Does anyone know where I could obtain one of those fiddle shoulder rests that consist of a quadrant of foam covered in velvety sort of material and which attaches to the instrument via two little plastic covered hooks and two sturdy elastic bands? The foam quadrant is backed with hardboard type stuff. I've lost mine and do miss it so!
Or even better, don't use a shoulder rest at all. That invention of the devil was virtually unknown before WW2, and fiddlers of all sorts, sizes and shapes got on perfectly well without it for hundreds of years. The most some would do would be to have a small cloth pad between the back of the fiddle and the collar bone if their personal anatomy demanded it.
The shoulder rest really is unnecessary, as many players at all levels from all kinds of music genres are now discovering for themselves. Ditch it, and it's one less thing to rattle, buzz or fall off at inopportune moments. Ditch it, and you'll find you've got a lot more freedom in how you hold the instrument.
Anyway, "shouder rest" is a misnomer - the fiddle should rest on the collar bone and never on the shoulder.
Try looking on Ebay I'm sure I've seen someone selling shoulder rests of the type you're looking for there, I think they were Fom brand. Some people can play without a shoulder rest but it all depends on your individual body shape, I get cricks in the shoulder and neck when I play without one myself!
I've played both with and without shoulder rests, and really like mine...I have long hair that slips the fiddle around...and when I tie my hair back I find myself with a death grip on the fiddle and eventually a hand cramp....not to mention a sore collarbone and often the slipping problem with my shirt rather than my hair...I think it's all a matter of personal opinion.
But the shoulder rest you're describing...I say get a Kun...or that other kind that I can't remember the name of...or one of those wooden ones that looks really uncomfortable that's really awesome...the velvety kind always makes me feel like the legs'll snap off if I hold it too hard...
It's true that shoulder rests aren't really necessary, but then neither are many things that make our lives easier, like chinrests, armchairs, and seat-belts in cars.
At the end, shoulder rests help hold the fiddle more comfortably, which is good. If it helps to prevent repetitive strain injuries from holding the fiddle wrong (eg: clutching it too tightly, due to discomfort), then I'm all for it.
I occasionally try to fiddle without a shoulder - I mean collarbone - rest, but so far I haven't worked it out. I have a smallish chin and low shoulders, so the gap from chin to collarbone is significant and either I jack up my shoulder and lean my head over - a very tense posture - or I just rest the fiddle on my colllarbone without any chin contact and let it wobble there. Neither way works for me.
So, Trevor, how does it work? I must be missing something.
It's not very popular and it very cheap ($12US list price) but it has an excellent curve and very thick, soft foam, unlike its precursor, the Kun. Most knock-offs of Kun, and Kuns as well, do not have as distinct a curve as this design. The pad wears down pretty easily, but it's a cheap rest and I think it may be possible to flip the foam around once one side gets worn down enough. My only beef with them is that I dislike the feet on them, since they tend to slide off the fiddle, so I just use my old Kun feet on them. Incidentally, the best feet I've seen so far are from the brand new Kuns. The only thing is that I haven't seen yet is the wear on the rubber as they get older and because of the way the rubber goes on this particular style of feet, replacing it with the usual rubber tubing likely won't perform as well as the original.
I've got a "JohnSon" rest. Looks like a Kun only with more dramatic curved lines. Nobody seems to have heard of JohnSons. It is very comfortable and doesn't look as though it will wear out in a hurry. But yep I also have one like dubblestop described, green velvet, two feet and two elastic bands. I never use it! Came with the silent electric which stays shut up in the cupboard. I'm sure they must be easily obtainable.
The chin rest is part of the equation, and becomes more important without a "shoulder rest." I really like the Wittner lightweight chin rest. It has plastic clamps which come with their own screwdriver rather than the traditional metal screws.
It's very comfortable, and is slightly higher than others which eases the transition away from the shoulder rest.
I find most chinrests a bit high, probably because my neck's shrunk with impending old age. On the fiddle I use most I've got a really old, thin ebony chinrest and it's the only one I find comfortable with a Kun. On another fiddle I've got a Flesch central chinrest and that works really well with no shoulder rest. I think I noticed that Katherine Tickell uses one of these.
I use one all the time myself. They're probably not necessary for normal day-to-day fiddling, but if you want to do any serious position playing, you really kinda need one.
I like the Wolf Secondo, personally, but I've heard good things about Kun too.
As for the velvet pad, my significant other made me one for my viola using a sponge, a sheet of velvet, a needle & thread, and a sturdy elastic band. Did the trick fine till I got a viola-sized Wolf.
I use the Violin Shoulder Cradle by Comfort L.L.C. It never falls off and it's very comfortable. It doesn't fold or get smaller, but I love it. I bought it on accident, it came with the fiddle I was renting at the time, but I will buy another one when it's time.
I am the proud engineer for the EVEREST Shoulder Rest. I am very pleased to see there are many good comments regarding the comfort of my shoulder rest design.
I am currently working full-time as a principle electrical engineer in the fiber-optic telecommunication industry. With my background as both a biomedical engineer and an electrical engineer, I have put my best effort in designing this EVEREST Shoulder Rest. My family is involved in the string instrument industry, therefore I consistently heard complains from string teachers and players regarding the short comings and the high price of many popular shoulder rests.
My goal was to design a simple shoulder rest for both the beginner students and professional players. The shoulder rest must be strong and sturdy to withstand the daily use while providing the best comfort and playing posture. I should remind people that the EVEREST Shoulder Rest is not a cheap shoulder rest like the Chinese or Korean copies. It was a well thought out and elegant design from the USA (Patent Pending). I had priced this shoulder rest with just enough margin to cover our costs of producing and maintaining the product line.
I admit when this EVEREST Shoulder Rest just came out earlier this year, the material inside the gripper feet was incorrectly chosen, therefore sometimes the feet screw will become separated from the gripper when too much torque is applied when screwing. If you have this type of problem with your existing EVEREST Shoulder Rest gripper feet, please send it back to me for FREE replacement. I have since made improvements to the gripper feet, the new feet now grips to the instrument better and does not break. I am still working on a even better feet design, I hope it will come out around 2nd quarter of next year.
By the way, I have pre-cut, self adhesive replacement foam pads designed for this EVEREST Shoulder Rest. You can ask your retail dealers for replacement pads or visit my online eBay store at:
I may not come back to this forum often, but any questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave messages in my eBay store. I would really like to know how my baby EVEREST Shoulder Rest is doing in the real world!!
There used to be periodic discussions at violinist.com on the merits of using or not using a shoulder rest (at one point, escalating to the bitterness of Session vs. Performance debate here). The eventual consensus was it all depends on body type, length of neck, and personal preference.
I started with a Kun, which seemed to immobilize my shoulder too much. Then I played with a small foam Poehland rest (dubblestop, is this what you're looking for?) that attaches with a rubber band to one of the C-bouts and a leather hook over the end button.
I really like this pad as it freed up my left shoulder. Then about 6-8 months ago I started playing with no shoulder rest at all. I'm still not 100% satisfied with my setup, but I think all players should experiment and try different rests/no rest at all.
(BTW, I disagree that a shoulder rest is necessary for serious position playing. Many famous violinists (Heifetz, Perlman) wouldn't let their students near them. I've played in 3rd/6th position without, and the shifting technique involves a different movement of the thumb, but is not uncomfortable.)
For anyone with neck/upper spine problems, try a loop of string around your neck and hooked over the lower bout of the violin. This is very comfortable and coming back from a higher position is easy. The violin body angle can be changed as it suits you.
Fiddle shoulder rests
Fiddle shoulder rests
Does anyone know where I could obtain one of those fiddle shoulder rests that consist of a quadrant of foam covered in velvety sort of material and which attaches to the instrument via two little plastic covered hooks and two sturdy elastic bands? The foam quadrant is backed with hardboard type stuff. I've lost mine and do miss it so!
# Posted on October 1st 2006 by dubblestop
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
It sounds like a most unwholesome object to me. Perhaps you need to just let it go and try to take up a normal life with a Kun.
# Posted on October 1st 2006 by Ger the Rigger
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
Google: violin "shoulder rest"
# Posted on October 1st 2006 by Bob himself
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
Or even better, don't use a shoulder rest at all. That invention of the devil was virtually unknown before WW2, and fiddlers of all sorts, sizes and shapes got on perfectly well without it for hundreds of years. The most some would do would be to have a small cloth pad between the back of the fiddle and the collar bone if their personal anatomy demanded it.
The shoulder rest really is unnecessary, as many players at all levels from all kinds of music genres are now discovering for themselves. Ditch it, and it's one less thing to rattle, buzz or fall off at inopportune moments. Ditch it, and you'll find you've got a lot more freedom in how you hold the instrument.
Anyway, "shouder rest" is a misnomer - the fiddle should rest on the collar bone and never on the shoulder.
# Posted on October 1st 2006 by lazyhound
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
Lack of a shoulder rest can improve bowing too, puts the right wrist in a more flexible position.
This could be a great opportunity!
# Posted on October 1st 2006 by TomB-R
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
i think there's been a thread on this before but i would def trying playing without one just to if it's really necessary.
it's worth a go.
that said,everyone is different so you may end up with a rest after all
# Posted on October 1st 2006 by biggus dave
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
Try looking on Ebay I'm sure I've seen someone selling shoulder rests of the type you're looking for there, I think they were Fom brand. Some people can play without a shoulder rest but it all depends on your individual body shape, I get cricks in the shoulder and neck when I play without one myself!
# Posted on October 1st 2006 by cathycook
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
I've played both with and without shoulder rests, and really like mine...I have long hair that slips the fiddle around...and when I tie my hair back I find myself with a death grip on the fiddle and eventually a hand cramp....not to mention a sore collarbone and often the slipping problem with my shirt rather than my hair...I think it's all a matter of personal opinion.
But the shoulder rest you're describing...I say get a Kun...or that other kind that I can't remember the name of...or one of those wooden ones that looks really uncomfortable that's really awesome...the velvety kind always makes me feel like the legs'll snap off if I hold it too hard...
# Posted on October 2nd 2006 by possumawesome
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
I second (third?) the recommendation for the Kun.
It's true that shoulder rests aren't really necessary, but then neither are many things that make our lives easier, like chinrests, armchairs, and seat-belts in cars.
At the end, shoulder rests help hold the fiddle more comfortably, which is good. If it helps to prevent repetitive strain injuries from holding the fiddle wrong (eg: clutching it too tightly, due to discomfort), then I'm all for it.
check out: http://www.swstrings.com/Store/Shopping.jsp?Category=Accessories&SubCategory=Violin&Section=Shoulder+Rests
# Posted on October 2nd 2006 by Georgi
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
I occasionally try to fiddle without a shoulder - I mean collarbone - rest, but so far I haven't worked it out. I have a smallish chin and low shoulders, so the gap from chin to collarbone is significant and either I jack up my shoulder and lean my head over - a very tense posture - or I just rest the fiddle on my colllarbone without any chin contact and let it wobble there. Neither way works for me.
So, Trevor, how does it work? I must be missing something.
# Posted on October 2nd 2006 by Bob himself
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
For those of you who *do* use a shoulder rest....
I had used a Kun for years until this baby came out.
http://www.olivermusic.com/everest.php
It's not very popular and it very cheap ($12US list price) but it has an excellent curve and very thick, soft foam, unlike its precursor, the Kun. Most knock-offs of Kun, and Kuns as well, do not have as distinct a curve as this design. The pad wears down pretty easily, but it's a cheap rest and I think it may be possible to flip the foam around once one side gets worn down enough. My only beef with them is that I dislike the feet on them, since they tend to slide off the fiddle, so I just use my old Kun feet on them. Incidentally, the best feet I've seen so far are from the brand new Kuns. The only thing is that I haven't seen yet is the wear on the rubber as they get older and because of the way the rubber goes on this particular style of feet, replacing it with the usual rubber tubing likely won't perform as well as the original.
# Posted on October 2nd 2006 by fhidileoir
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
I've got a "JohnSon" rest. Looks like a Kun only with more dramatic curved lines. Nobody seems to have heard of JohnSons. It is very comfortable and doesn't look as though it will wear out in a hurry. But yep I also have one like dubblestop described, green velvet, two feet and two elastic bands. I never use it! Came with the silent electric which stays shut up in the cupboard. I'm sure they must be easily obtainable.
# Posted on October 2nd 2006 by Clear Drops
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
The chin rest is part of the equation, and becomes more important without a "shoulder rest." I really like the Wittner lightweight chin rest. It has plastic clamps which come with their own screwdriver rather than the traditional metal screws.
It's very comfortable, and is slightly higher than others which eases the transition away from the shoulder rest.
# Posted on October 2nd 2006 by TomB-R
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
Kun
# Posted on October 2nd 2006 by domnull
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
I find most chinrests a bit high, probably because my neck's shrunk with impending old age. On the fiddle I use most I've got a really old, thin ebony chinrest and it's the only one I find comfortable with a Kun. On another fiddle I've got a Flesch central chinrest and that works really well with no shoulder rest. I think I noticed that Katherine Tickell uses one of these.
# Posted on October 2nd 2006 by RichardB
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
I use one all the time myself. They're probably not necessary for normal day-to-day fiddling, but if you want to do any serious position playing, you really kinda need one.
I like the Wolf Secondo, personally, but I've heard good things about Kun too.
As for the velvet pad, my significant other made me one for my viola using a sponge, a sheet of velvet, a needle & thread, and a sturdy elastic band. Did the trick fine till I got a viola-sized Wolf.
# Posted on October 2nd 2006 by tradshark
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
When I use a shoulder rest I use a cheap-o Resonans ... it's light metal with a bit of padding and I can bend it to fit quite easily.
# Posted on October 2nd 2006 by KeepFiddlin'
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
Every girl needs their kun
# Posted on October 2nd 2006 by Fiddlebabe
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
I have had a Kun, but switched over to a Wolf Secondo....I love it! It has a very nice curve for your shoulder. I highly recommend it.
Good Luck!
# Posted on October 2nd 2006 by dfbird
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
The Kun falls off-- a lot.
I use the Violin Shoulder Cradle by Comfort L.L.C. It never falls off and it's very comfortable. It doesn't fold or get smaller, but I love it. I bought it on accident, it came with the fiddle I was renting at the time, but I will buy another one when it's time.
# Posted on October 8th 2006 by Meri-pixie
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
I am the proud engineer for the EVEREST Shoulder Rest. I am very pleased to see there are many good comments regarding the comfort of my shoulder rest design.
I am currently working full-time as a principle electrical engineer in the fiber-optic telecommunication industry. With my background as both a biomedical engineer and an electrical engineer, I have put my best effort in designing this EVEREST Shoulder Rest. My family is involved in the string instrument industry, therefore I consistently heard complains from string teachers and players regarding the short comings and the high price of many popular shoulder rests.
My goal was to design a simple shoulder rest for both the beginner students and professional players. The shoulder rest must be strong and sturdy to withstand the daily use while providing the best comfort and playing posture. I should remind people that the EVEREST Shoulder Rest is not a cheap shoulder rest like the Chinese or Korean copies. It was a well thought out and elegant design from the USA (Patent Pending). I had priced this shoulder rest with just enough margin to cover our costs of producing and maintaining the product line.
I admit when this EVEREST Shoulder Rest just came out earlier this year, the material inside the gripper feet was incorrectly chosen, therefore sometimes the feet screw will become separated from the gripper when too much torque is applied when screwing. If you have this type of problem with your existing EVEREST Shoulder Rest gripper feet, please send it back to me for FREE replacement. I have since made improvements to the gripper feet, the new feet now grips to the instrument better and does not break. I am still working on a even better feet design, I hope it will come out around 2nd quarter of next year.
By the way, I have pre-cut, self adhesive replacement foam pads designed for this EVEREST Shoulder Rest. You can ask your retail dealers for replacement pads or visit my online eBay store at:
http://stores.ebay.com/DC-Enterprise-Strings-Department
I may not come back to this forum often, but any questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave messages in my eBay store. I would really like to know how my baby EVEREST Shoulder Rest is doing in the real world!!
---David
# Posted on December 20th 2006 by everest_shoulder_rest
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
I like an engineer with principles.
# Posted on December 20th 2006 by Bob himself
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
There used to be periodic discussions at violinist.com on the merits of using or not using a shoulder rest (at one point, escalating to the bitterness of Session vs. Performance debate here). The eventual consensus was it all depends on body type, length of neck, and personal preference.
I started with a Kun, which seemed to immobilize my shoulder too much. Then I played with a small foam Poehland rest (dubblestop, is this what you're looking for?) that attaches with a rubber band to one of the C-bouts and a leather hook over the end button.
http://www.amazon.com/Poehland-Shoulder-Pad-Violin-4-3/dp/B0002FOLP8/
I really like this pad as it freed up my left shoulder. Then about 6-8 months ago I started playing with no shoulder rest at all. I'm still not 100% satisfied with my setup, but I think all players should experiment and try different rests/no rest at all.
(BTW, I disagree that a shoulder rest is necessary for serious position playing. Many famous violinists (Heifetz, Perlman) wouldn't let their students near them. I've played in 3rd/6th position without, and the shifting technique involves a different movement of the thumb, but is not uncomfortable.)
# Posted on December 20th 2006 by silver bow
Re: Fiddle shoulder rests
For anyone with neck/upper spine problems, try a loop of string around your neck and hooked over the lower bout of the violin. This is very comfortable and coming back from a higher position is easy. The violin body angle can be changed as it suits you.
# Posted on January 21st 2007 by way dero