how the horn sounded and responded throughout. I know many of you think the thumb hook is there for you to simply rest you right thumb and I initially would agree, but since trying the Tino’s thumb hooks, I was pleasantly surprised by how they had an impact on the sound. Now, please keep in mind, I believe the results for this thumb hook is dependent on your current setup so every player will have a different re-action to the effect’s of Tino’s thumb hooks, which I believe will be positive. I highly recommend you try one to see how your saxophone responds and sounds in comparison to your standard brass or rubber thumb hook. I would like to thank Tino Schucht for sending me his thumb hooks to test play and would greatly appreciate any feedback from those of you that have had a chance to try Tino Schucht’s thumb hooks. I am interested to hear other players results.
Links
Website
http://www.schuchtsaxtechnology.com/
Thumb Hooks
http://www.schuchtsaxtechnology.com/thumb_hooks/thumb_hooks.html
August 16, 2016 @ 3:29 pm
I’ll be honest – I think this is a crock of sh*t aka advertising cash grab.
August 17, 2016 @ 10:39 am
Hello Saddened,
Ok. Have you tried one? If you have and could provide your feedback why, that would much appreciated. If you have not tried one then I recommend you do so to see if your conclusion is correct or not.
August 21, 2016 @ 2:58 pm
I can’t for the life of me understand how these things make a difference, but then I don’t understand how a large brass strap hook makes a difference either. Just that it does.
Did you notice any differences between the hooks by visual comparison?
September 2, 2016 @ 10:38 am
Saddened tenor man. Have you tried one. A simple yes or no ?
October 7, 2016 @ 10:19 am
In life we all need an open mind I must try one out someday
October 20, 2016 @ 9:55 am
My Cannonball tenor has a metal thumb hook mainly because the horn is kind of a retro horn. Has a big bell, subtones great etc, etc and really projects and has a sound. However my Selmer Mk VI 214,xxx has a lastic thumb hook. It really projects too, has a nice subtone and really has a sound too but different and has a standard bell. Does the thumb hook make a difference, I don’t know? Sax Alley also sells a metal thumb hook that Tim says really boost your sound. The old horns had metal thumb hooks mostly because plastic was not in wide use in the 1930’s or 40’s. I say, if it works for you use it. However I try not not to be obsessed about this stuff. Heck I play pro and teach and I still use Rico reeds, a FL metal Link mpc w/a Selemer lig and it works great for me. To quote Michael Brecker when he gave a wrkshp at my Navy Band. “If it works for you, use it and don’t go nuts about it.” geez Brecker was using LaVoz med tenor reeds and a Selmer lig in 2003.