My Chin Rest

March 16, 2013 at 09:44 PM · I use a Carl Flesch centered over the tailpiece also although it doesn't have the hump. I don't play anywhere near the number of hours that you do so I wasn't having any sores develop, but the standard offset chinrest was just uncomfortable. I always found myself climbing up over the chinrest anyway which puts downward pressure on something that shouldn't have any pressure. Also, the offset puts the strings at a different angle forcing the bow hand to have to reach out further. I love the centered chinrest so much I'll never go back to the offset.

The first Carl Flesch I used was a fairly large piece of lumber which the luthier said was just adding a lot of extra weight to the instrument. I downsized to a smaller piece of wood without changing the actual setup for me. Less weight makes it a lighter instrument overall and, I would guess, makes it vibrate a bit more freely.

Great video. Nice to see a professional violinist who uses something besides the "usual" that beginners are often forced to use.

March 17, 2013 at 04:58 PM · Heather can you tell me about the thin necklace you wear ? Does that ever get trapped between the collarbone skin and the hard edge of the chinrest bracket ? Many ladies wear necklaces but many people also profess a horror of things around their necks. I like the way the chinrest bump forms a good ---mechanical wedge-- under the jaw. The essence of that is to stop unwanted horizontal leftwards movement (shifting down direction) rather than to merely feel comfortable. The left raised part is useful to stop unwanted forward movement (dropping direction,as children would say). On your chinrest there is very little raise on the left. You can sometimes see players with centre mounted offset cups but they are playing with the jaw on top of the centre bump. Issac Stern did that a few times. I was trying to remember his name. Also once or twice Menuhin,on top of the bump .

So a rest can have a double wedge action.One working left and one working forwards.

March 17, 2013 at 05:30 PM · Hi John

I use to never wear jewelry at all because it would vibrate or buzz with the violin. I have never had the experience of the jewelry getting caught. I have had my hair get caught many times in my shoulder rest years ago but that has not happened for a long time.

I wanted to wear necklaces so I use to wear only leather or velvet. The specific chain I wear in the video is very fine and I have never had any problems with it vibrating against the violin or getting stuck:)

Heather

March 18, 2013 at 01:08 AM · Have you ever tried to follow Milstein and get a rest that touches the side of your face just under the ear. You are more than half way there .

March 18, 2013 at 04:30 PM · Would have been good to actually show us how it fits you by putting it there and playing a few notes, just my opinion.

March 18, 2013 at 06:42 PM · John

Thanks so much for your insight. I am very happy with my chin rest and have no desire to look further and Paul please watch the following video:)

Best

Heather