Duo Gravis ergonomics

[bigbandbone]

I'm trailing a Duo Gravis that I'm thinking about buying. It has the original stacked triggers. I'm finding the left hand ergonomics uncomfortable. When I depress the F trigger my thumb hits the brace before the trigger is fully depressed. Also I have to do a shift with my hand to press the D trigger.
Can anything be done to make it more comfortable? I would not want to split the triggers.

The horn really plays well. Much different than my 72H. And twice as heavy!

[2bobone]

Set the valve stringing so that the bottom paddle is well behind the bell brace and so that it is even with the bell brace when depressed. Press that paddle without bending your thumb. Then, a simple bending of your thumb at the first joint can easily activate the upper paddle without re-positioning your hand. A thin rubber pad added to the lower paddle can help immensely. I secured mine with electrical "shrink wrap" tubing. It's worked perfectly since I bought my DG/SS in the 70's.

[HawaiiTromboneGuy]

Do you have large hands? For me, I have smaller hands being Asian so all I really need to do is pivot the upper part of my thumb down to engage that second valve. I can use the lower part of my thumb to engage the first valve/trigger without interference.

[RichC]

A 'stick on' felt pad, trimmed to size on the paddle worked for me. Easy and cheap.

[bigbandbone]

A 'stick on' felt pad, trimmed to size on the paddle worked for me. Easy and cheap.

Thanks for this idea! I built the triggers up with peel and stick cork. Also, the Yamaha Strap helps, but the finger ring is in the way a little. If I end up buying this axe I'll probably switch to a Neo Tech.

[Kingfan]

Everybody is different. I had no trouble when I demo'ed a DG, but had to get a Neogrip for the 7B I bought instead.

[bigbandbone]

Here's what I've come up with. Thanks to an idea from RichC I put the self stick cork on the trigger paddles. Then I added the Yamaha Strap but was still uncomfortable so then added the Wise Grip under the Yamaha Strap.
Using this set up changed this Duo Gravis from a horn I wasn't going to buy into a horn I hope to buy.

[afugate]

Here's what I've come up with. Thanks to an idea from RichC I put the self stick cork on the trigger paddles. Then I added the Yamaha Strap but was still uncomfortable so then added the Wise Grip under the Yamaha Strap.
Using this set up changed this Duo Gravis from a horn I wasn't going to buy into a horn I hope to buy.

I use a Wise grip on my Duo Gravis. I may try a strap at some point. But, I wonder if having it so high on the hand grip will eventually torque the slide out of alignment?

--Andy in OKC

[bigbandbone]

Here's what I've come up with. Thanks to an idea from RichC I put the self stick cork on the trigger paddles. Then I added the Yamaha Strap but was still uncomfortable so then added the Wise Grip under the Yamaha Strap.
Using this set up changed this Duo Gravis from a horn I wasn't going to buy into a horn I hope to buy.

I use a Wise grip on my Duo Gravis. I may try a strap at some point. But, I wonder if having it so high on the hand grip will eventually torque the slide out of alignment?

--Andy in OKC

I thought about that too. But the finger ring is a very strong reinforcement against that type of torquing. If I buy this horn I might have a strap made with a loop large enough to fit over the finger ring and get the strap closer to the brace.