Review of Impressionist Chinrest Cover

April 30, 2008 at 02:12 AM · There is a new product out on the market that might be of interest to some violinists. It is called "The Impressionist Form-Fitting Chinrest Cover".

I spotted this in the "New Products" category of my favorite mail-order company, and bought it on a whim. It is always fun, and informative, to try new stuff out on the market.

"The Impressionist" is a black plastic (?) shape that is flat, oval shaped, and just under one centimeter thick. There are specific and clear instructions to mold it to your individual jaw line shape. You give it a couple of soaks in a mug of hot water, which softens it up. Then you put it on your chinrest, and place your violin in playing position for a few seconds, and the plastic material molds itself to your jaw shape. It needs 15 minutes to cool.

Several features I liked:

1) If you don't like how it turns out, you can re-heat it and try again.

2) It does not have to be permanently attached to the chinrest. You can fit it directly onto the chinrest. You can also do the molding process with it wrapped in plastic wrap. (If you choose to wrap it in plastic, don't use Saran-style wrap. I did, and it turned out more wrinkled than Buri's prunes. I got better, smoother results using the thick plastic bag the kit came in.)

3) You can still use cloths, or Strad pads over it when playing.

4) It cuts with scissors, so it could be used on smaller chinrests.

5) It adds height, although not much. This is good news for giraffes.

6) It feels firm, not squishy like gel pads.

7) It is cheap! Mine was less than $12.00 from that big mail order company up in Michigan.

8) Really clear directions for installation, which is always appreciated!!!

Several features I had reservations about:

1) It added some weight to the chinrest. That might bother some, it might not.

2) It added height. I liked the added height, but not everyone is a giraffe. If you prefer a really low chinrest, this might not be for you.

3) It feels weird. It feels like non-flexible silly putty. I didn't care for that feel on my chinrest, but that might be fine for some.

4) I personally prefer a flat chinrest, so I didn't feel comfortable with a chinrest that molded to my jaw. But this might be just the ticket for others. We all have our preferences.

It is always a challenge to get a proper, ergonomic set up. Even though I don't think this is a product I will use, I think it would be incredibly helpful to some.

Replies (4)

Sue Bechler

April 30, 2008 at 01:42 PM · Thanks,Anne. I had heard just a little scuttlebutt about this product coming on the market. Thanks for your thoughtful analysis! I'm guessing not for me from your report, but I know somebody who make think it's the answer to a prayer. Sue

Ken yamamoto

May 16, 2008 at 02:46 PM · I agree with Anne completely. We tested this item with our friends and some violin shops the other day. I wanted to mention a few things.

1. I think this is a fantastic tool to know your exact chin profile, for those who want to stick to wood chinrests or try different shapes on their own.

2. While this is not jello soft, it definitely is much softer than wood. And relatavely non-slip yet still smooth surface allowed pretty good grip and freedom when needed. For players who seek lots of freedom under their chin, it might not be for them. But I think this will work very well for the majority of players.

3. We saw that some violins improved, balanced out, or sweetened in sound slightly by adding the Impressionist. While this "might" help some, it "might not" help others (and it could be all in your head...just like me!), depending on the nature of violins.

Although the comfort and usability is a personal issue, $12 and what we can get for this price is a steal. So I give this a Kudo.

Paul Anastasio

May 17, 2008 at 08:23 PM · Dear violinist.com readers,

I sincerely appreciate the feedback that some of you have posted regarding my new invention, The Impressionist form-fitting chin rest insert. My co-inventor (and former college music professor of mine) Cole Biasini and I are really proud of this product. We feel that it fills a previously unmet need for chin rests that truly fit individuals. After all, we're not wearing wooden shoes any more for a reason.

Truth be told, for most people, holding a violin for hours with an ill-fitting chin rest is just as uncomfortable as walking a mile in a pair of wooden shoes would be. The chance that one of the fewer than fifty commercial chin rest designs currently available will truly fit you are slim to none. Foam and gel pads can minimize the discomfort of an ill-fitting chin rest, but they don't solve the underlying problem of incompatibility between the real shape of your jaw and the generic, approximate, shape of a commercial chin rest.

Now, for under $12, you can custom-fit the top of your existing chin rest so that it fits the exact contour of your jaw. Better yet, it's re-shapeable as many times as you care to do so, so that you can finesse the fit. For info, please feel free to write me at:

panastasio@w-link.net

or check out my website:

theimpressionist.us

All the best,

-Paul Anastasio

Paul Anastasio

May 17, 2008 at 08:23 PM · Dear violinist.com readers,

Truth be told, for most people, holding a violin for hours with an ill-fitting chin rest is just as uncomfortable as walking a mile in a pair of wooden shoes. The chance that one of the fewer than fifty commercial chin rest designs currently available will truly fit you are slim to none. Foam and gel pads can minimize the discomfort of an ill-fitting chin rest, but they don't solve the underlying problem of incompatibility between the real shape of your jaw and the generic, approximate, shape of a commercial chin rest.

panastasio@w-link.net

or check out my web site:

www.theimpressionist.us

All the best,

-Paul Anastasio

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