I am having an issue with chinrests and shoulder rests. I was using my flat Flesch, that Clara recommended, with my Bon Musica shoulder rest. It was okay, but still not right and the Bon Musica started annoying me with that hook over the shoulder. Now, understand, I have only had my lovely violin for 3 months, so I am no expert.

Where I live, there is no violin shop I can go to that has a large assortment to try out. I am not one for returning items I purchase, so that has me in a pickle for getting the proper setup. My instructor (another hard to come by part of learning a violin in my area) does not help with setup. There isn’t a violin shop here for her to help with selecting with anyway. So, I am hoping to get it right before I cause physical injury to my neck and jaw.

My issue with chinrests is that I need one with a very low lip or edge that goes under the jaw. All the other chinrests I have tried have a too aggressive edge or lip under my jaw, and they hurt, a lot. I can feel my jaw being pulled. Basically, the cup part the jaw ends out resting on is too low compared to the edge that goes under the jaw. The Flat Flesch has a low profile lip or edge. Like a bowl that is too deep.

I like the feel of the Flat Flesch. Clara was right on the mark with that recommendation for eliminating that jaw issue. But, the Bon Musica has become annoying, and as I have worked on my bowing and fingering, I am finding that I am no longer automatically placing my violin in a postion where my chin is over the tailpiece. I now gravitate to the side. The Flat Flesch is center mount.

I am now using the side mount that was put onto my violin at the violin shop. I have it butt right up to the tailpiece as far as it can be. It originally had the Guarneri. I can’t stand that, so they showed me some they have and I tried some. From what they had, I chose the one I am currently using. Can’t remember what it is. It is a side mount, but the lip or edge is more prominent than the Flat Flesch. 

I am now using that chinrest with my Everest shoulder rest. I kind of like that, but that chinrest is too aggressive under my jaw. I do not intend to spend a lot of money purchasing chinrests, only to start a collection, because I am not in the habit of returning purchases.

I would like to try a low shoulder rest with a high chinrest but the chinrests, from photos, all have that aggressive high lip or edge. I figured if I could find a higher chinrest, I could then use a lower shoulder rest, like the Everest or Kun.

We are drivng to the violin shop I purchased my violin from this Wednesday, about 1 and a 1/2 hours away, and try a Kun shoulder rest on my violin. I bought a Kun there for my viola when I bought my viola, so I know that is one of the few brands they have. It is more comfortable than the Everest, but similar in design.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I know they are really a matter of personal preference, but I have yet to see another chinrest with the nice low profile edge for under the jaw like the Flat Flesch has. Does anyone have any opinion on using a low shoulder rest setting with a high chinrest to make up the difference? I think I am average in neck length. 

I tried no shoulder rest. I love the feel, but I cannot control my violin. Could be inexperience, or just the chinrest being too low. I think that if I ever get to the point of learning vibrato, that would be an issue. I am 64 and am thinking that with my stiffness, vibrato will be a no go, and I don’t mind.

The low shoulder reat will lower the violin, and I think, make it easier on my left hand for fingering. It also might give me more of that “no shoulder rest” that I discovered I like. I tried a foam pad, hated it. Not interested in putting any circle disk on the backside, either. Not sure what that would accomplish, anyway.

Another option is just a low profile sidemount chinrest and I can use the Kun at the higher setting. I have not seen any sidemount chinrests with the low lip or edge, or shallow bowl (if that is how you want to describe it). 

Oh, I did buy a Forte Secondo. I cannot stand it and it is sitting in my drawer. So, that shoulder rest is not an option.

Thanks

cid