Reviewing the Calderpips Grip

For something a little different, for this blog post I've written my first product review. Whilst my blog isn't designed to promote specific things, it is absolutely designed to put into words things that are on my mind. Despite having owned it for well over two years, my Calderpips Grip has been on my mind a lot recently and so I decided to write about it. 

I don't use too many accessories when playing beyond my instrument, the bands' battered old Wick mutes, and my magnetic pencil. The first two items have been reviewed countless times before and, although my pencil is very handy, I'm not sure anyone wants to read about it beyond "yeah, it's good, it sticks to my stand, allows me to doodle on my music in my bars rest and can also be used  to help with tricky page turns".

My blue and yellow Calderpips Grip is then really the only 'accessory' I actually use. I’m a friend of Jonathan's on social media and had seen his work on these for a while before I ever tried one. I'd started seeing them pop up at concerts and contests but, as a born cynic, I was minded to think “I’m sure I’m fine without it”.

But then I moved bands, gave back the instrument I was using and bought my own Edwards bass trombone. The Edwards is a gorgeous instrument, but it’s not exactly light and more importantly, in my experience, not particularly well balanced either and gradually I started noticing aches in my left hand and wrist. Nothing serious, but enough to be annoying and particularly noticeable after a long rehearsal. Displaying another personal trait, I simply ignored the pain and hoped it would sort itself out. (Spoiler: It didn’t).

I'd been thinking for some time about buying the grip and, after the Principal Trombone bought one for a similar reason, I decided to take the plunge.

The difference was immediate.

The grip completely changes how the instrument sits in the hand. I'm not gripping in the same way, compensating for the weight or constantly adjusting things to lessen the pain. It just feels more stable and more secure straight away and also completely shifts and rebalances the weight of the instrument which has made a big difference to my hand and wrist. If you want to, you don't need to grip with the left hand at all, rather letting the grip just sit on your hand and do all the work. This rebalancing also helped relieved pain and tension in my back which I hadn't actually noticed I was suffering from until it stopped.

The grip is solid, comfortable, small and practical and doesn't impede my playing in any way. It's simple and wonderfully effective. You can also chose which colour you want as well which is a nice bonus. 

For any trombone players out there experiencing similar issues, I would thoroughly recommend the Calderpips Grip.