Full Size Vs 7/8 violin with 'normal sized' body and hands

July 1, 2013 at 01:32 PM · It's easy - use a shoulder rest again on your 7/8! ;-) For serious, many fine players used a shoulder rest, and seems no problem whatsoever. Try to use a shoulder rest but you can still play the same way without a shoulder rest e.g. using your left hand to hold the violin a little more.

July 1, 2013 at 04:13 PM · Casey, am I supposed to take your answer seriously?

also: my question was not about a shoulder rest so please....

July 1, 2013 at 10:21 PM · I think I agree with Casey. (I don't use a shoulder rest, but if that's what works...) Your 7/8 apparently has a severely non-standard neck, both in width and thickness, unless your 4/4 is a club. Fixing the 7/8 would be possible but pretty expensive. The 3/4's I make have 4/4 standard width and thickness of the necks. Regular 3/4's are only a little smaller. A 7/8 should be virtually the same as a 4/4 in that regard.

July 1, 2013 at 10:58 PM · a shame that adding material to a neck is not as straightforward as shaving it off. My serendipitous 7/8 with the brick s**t house neck has its surgery next week, you could have made a paste withe the trimmings and built up your neck for free. I would have paid the postage.

alternatively, you know what you need to do here. either get a wider neck on your 7/8 and a different sound, or get a 4/4 from same or different maker, and risk a different sound.

July 2, 2013 at 10:06 AM · Jo,

Well, it doesn't harm to get the shoulder rest out of your drawer and give it a go right? Zero cost (if you haven't throw away your old one), quick, easy, and reversible. You didn't elaborate why you think you should stick with no shoulder rest so to me it sounded as if it hurt your pride or something?

On the other hand, if you do think the problem is with the neck, then you can either replace the neck which will cost quite a bit; or like you said, trade it for a full size violin. Either way will cost you some money.

Again I would love to hear your reason on ditching the shoulder rest, it kinda contradict with your philosophy on choosing the 7/8 in the first place - you think it's lazy to play with shoulder rest but you can be more lazy on double stops with 7/8 (because it's easier despite you being able to do on full size violin). Actually if you have normal sized hands, playing high notes near the edge of fingerboard can be challenging even on full size violin, so I can only imagine it'll be even more difficult on a 7/8, regardless if you replace the current neck with wider and thicker neck.

Lastly, I apologize if there's anything I misunderstood and made some ignorant comments...

July 2, 2013 at 10:29 AM · Casey, I think you read my post wrong....I did not say I was lazy because I used a shoulder rest, nor was I implying that shoulder rest users are lazy, I would NEVER EVER DARE as to me it truly does not make any difference what people choose to hold their violin up so long that they are happy/pain free/have good technique, I said I was a 'lazy' shoulder rest user who never used my left hand to hold the violin, 'never ever' I said. In fact, taken my original post: I was a 'lazy' shoulder rest user in the past, one who ALWAYS supported the violin up with my chin and shoulder rest and my left hand NEVER EVER took the weight of the violin!

and yes, to me if you never hold the violin with the left hand not even for half a second then you are very likely to head down the road of trouble (ie injury for one)

I threw away my shoulder rest because of injury, an injury which took many visits to the myofascial release therapist, alexander technique lessons and learning to hold the violin with my left hand to get rid of.

It was my alexander technique teacher who recommended not to use a shoulder rest, an assessment she has made after analyzing me, my body type, my person, it is not 'blanket advice' she gives.

I have worked hard to get rid of injury and be a healthy violin player so I am not going backwards.

Besides, I have tried to see what it feels like to have a shoulder rest now, I also tried sponges and cloths and nothing feels as comfortable has having nothing between me and my violin now.

and I did not elaborate on why I went 'restless' as I did not want this post to be a shoulder rest post!

I was wondering if anyone else has had the same experience that if they use the not right sized instrument for them it causes them any problems, I think the thinner neck causes me problems, but wondered whether it is something I should just ignore get used to it and it will get better or whether it is a problem in its own right.

July 2, 2013 at 11:02 AM · Jo,

Thanks for the elaborations and explanations, at least now everybody who read your post will have a better idea on your situation. Mentioning your situation won't turn into shoulder rest thread but it'll certainly help people to identify your problem and give better advices. You must understand not everyone are following every thread. ;-)

Other than that, I believe you've got plenty of advices on what to do with your current violin, and doesn't seem like a difficult decision to make. If you like the sound of your current 7/8, by all means go ahead and replace the neck so you'll become a better player. If you think you're comfortable with 4/4 too, then hunt for another one. There're plenty of people looking for a nice 7/8 out there so you probably won't have big problem selling it.

Otherwise, you'll have to consult a teacher (if you don't already have one) for help on improving your techniques, just in case you indeed have posture or technique problem that you're not readily aware of (again, you didn't mention whether you're confident that your posture and techniques are secure to begin with, nor we have any video to demonstrate how you play, so we can only guess).

July 6, 2013 at 05:23 PM · Jo, a really good luthier could have a very simple and counter-intuitive solution to your problem, you should go see one if you can. Try to find someone who spent a lot of time working with professional players.

Otherwise, I think you should go try some instruments. Don't tell yourself you're abandoning your lovely friend. Just try some instruments. If you fall for one it will suddenly seem much easier to make a decision. ;-)

July 6, 2013 at 06:15 PM · Hi Andres, I decided to do exactly what you said, go and try some instruments, I've tried 8 so far and none of them made me want to buy them :D

So I will keep my current 7/8 until I find one I like more I guess but keep trying them until I do....

I was thinking of actually buying a cheap full size violin to use and then I don't have to sell my beloved 7/8, then I can play on a full size (even if it's not a violin I am in love with) until I find something I really like. Some people are discouraging me from that as they think it will stop me from progressing further having reached a certain level, however if it's a full size cheap but well set up I don't see how it would stop me from improving?

July 6, 2013 at 06:39 PM · It depends on what you're trying to improve. An instrument can open or close doors in terms of what it will let you do. Some people get a lot out of doing technical practice on a mute violin, but such an instrument doesn't allow exploration of the things which make the violin so wonderful.

Buying an inexpensive instrument when you have two on hand seems potentially to reduce your ability to get your equipment issues resolved once and for all?

July 7, 2013 at 09:59 PM · Hello to all of you violinists who play a 7/8 violin. My two violins are both 7/8 except that one of them has a string length only 1/8th inch shorter than a full sized violin.

The other has a string length 1/4 inch shorter than a full sized violin. So you see the sizes may vary by quite a bit. The 1/4 inch shorter violin has a clearness and preciseness that makes me play with great care. The slightly larger 7/8 violin has a fuzzy but very romantic and robust tone.

I am going to keep the slightly smaller 7/8 violin because of its preciseness and try to sell the other larger 7/8 violin (which is very easy to play). I am doing this because the transition from one to the other is so great.