Ralphie:" If it ain't broke why fix it"

RE: Oh dear! That - or similar - probably has been the most common argument against progress since birth of Mankind.Another word for it is conservatism - it may seem to be a sensible attitude in many ways - out of 1000 novelties maybe one or two becomes a durable success, but without trying them out nothing would ever improve...

R:"Thumb straps on a Duet. Madness!"

RE:Like I said - have you tried it Ralphie? If not - what do you know?

R:"Keeping the straps slack (ish) means that both hands are free to reach both the upper and lower notes on both sides".

RE:True - unless you use say a 39 key or so MacCann - which is a fairly useless size of a Duet - you simply have to slide a little to reach the distant buttons. This inevitably means loosing stability and thus control of bellowsing and ability for articulation.Adding a thumbstrap like I have practised means that the thumd contributes by offering a)extra stability b)a stable pivot point for moving the rest of the hand around like I said to Howard above. I am not the first/only 'madman' who has practised it. William Hurlstone b. 1874- a performer presented in PICA volume 5 - used a similar handle with thumbstrap on Crane-like instruments.

R:" The size and shape of the block is immaterial. (as long as it has smooth edges!)"

RE:That is like saying that the length or width of the shaft on an axe or a hammer is "immaterial". Again - if you haven't tried it out you can't say - can you?

R:"These attributes of my Duet have served me well for nearly 40 years.Re-inventing the wheel isn't necessary".

RE: What you are saying is only that YOU don't want to change. I don't blame you and never expected you would. "Old dogs" don't ( I am one myself don't forget...) but "re-inventing the wheel" is hardly a proper argument is it when you are talking about some novelty??

R:"Would you do the same with a saxophone? Just move all the keys around willy nilly No, Of course you wouldn't. The beauty of all instruments is the learning curve needed to achieve an acceptable level of playing".

RE:If it took you 30 years of strainful learning to get 10 years of happy playing while a better designed instrument might be learnt to the same standard in 5years and offering 35 years of proficiency what would you choose? Greater "beauty" or more musical joy?

R:"No pain, No gain".

RE: If i get you right that is true. The period needed for changing habits is a strenous one too.Personally I would say that I lost about 15 years in stupid struggle with imperfect trad handles and learnt more in 1-2 years (after a 6 months turnover time) with modified instruments than during all those 15 years before...

R:"So, Guran. It's an interesting idea. But, I won't be changing anyday soon sorry!"

RE: Like I said before - you are too old to be expected to change, but you ought to be too wise from that ageing to know that a) times change by themsleves b) some novelties make life significantly easier and more comfortable and there are lots of these that you regularly enjoy in your everyday life.Your computer is one obvious example...