I recently stumbled on a terrific product for those of us who use chinrests on our fiddles. It's called the Gel Rest: http://gelrest.com/
I'm just a happy customer, no affiliation with the manufacturer at all, not getting a commission on this.
The music shop I teach from started carrying these, so I tried one. It's just a thin slab of rubbery gel material, not unlike those sticky-hand gel toys that glom onto windows and walls. It sticks onto the chinrest without any adhesives.
I can't believe how much a difference the gel makes. I thought I had a relaxed way of holding the fiddle, but this gives me just the right amount of "traction" with my jaw so there's no temptation to "hold" the fiddle anymore. It's just there. And the touch of cushion it provides is nice, too.
You can lift the pad off to reposition or clean it and it sticks right back on the chinrest. Wash with soap and water, towel dry, and it's ready to go again.
granted, I have heard you fiddlers ooo and ahhhh over these gel chin rests,,,so what Will says is quite true,,,,but when will the shoulder rests stop jumping off the fiddles?
That sounds like a good idea. At the moment I have a piece of 4mm neoprene foam glued to my chinrest - not so much for comfort, but to stop it getting sleppery when I get sweaty.
Gel pads also make excellent drum mutes. So if you buy a chinrest pad and don't like it, just stick it on the nearest bodhran and your $15 won't be wasted.
Thanks Will - will mention that to the local music shop owner, sounds intriguing. I tried a whole range of chin rests, also attaching things to them to make them taller/more comfortable; finally just gave up and tied a bit of leather cord to the shoulder rest, to use as a shoulder strap, holding the fiddle at chest level. But have always wondered if I just never found the right dingus. Something with more traction makes sense, you could just touch the edge and get the job done. As long as it isn't DayGlo Green, or gives you a rash.
A lot of this can be psychosomatic, and not in the way you'd expect at all. This was brought home to me recently went I decided to try sitting down while practicing at home; I'd always enjoyed wandering around while playing (nice departure from having to sit while playing the pipes). And for a long while I'd been plagued by the left hand getting a bit sore, no matter how much I tried to chill out. Well what do you know but that went away when I sat down; it was never a problem when playing with other people, who frown upon your wandering around for some reason...pretty strange phenomenon, but there it is, the standing up/hand pain that is. Was pressure from the foot making it up to the left hand somehow?
Well, K.R., sometimes I think bodies are so wierd, it's wonder they work at all. Like carrots coming from carrot seeds: seems miraculous and unlikely. I'm always glad and grateful when fingers, hands, feet, the whole works, line up properly!
Yeah I tried one for about a week, and it got tossed, it just seemed grungy feeling to me. I find letting myself go a little (allowed my belly to get big enough support my elbow a little, and that's pretty relaxing too .
For Fiddlers - Gel Rest Pad for Chinrests
For Fiddlers - Gel Rest Pad for Chinrests
I recently stumbled on a terrific product for those of us who use chinrests on our fiddles. It's called the Gel Rest: http://gelrest.com/
I'm just a happy customer, no affiliation with the manufacturer at all, not getting a commission on this.
The music shop I teach from started carrying these, so I tried one. It's just a thin slab of rubbery gel material, not unlike those sticky-hand gel toys that glom onto windows and walls. It sticks onto the chinrest without any adhesives.
I can't believe how much a difference the gel makes. I thought I had a relaxed way of holding the fiddle, but this gives me just the right amount of "traction" with my jaw so there's no temptation to "hold" the fiddle anymore. It's just there. And the touch of cushion it provides is nice, too.
You can lift the pad off to reposition or clean it and it sticks right back on the chinrest. Wash with soap and water, towel dry, and it's ready to go again.
Best $15 I ever spent.
# Posted on August 11th 2011 by Will Harmon
Re: For Fiddlers - Gel Rest Pad for Chinrests
granted, I have heard you fiddlers ooo and ahhhh over these gel chin rests,,,so what Will says is quite true,,,,but when will the shoulder rests stop jumping off the fiddles?
# Posted on August 11th 2011 by trad2nz
Re: For Fiddlers - Gel Rest Pad for Chinrests
I've been known to kick mine across the room if it falls
off while I'm practicing. I still like to use one though.
# Posted on August 11th 2011 by Hup
Re: For Fiddlers - Gel Rest Pad for Chinrests
Trad2nz - I thought you were from New Zealand until I read
your profile.
# Posted on August 11th 2011 by Hup
Re: For Fiddlers - Gel Rest Pad for Chinrests
crazy. I was just recently thinking along those lines for padding my bellows
# Posted on August 11th 2011 by pipewatcher
Re: For Fiddlers - Gel Rest Pad for Chinrests
That sounds like a good idea. At the moment I have a piece of 4mm neoprene foam glued to my chinrest - not so much for comfort, but to stop it getting sleppery when I get sweaty.
Gel pads also make excellent drum mutes. So if you buy a chinrest pad and don't like it, just stick it on the nearest bodhran and your $15 won't be wasted.
# Posted on August 11th 2011 by skreech
Re: For Fiddlers - Gel Rest Pad for Chinrests
Seconded, Ive been useing them a while now, there line has got bigger with more variation recently so there is more choice. Excellent.
# Posted on August 11th 2011 by piobagusfidil
Re: For Fiddlers - Gel Rest Pad for Chinrests
@ Hup,,,nope, Helena is our home base in MT...guess the NZ threw ya in our fun with words...grin
# Posted on August 11th 2011 by trad2nz
Re: For Fiddlers - Gel Rest Pad for Chinrests
Thanks Will - will mention that to the local music shop owner, sounds intriguing. I tried a whole range of chin rests, also attaching things to them to make them taller/more comfortable; finally just gave up and tied a bit of leather cord to the shoulder rest, to use as a shoulder strap, holding the fiddle at chest level. But have always wondered if I just never found the right dingus. Something with more traction makes sense, you could just touch the edge and get the job done. As long as it isn't DayGlo Green, or gives you a rash.
A lot of this can be psychosomatic, and not in the way you'd expect at all. This was brought home to me recently went I decided to try sitting down while practicing at home; I'd always enjoyed wandering around while playing (nice departure from having to sit while playing the pipes). And for a long while I'd been plagued by the left hand getting a bit sore, no matter how much I tried to chill out. Well what do you know but that went away when I sat down; it was never a problem when playing with other people, who frown upon your wandering around for some reason...pretty strange phenomenon, but there it is, the standing up/hand pain that is. Was pressure from the foot making it up to the left hand somehow?
# Posted on August 11th 2011 by KLR
Re: For Fiddlers - Gel Rest Pad for Chinrests
Well, K.R., sometimes I think bodies are so wierd, it's wonder they work at all. Like carrots coming from carrot seeds: seems miraculous and unlikely. I'm always glad and grateful when fingers, hands, feet, the whole works, line up properly!
# Posted on August 11th 2011 by full measure
Re: For Fiddlers - Gel Rest Pad for Chinrests
Yeah I tried one for about a week, and it got tossed, it just seemed grungy feeling to me. I find letting myself go a little (allowed my belly to get big enough support my elbow a little, and that's pretty relaxing too
.
# Posted on August 14th 2011 by SandyBottoms