Hi Fiddlerman (and others).  I did not know that Conrad Gotz sold more than one type of chin rest.  I am using the Flesch model, and I am placing it under the left portion of the jaw in combination with the Wittner Isny shoulder rest.  I am now playing with my head upright in the position favored by Charles.  I must say that I really like it and I feel much more relaxed and "in control."  My bowing has immediately improved since the violin lean (and overall position) is completely rigid and uniform.  I have not progressed in my training yet to attempt vibrato, but with this combination of chin rest and shoulder rest I am now confident that I will be easily be able to do it.  I previously thought that it would prove to be a difficult technical challenge.

I find that my left hand is more fluid since I no longer rely on it at all to maintain violin position.  

If I were to purchase another one (and I am confident that I will), I would like to try the viola model given the thicker 8 mm pad (although the 6 mm version of the violin model is perfectly comfortable) and the assumed longer rib attachment fasteners.  I think that I would use a torque screwdriver if securing the Isny to an acoustic instrument (no problem at all on a solid body electric violin, such as I am using).  I would not trust the conventional barrel connectors (version 282) to secure the Isny.

I think that the ability to configure the shoulder pad with the "windshield wiper" balls is an important feature and I do not know why Wittner does not address their use in the instructions and in their videos.  I also don't know why they use a phelips head screw on the rib connection fasteners, since they use an allen head on the arm adjustment balls (they would save the cost of providing the phelips head screwdriver with every unit).  Wittner should have made the arm removal levers a few mm longer to reduce effort required by young players.

The above "objections" are certainly minor in nature and the Wittner Isny shoulder rest is already paying dividends on my practice.  I can now go longer periods without muscle fatigue, and my playing is better because my hands have better control.

I sent an email to Wittner asking about the purchase of a Isny mounting plate so that I could install it on a second instrument and transfer the swing arm and pad.  They sent me a parts list for the shoulder rest and told me that they would send whatever I needed.  It seems that they had no idea that the pad attachment balls could be latched and wanted me to send them a photo (it shoulds like engineering is not talking to marketing).  

The parts list is attached.

A question was made a while back on this thread of how much room the Isny shoulder rest "receiving socket" would take up in a violin case.  The short answer is not very much at all.  I recently posted a photo of a Cecilio Mendini MV 650 in the "Review" section of this forum.  The photo shows the "receiving socket" if you would like to see one on a violin.  I don't want to repost the picture here because of the image size (I am of the age where I remember that the Moon rocket shots only had 50,000 bits of core memory).

Hi all.  It has been several months since I last posted about the Isny shoulder rest so I thought that an update was in order.  I still love it.  The only change I would edit in my original review is regarding its use by children.  The tolerance in the two mating surfaces in the connection cam is very tight and it is slightly difficult to assemble for the first six to eight times.  Once “worn in,” the parts drop in easily and a child would have no difficulty in doing it.  The length of the lever is of no consequence.

Hi fiddlerman (and ohers).  I did try one that used conventional barrel connectors and it did work, but the Wittner "L" connectors is the better system (I mill my own slots in non-Whittner chin rests so I am not bound to using their chin rests).  I just discovered that Wittner now makes their Isny shoulder rest system for 1/4 to 2/4 sized violins.  

Hi all.  I have discovered that Wittner is making another version of the Isny shoulder rest for 1/4 to 1/2 sized violins.  I am not sure that they are importing them into the USA yet.  I inquired to the company about this model.  The size of the shoulder rest is identical to their other versions.  The "fitting elements" have an approximate clamping range of 29.5 mm (1.1614 inch) to 37.5 mm (1.4764 inch).  This compares with an approximate clamping range of 32.6mm (1.2835 inch) to 40.6 mm (1.5984 inch) for the 3/4 to 4/4 violin model and 40.0 mm (1.5748 inch) to 50.6 mm (1.9921 inch) for the viola model.