Stradpet: what the heck is it?
Hello,
Maybe it's just me but suddenly the fiddle market seems overflowing with accessories in the neck region. Pirastro hasn't come one with a new set, and rosins seem to have reached its maximum research. What I'm curious about is the product called "stradpet".
The website details how long hours of practice and corrosion of instruments have plagued violin/viola players, and that this is the solution. My questions are, hence, as thus:
Did anyone get cysts/dermatitis/all the yucky diseases from "practising too much"? Because I've never seen anyone with neck inflammation. I've had what looks like a bruise under my chin for years, but I never had any discomfort (my teacher called it "player's hickey").
The medical field says:
Researchers believe it is brought about by an increase of pressure and/or friction on the player's neck, sometimes due to a poor grip on the instrument, a badly-fitting chin rest, or the wrong size or weight of the instrument. Sweating and poor hygiene only make the situation worse.
So is this "leather chin-rest case" something valid and should be invested on? Or is it just something that a mishandling of something - yourself, the instrument, or both - is causing, and can be fixed without leather gadget?
Replies (14)
As I understand it, many people do struggle with sores or infections while playing the violin. The Stradpet looks like it might be useful but I for sure I wouldn't pay $200 dollars for it.
I used to have the violin "hickey" for years and thought it was normal. But with the help of one of my teachers, I reworked the setup on my violin, and learned to balance it properly while playing and my hickey went away and I've never seen it since. Some people do have valid issues with allergies to metal or an odd body/neck shape who might be willing to buy this thing. But I would say try the less expensive options first because you might find your solution there.
"Stradpet: what the heck is it?"
I thought that was a situation where some rich collector lends a musician a Strad to play, hoping for a little tail-wagging. LOL
No experience here with STRADPET, although I regularly use a chin rest cushion with a very similar name -- Strad Pad. It's typically about $17 or $18 USD. It doesn't cover as large an area as the STRADPET does, but it provides crucial coverage of chin rest surface and metal brackets.
Besides the added comfort, the Strad Pad boosts my traction -- no clamping or slippage. I have no pain or skin discoloration -- even though I typically practice and play a few hours each day. The Strad Pads I have use Velcro pads to adhere to the chin rest and prevent slippage. Very easy to detach and clean periodically.
well, FWIW, the unusual name caught my eye. Like David, I thought it was something else - a virus! What Bev says is true: a hickey is most often created by bad posture and hold, together with the wrong chin rest. By using a Flesch centre CR and no shoulder rest, the hickey I had is gone for good. A chamois is great against sweat. my 2cents.
my kid's situation was similar to jim's. when she had a side mounted chin rest, for some reason it caused skin inflammation and stradpad helped. but i find it harder to clean than a hard surfaced chin rest because it has tiny pores like a sponge. now she uses a center mounted chin rest--thanks to playing around with shoulder rest or not--without addn covering and for some reason the skin is ok. it is troubling for me to see skin chronically inflammed. not a great idea if you understand that it can be a precursor to oncogenesis.
i think the stradpet has some level of mimicry on stradpad, in design and in name.
David: I actually laughed out loud. That is a very likely situation!
I suppose people have different biochem, but still, I think a bruise that bad that it's infected just screams bad posture, a very badly fitted chinrest, e.t.c. You'd think the clavicle would take more beating than under the chin, since with or without shoulder-rest it still rests on it. Considering that long time ago there were no chin rests, having a chin rest must be for "wusses" compared to what the non-chinrest generation played.
good point john. there is no doubt in my mind that the chin rest can be a very nasty place, like a cheese factory. therefore, i cannot imagine players consider rubbing inflamed skin onto the area thinking it is a badge of honor.
A Stradpet is something a rich investor buys for their Strad; otherwise known as a musician. The purpose of the Stradpet is to keep the Strad exercised and well groomed.
They want 200 bucks for this? Crazy!
With some players, the irritation is caused by an allergy or reaction to nickel or chrome plating on the chinrest clamp.
A gold plated clamp will sometimes take care of it, at least until the thin gold plating wears through. A titanium clamp seems to be a permanent solution.
If switching to a chinrest which has the clamp at the center (where you touch it less) helps the problem, this sensitivity to the metal might be suspect.
More info on nickel allergies at this link:
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/nickel-jewelry-allergy
I have play my violin that is not a strad either a Guarneri,Tononi or any of those rich andfamous violinist or concertmater. Just is a piece that some pearson did'nt have nothing to do and invented what i call (The violin cow bow strap chinrest). For heaven sake Rosin has gone over limited strings too shoulder rest(Old invention, that orks,I used Bonmusica) and a lots of others thins that during the golden era of violinist(IHAVE A POSTED ON BLOGS PARTS AND ARTICULEE ON THE GOLDEN RA OF THE VIOIN) the violinist like elman(Smallest guy 0 heifetz and so even Heifetz didnt used. Just a rosin a godd well master bow well right hand trained and a good student and teacher wit a good instrument makes it all. rebenber rosin owanviolin does'nt make you profesional. Its all about DUMIES MAKING DUMIMIES FOR MONEY).
Recently I used a violin with a gold-pinned endbutton and often suffered from a slight rash on my neck due to the quicker corrosion of the gold due to the exposure to sweat. Yet, I see no legitimate purpose to use this gimmick.
"...the Black Death..."
"...like a cheese factory..."
You guys just ruined my life, but probably have luthier phones ringing for musicians who want new, unused, unspoiled instruments.
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October 24, 2011 at 07:59 PM ·
from what I can see it's just another way to minimize the amount of contact between the skin and the instrument. The contact can be harmful to either the instrument or the player and it doesn't necessarily involve any kind of 'mishandling' .
I've seen quite a few cases of greatly pronounced & even infected 'violin hickeys'.
On the other side of the coin, I remember seeing a quote in an article on old Italian instruments where a luthier said he dreaded the idea of some of the more precious instruments getting into the hands of a certain top-name player because he sweated so much on the instrument & refused to use anything to protect it.
I don't especially see the need for a specialized gadget, but if it gets the job done.... on the other hand given what humans are doing to the planet, more & more people are developing sensitivities, it wouldn't surprise me if there's an increasingly good market for it.