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(3 votes) 
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Regulars
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Mine fit well, and was easy to adjust.
I used my Kun Collapsible shoulder rest as a comparison, and was quite happy with the FM Shoulder rest. The side on the shoulder did not want to collapse when at it's lowest position, but this was not a problem to me as it fit easily into my case. The difference in the curvature on the FM was a much better fit for me. The FM rest is about 5 grams lighter than the Kun as well.
After comparing the two collapsible rests, a Kun and a Fiddlerman... I think I'll make the FM Shoulder rest my preferred shoulder rest.
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Taper123 said
Mine fit well, and was easy to adjust.I used my Kun Collapsible shoulder rest as a comparison, and was quite happy with the FM Shoulder rest. The side on the shoulder did not want to collapse when at it's lowest position, but this was not a problem to me as it fit easily into my case. The difference in the curvature on the FM was a much better fit for me. The FM rest is about 5 grams lighter than the Kun as well.
After comparing the two collapsible rests, a Kun and a Fiddlerman... I think I'll make the FM Shoulder rest my preferred shoulder rest.
Yeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaa!!!!!
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Regulars
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Now that I've had some time to try out the FM shoulder rest, here's my review. Keep in mind that I've only had one other shoulder rest to compare it to, so I'm certainly no authority on it.
Overall, I'd say I'm happy with it. It's very lightweight, seems sturdy, and is very comfortable. It's wider than my current one and has a thicker padding, and I like the fact that the feet fold down out of the way.
However, there is one thing I dislike about it, and that's the adjustment for the feet. Instead of being on a slider and letting you set the spacing exactly where you want it, you have to choose one of the three holes. If I use the first hole, it's too short. The second hole works, but it's not a snug fit. It hasn't fallen off yet, but it does slip. I'm attaching some photos so you can see what I'm talking about. The one on the top is my current shoulder rest, and you can see where the bracket allows you to slide the foot in or out, setting it exactly where you want it. The FM rest has three holes to choose from but doesn't allow for anything in between.
You can also see from the photo that the feet on my current one swivel from side to side, although they don't collapse inward like the FM does.
As best I can tell, the hardware on the FM rest is made of a hard plastic, which is probably why it's lighter in weight. It has more of an arch for the shoulder and more of an 'S" curve throughout.
Overall, it's a good shoulder rest. It's light, it's comfortable, and it works. It will be my primary shoulder rest from now on. The other one goes into my backup case.
Thank you, Fiddlerman!
Let the bow flow.
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Thanks for the review. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Posted on Amazon:
"I love the New Fiddlerman Wood Violin Shoulder Rest. It is very attractive, adjustable and super sturdy. A very nice rest for the money. I had planned to use it as a back up to my other shoulder rest as I am very used to that one, but this one quickly took it's place. I am very pleased with the quality and stability."
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
Regulars
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good lookin' rest, may have to get me one
There is no shame in playing twinkle, youre playing Mozart
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My review is up on Amazon on the item's page, under the name "Umbrarium".
For the folks here, though, I'll cut right to the chase. Having put in some hours now playing with it on the violin after getting the adjustment where I liked it, I have not found anything negative to say about this rest. I think that if you use a shoulder rest, you'll very likely like this one.
I'm not usually a shoulder rest sort of player, so I will only use it occasionally. But I have rather prominent collarbones without much "natural padding" on them, and even playing for a couple hours straight didn't get uncomfortable.
Kinda wish I could say the same about the shoulder rest I use on my electric. LOL Unfortunately, since my electric has an odd body shape, the Fiddlerman shoulder rest won't fit it. Seeing the two rest side by side, I am pretty sure that what I use on my electric is actually some sort of viola shoulder rest. I have to adjust it down to almost it's smallest width to use the HJ brand shoulder rest I use on my electric with my acoustic.
Tip for electric players, the wilder body shapes are fun! But often standard accessories won't fit right. If you are going to need to use an accessory like a shoulder rest, you want to either stick with body shapes that are pretty close to the same as acoustic violins or be willing to try a lot of different options to get something that actually will fit.
Enough about that, though. The Fiddlerman shoulder rest is def a nice little piece of kit. Light, looks good, works good. If you use a shoulder rest already and maybe aren't 100% happy with yours, you should definitely check out the Fiddlerman one. I think it is as good or better than some professional ones I tried in a regular music shop that were priced 50$ and up.
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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Thanks Daniel,
You are the MAN!!!
Appreciate the review.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Nice reviews everyone. Cool to read what fellow violinists are saying about the Shoulder rest!
Cheers Toni!
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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Great review, Toni! You are the LADY!
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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Thanks for all the great reviews. Just a reminder for those of you that I sent the coupon code to, we are still missing a couple reviews from that and would really appreciate it if you could find the time.
Thanks!!!
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Regulars
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I received it rather quickly but have held off posting a review because I tried using a shoulder rest some time ago, like 2 years ago, and didn't have a very favorable experience with it. It was a quality rest but I just wasn't the type to use one I guess... fast forward to 2015 and I said, why not try again. I'm a little more of a non-beginner now and with that new found confidence and self taught ability to play violin I opted for a chance.
I received it a day early which surprised me a little but Amazon has a way with surprising me pleasantly anyway! Ha. My first thoughts as I fumbled with it was, WOW, very nice monogram burned into the wood. Since it isn't a thing to just lay around and look pretty I proceeded to attach it to my electric 5 string Yinfenti violin (4/4 size) and had an issue finding the right 'hole' to use since one was a little tight (feared breaking something) and the next one was a little loose, almost sloppy but was more acceptable than nothing so I went with that position. I messed with it for over an hour, changed holes both higher up and lower down, raised and lowered the clips on both ends trying to find a spot that my "bowing arm" was happy with and didn't automatically play double stops and wrong strings when I wasn't consciously looking at my bow and fingers. 
I really never found a "spot" I could tolerate and always felt like I was looking at the face of the bridge and not looking down the strings as I have grown so accustomed to. Many of my tunes I can play in the dark as my muscle memory has progressed to that level of playing and it comes automatic but with a shoulder rest on any of my violins, I feel like a beginner all over again, clumsy and stumbling all over the fingerboard. I think my self taught abilities are not compatible with any shoulder rest, even one as nice as these. 
I was a little fearful of breaking the clips off but after some hands on pressure and bending movements I feel they will be quite robust and not be an issue at all. Folding them down only works mid-thread for the most part, as if you screw the clip down all the way it binds with the hinge area and won't collapse completely, and with it extended a long ways, it hits the knurled screw head but if I was going to travel with it in my box it would be fine. The other rest didn't have a flip down type clip but it was just as easy to pack as all you had to do was turn the clip sideways 90 degrees and it was as low profile as these are. 
All in all, the only thing I would change, if I could use it, would be to make one end clip slotted so the adjustment could be unlimited from one end to the other and not preset in holes.
Very nice piece...
I currently only use a folded "baby blanket material" cloth folded over the edge of the violin, mainly for sweat control or skin oil control mainly as I can play quite easily without anything except a chin rest on the violin and actually hold it easily without aid of left hand. I'm just lucky that way I guess.
"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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Thanks Dennis.
It's probably not fair to expect a review from someone like you or me, who doesn't use a shoulder-rest. If we force ourselves to use a rest we won't be comfortable since we don't require one.
Of course, everyone, I'm referring to an Amazon review but probably wasn't clear about that. No reviews necessary here though it doesn't hurt.
Thanks for all your input.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Regulars
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Yes, some of us are most fortunate but never fear, it will NOT go un-used. I have it handy for my other fiddle friend & playing partner that says she likes the rest and needed one for her pretty pink flowered electric violin. 
So now when she comes around and forgets her instrument, I have a spare she can use on any of my violins around here. I will continue to attempt to "get comfortable" with it and see if it's just me who needs some "adjustment".
Win Win...
"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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Well, I think it was good to have some of us who don't usually use a shoulder rest involved and doing reviews. It keeps the pool of observation/opinion a bit deeper, since we are likely to notice different elements than people who always use a shoulder rest. That increases the chance that one or more of the reviews will address an issue that a potential buyer is wondering about.
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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I posted my Amazon Review.
I like the shoulder rest even more and more as I play with it on. I have kept it on the soloist and experimented with it and different angles and positions.
I really do like the shoulder rest and of course it has sentimental value from this site.
I like my ensemble.. Solist, FM carbon Fiber and Shoulder rest. (need the FM T Shirt on of these days.)
Cheers.
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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