Comments

"It took me many years of pain to recognize that I am unable to use a shoulder rest."

So do you know exactly what variables would make a shoulder rest good/bad for an individual? It seems unnecessary that it takes so long for everyone (including myself) to find the right set up. Personally I need a center mounted chinrest and shoulder rest with sponges on one side to keep my spine straight and the violin supported. I know a lot of people are happy with the Guarneri but with the cup so far to the left I can't understand how the neck could be in a natural position (assuming your head isn't growing out of your shoulder)?

Greetings,
Daniel, the basic problem is use of the whole body not juts fiddlign arund with one specific area. That can cause relief in the short term until thing start to tighten up again. The oft quoted golden rul is taht the rest adpats to you and not vice versa. Unfortunatley if =you- are not in an optimal playing state this is not as eays as it sounds,
Cheers,
Buri Wonderful high chinrests are also made by SAS (https://www.viva-sas.com/chin_about.htm). I can hold my violin comfortably on my collarbone, the head not moving from its natural position.

You're right Buri: normal chinrests are way too low for people with average length necks.

How would that chinrest work with a shoulder rest? I have used a Berber chinrest and liked it a lot. However, keep in mind this rest is considered a 1/2 & 1/2. That means that it works both over the tailpiece and almost like Kaufman style rests off to the side. It works best somewhere inbetween. If this is the perfect angle for you, then this tall rest is a true ergonomic blessing. I really like the comford shoulder rest with this chinrest, but you are locked in place with both.

Good luck! Congrats, Buri!

Buri,
Thanks for the great review. I have tried playing without my shoulder rest and found it very difficult. I just placed my order with Shar for the Berber, so we'll see if it helps with my playing sans the shoulder rest. I know that many, many teachers say you shouldn't play with a shoulder rest, so hopefully this will work for me as well.

Dave

I've been using one of these for three years and love it too. I'm glad to see that other people are using it. :) Have you tried a sostenuto pad? Greetings,
Maeve, I tried the sostenuto. I think it is a very good pad. It is quite rigid and slim so it doesn`t damp the sound like a Gewa or Playionair. It is also placed very sensibly to act as a fulcrum between head and left hand. I reocmmend it to quite a few of my studnets. I can@T us eit myself. No matter how hard i try I suimply cannot have anything between violin and shoulder. No idea why...
Dave, hope the rest works out for you. One thing I try to keep in mind. I don`t like shoulder rests but I don`t think the `shouldn`t use` argument is a good one. Clearly they do work for a lot of people.;)
Cheers,
Buri