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Center chin rest?
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KindaScratchy
Massachusetts
April 13, 2012 - 8:05 pm
Member Since: March 14, 2012
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Last week, my violin teacher recommended that I modify my hold so that the neck is a bit more in front of me. The new position seems to have helped me keep my bow going straight, and thus, I'm not hitting adjacent strings as much and the tone generally sounds better. But...now it seems like my chin is more toward the center of the violin, which feels OK except that it's not centered in the chin rest.

The other day I noticed in a catalog that there is such a thing as a center chin rest. So, I'm wondering if anyone has used one and what you think about it.

When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,

I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.

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cdennyb
King for a Day, Peasant for many
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April 13, 2012 - 8:20 pm
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My rest is centered where it attaches to the violin but the cup portion is still off to the high side a far bit.

I don't believe I've ever seen one that was in the center, ...directly over the tailpiece peg?

wow... news to me.dunno

"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein

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TerryT
Coleshill, Warwickshire
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April 13, 2012 - 8:33 pm
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My Flesch goes across the middle. I may change to the 'old Flesch' as it seems to have a better contour

I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....

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KindaScratchy
Massachusetts
April 13, 2012 - 8:34 pm
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cdennyb said
My rest is centered where it attaches to the violin but the cup portion is still off to the high side a far bit.

I don't believe I've ever seen one that was in the center, ...directly over the tailpiece peg?

wow... news to me.dunno

Here's one: http://www.buy.com/pr/product......rid=411737

Not the same vendor as the catalog that I have, but essentially the same thing.

When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,

I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.

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cdennyb
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April 13, 2012 - 8:48 pm
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COOL! Today wasn't a total loss after all. I learnt sumpthin new... thanks for the link...thumbs-up

"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
April 13, 2012 - 9:35 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16536

I can sell that one for $6.90 plus 5.95 for shipping = $12.85
Free shipping if you surpass $99 thumbs-up Have to make money somewhere.

http://fiddlershop.com/Accesso.....r_chinrest

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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KindaScratchy
Massachusetts
April 13, 2012 - 9:55 pm
Member Since: March 14, 2012
Forum Posts: 1760
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Fiddlerman said

I can sell that one for $6.90 plus 5.95 for shipping = $12.85
Free shipping if you surpass $99 thumbs-up Have to make money somewhere.

http://fiddlershop.com/Accesso.....r_chinrest

Cool! Thanks Fiddlerman! I'll order it tomorrow. Is it a big deal to change a chin rest?

When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,

I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.

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ftufc
SoCal
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April 14, 2012 - 4:49 am
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Scratchy, I too had the exact same issues when I first got my violin and immediately changed to the Flesch center-mount (directly over the tailpiece) with no hump, and it suits me perfectly.

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April 14, 2012 - 8:49 am

I also had issues with the chin rest that came with the violin. I did research and found that others had similar problems, with their chin landing over the tailpiece and their jaw not touching the shallow cup to the left of the tailpiece. There are several models of center mount chinrests. I hope that the Wittman you sent a link for works for you. There are others - as mentioned above, Flesch (with hump and no hump), and Berber/Ohrenform and others.  Right now I use either the Berber or a Teka (not a center mount, but works for me).  But I always have to readjust my shoulder rest, no matter what I use. It is not difficult to change a chin rest.  The Wittman I think has little screws in the bottom of the 2 clamp legs to tighten it against the body of the violin, so you need a fairly tiny screwdriver.  Other clamp models are installed and uninstalled with a special little chinrest tool. In those cases, I just used a tiny screwdriver in the holes being very careful not to poke all the way through so as not to scratch the violin.  I hope I haven't confused you. dazed I do hope the Wittman works for you.

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April 14, 2012 - 10:31 am
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Scratchy, just to clarify, the correct name is Wittner, not Wittman, as you may have noticed. Also, the one Fiddlerman speaks of in his shop has a different name, but looks the same.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
April 14, 2012 - 1:01 pm
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I went back to the distributor and double checked the name and all. It seems this distributor has the wrong picture for this product. facepalm This particular distributor has made 3 errors already in my short time working with them. Fortunately the others are not that way.

I'll know for sure on Monday when I call them. In the meanwhile I'll disable that product.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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KindaScratchy
Massachusetts
April 14, 2012 - 1:16 pm
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Ok, I'll wait on ordering. No rush. Thanks for looking into this!

When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,

I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.

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Guest
Guests
April 14, 2012 - 2:37 pm

0229080449-00.jpgImage Enlarger0305080338-00.jpgImage EnlargerI got to thinking about the center chin rest. I had raised my chin rest by adding some blocks to build it higher, which I posted pictures in a different post.

I moved it to the center, over the tailpiece. What a difference it made, my left elbow falls naturally under the violin, and then some. Makes it easier to reach the G string. And I believe it does give you a straighter bow over the strings.

So far, I like it.  Also shown is the small plastic cap under the E string the luthier put on when he fit a new bridge and some other work. No need for the plastic sleeve on the string.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
April 14, 2012 - 4:17 pm
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Good job. Congratulations on finding something that works for you. Lots of people ask me about how to get their chin-rests built up and this thread has some great tips for that. If anyone wants to do a how to step by step like Keven did with his how to cut a bridge tutorial, I think it would be greatly appreciated and I could make a special post on the site for it too.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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