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I while back, I reported that I had Randy Olson send me the highest version (1.5") of his Wave 1 chinrest. While the top surface has a contour which suits me the best of everything I've tried to date, it turns out that I was engaging in a bit of self-flattery when I ordered the model for long necked beauties, LOL.
My neighbor is into fine mechanics so he offered to help me chop the Wave 1 down.
This is about where I'm thinking of making the cut and repositioning the bracket holes (turquoise line and yellow dots):
Besides that the inverted "U" has to clear the tail piece, will it do if the left "wing" is only 8-10mm above the violin's top plate or is that too close?
Have any of you ever done this or have tips about what to keep an eye on?
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It depends on the strength of the wood but it should be fine.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Thx, Pierre.
For the record, the wood is padauk.
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Padauk wood is quite strong. You're good to go.... Though no guarantees. 🙂
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Believe me, my buddies power tools aren't even going to be in the same room as the Sima Traian 🙂
As for the actual chinrest, it's one of those "so what's the worst that could happen" debates you have with yourself. My curiosity once again got the better of me.
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Hi bocaholly. The problem with the assignment is that there are precious few square surfaces on a chin rest. I have a possible solution for your friend.
Step #1. Put a piece of painters tape on end of chin rest. Locate new clamp holes. Probe existing clamp hole to determine required depth. Find a piece of dimensional lumber similar in width to a Violin rib and use existing clamp to secure chin rest to board using spirit level to determine plumb in two directions (90 degrees from each other). Drill new clamp holes (likely metric) securing work in vice with attached board and hand tap (likely metric).
Step #2. While chin rest is secured to board, adjust fence on band saw for desired cut and reduce chin rest height. Take your time as you only have one shot at this.
Step #3. Round over chin rest cut edges on belt sander to match original and secure cork with rubber cement. Finish sanded chin rest edges to blend with existing.
If you successfully perform this task, I recommend you for a diy badge (although I got in trouble here in the past for a similar suggestion). Best of luck.
Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. —Earl Nightingale.
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Thank you, @Irv I was hoping you'd chime in 🙂
I'm afraid I'll have to get my neighbor to sign up for the forum if someone is to get a DIY badge for this, LOL. I think it turned out suppi ... perhaps a tad lopsided where the feet enter the chinrest... but solid. We recycled the cork from the chunk which was cut off.
Oh, yeah, and that funny little rubber piece marked "Kréddle" underneath. New gadget by Jordan Hayes intended to facilitate playing without a shoulder rest.
The jury is still out.
When I add one of those cute, pink sponges from Fiddlershop between violin and shoulder, and hold the scroll more off to the left than accustomed, it works as advertised. Right now, I hold the scroll fairly straight in front of me where it's easier to see what my fingers are up to.
It's not like I have to break a life long habit, LOL, so I'll give it a try and maybe discover some other benefits along the way 🙂
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@bocaholly It's pretty hard for me to understand everything what’s written above, translate, and I have no experience with the ‘DIY’topics or setting ups, repair etc. My violin is still how it was when I bought it ? But I admire your interest and experience in all of this Holly. Good work ?
Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about dancing in the rain!!
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I wish I had the talent for any kind of woodwork, let alone luthiery.
My Teka is too high for me. I'm thinking of buying a Hill-style Guarneri, but it might be nice to chop my Teka down to size if I could.
Andrew
Verified human - the ignominy!
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@mookje Glad that your current violin is a comfortable fit from the get-go. You certainly look at ease when you play 
(sorry, no smiley with a ponytail)
@AndrewFryer Like I fessed-up, it was my neighbor who is a pro with tools who did the chopping. The tricky part was placing new holes for the feet at the right depth and angle. Maybe you'll discover that one of your uke club buddies has similar skills? If you do find someone, I suggest you get in touch with @Irv. He took the time to PM me with precise guidelines (or I can forward them to you.)
On that Cushion gadget in the photo, it makes the total depth of the violin (top surface of the chinrest to the bottom of the Cushion) deeper by a good centimeter. Hence, much of what I gained with the cut down was lost in translation. Further cutting doesn't look like an option. The body of the chinrest (not so much the inverted "U") is already only 8mm above the tailpiece.
More problematic, is that the Cushion protrudes a good centimeter out from the bottom of the violin. When the Cushion is comfortably placed on my collarbone (it is indeed comfortable), the chinrest is that centimeter further out from where my chin/jaw sits on it without the Cusion.
To be fair to the Kréddle Cushion, it's designed to work with the amazingly adjustable Kréddle chinrest. One of the adjustments is lateral (left-right / towards or away from the scroll.) I'll try that combo and report back. But from memory, when I tried the Kréddle chinrest on the lowest setting, even without the Cushion, it was still too high. LOL again for me thinking I had a long-ish neck.
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bocaholly said
Maybe you'll discover that one of your uke club buddies has similar skills?
We do indeed have a joiner, but he spends 6 months of the year in Portugal.
Andrew
Verified human - the ignominy!
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Andrew Fryer said
bocaholly said
Maybe you'll discover that one of your uke club buddies has similar skills?We do indeed have a joiner, but he spends 6 months of the year in Portugal.
... and he's off to warmer climes already, for sure. Plan B - a low guarneri sounds good for now.
Here's a pic of my low guarneri with the Cushion. Pretty obvious how it pushed the violin away from my chin:
Below is the Kréddle chinrest - Cushion combo. The back edges are flush the way I have it adjusted.
Better but I still see two problems:
1) For me, personally, the chinrest feels too high, even on the lowest setting and even without the Cushion.
2) I don't know if it's what you engineers would call a fulcrum but this arrangement seems to require more pressure to keep the violin up.
My most comfortable combo for now is the chopped down Wave plus the https://fiddlershop.com/produc.....te-secondo.
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