Hi Captain Fiddle,
What kind of shoulder rests do you buy? I have just bought a Wolf
Secundo for my fiddle and a Wolf Primo for my viola. It seems
so odd to me that they arrive with almost no instructions on how
to tailor the fit. I have adjusted the height and width and the
things still don't feel comfortable. I have figured out, based
on a photo in a catalogue where they should fit on the violin,
but where on your body, exactly are they supposed to fit? Maybe
my neck is just too short or something.
Hi J,
I use a forte primo for my violin. I like it. I used to use a
"Resonans" which I still have as a back up. I actually
spent time over a few weeks bending the metal bit by bit until
it fit the contour of my collar bone exactly. It fits better than
the forte primo, but isn't as secure in the way that it attaches
to the violin.
Everybody has a different shaped body. Its common for someone(me
too) to take a month or so fiddling with a new shoulder rest until
they get it adjusted right for them. Also, some chin rests stick
up higher than others so if it seems you've lowered the adjustments
all the way down and your neck still seems too short, maybe you
might consider a different chin rest. The shoulder rests also
come in 3 different heights, although most stores only carry "medium
height."
Turn the shoulder rest around, try each end up or down. Also try
it diagonally, in all the possible positions short of having it
fall off your fiddle. It doesn't have to just go on perpendicular
as shown in the diagram.
All of the pad on the bottom of the rest should be touching your
body, not just the top, or bottom, or just one edge of it. Put
it on and have someone look at you and see whether the pad is
in complete contact with your body, with no open space showing.
Adjust accordingly. I hope this helps!
happy fiddling, Ryan
Dear Ryan,
Only another fiddle lover would go to that much trouble to help
a fellow fiddler. Thank you very
much. What you have said is very helpful, especially the part
about being sure that it touches all around. I hope that you will
add your advice to your next book. I read anything "fiddle"
and have never found this info, although, I suppose it is mostly
common sense...then so is most of what we read. We just have to
have our "bells" rung. By the way, I come from the period
when nobody used a shoulder rest, but my shoulder muscles now
need some help.
Thank you again and... Happy Holidays!
J.
Dallas