Violorama will be closed for sales between 20 Jan and 1 March 2011. I will still respond to enquiries during that time although my response may be slower. Anything you buy after Jan 20 will be shipped after 1 March.
Chinrests
It is very important for comfort, and to avoid injury, to use the right chinrest for your playing position and chin shape.
When choosing a chinrest you should consider where on the instrument you want your chin to rest, over the tailpiece or to the side? If you hold the fiddle to the front then over the tailpiece is often more suitable, but if you hold the fiddle with the side of your jaw and the instrument out to the side then a chinrest to the side of the instrument can be more comfortable.
You should note that the position of the chinrest cup is only slightly related to whether or not the chinrest clamps over the tailpiece or to the side. For example the Teka chinrest cup is fairly well towards the tailpiece, but it clamps on the side, and the Guarneri chinrest cup is fairly well to the side, even though it clamps over the tailpiece.
The same chinrest can be used on either violin or viola simply by changing the length of the clamp barrels.
Please specify the depth of your instrument in mm when ordering so we can supply you with the correct size barrels.
All chinrests can be upgraded with gold plated "Hill style" clamps, but at present these are only available in viola size, with 33mm barrels.
You are welcome to buy several and try them and return any you don't like for full refund less postage. If buying multiple chinrests contact me about a shipping discount as our cart can't manage combined shipping very well.
Click on the pictures to see a large version.
Hill style chinrest clamps - gold - 33mm barrels
Hill style chinrest clamps upgrade when bought with a chinrest
barrel length
33mm
price
£4 + £1 P&P or £3 upgrade with a chinrest
These individual chinrest clamps can be easier to fit, and allow custom spacing. Price is for a pair. Come fitted with cork padding. You can buy them alone, or as an upgrade for one of the below chinrests. If you buy as an upgrade you must buy a chinrest at the same time, and in that case the chinrest will be supplied with only the gold clamps.
Wendling Chinrest - Ebony
cup width
85mm
max height of lip
25mm
price
£12
Similar to Guarneri style, but smaller, and the Wendling has the cup slightly closer to the tailpiece and a more rounded shape.
Teka Chinrest - Ebony
cup width
98mm
max height of lip
27mm
price
£12
The Teka has the cup closest to the tailpiece of all the side clamping rests.
Flesch Chinrest - Ebony
cup width
100mm
max height of lip
25mm
price
£12
The Flesch has the cup directly over the tailpiece. Perfect for holding the fiddle out in front of you.
Flesch Chinrest - Rosewood
cup width
100mm
max height of lip
25mm
price
£12
The Flesch has the cup directly over the tailpiece. Perfect for holding the fiddle out in front of you.
Priska Chinrest - Ebony
cup width
93mm
max height of lip
26mm
price
£12
The Priska has the cup partly over the tailpiece. Suitable for a forward facing position. Cup position about the same as Teka.
Priska Chinrest - Rosewood
cup width
93mm
max height of lip
26mm
price
£12
The Priska has the cup partly over the tailpiece. Suitable for a forward facing position. One of our favourites.
Berlin Chinrest - Ebony
cup width
100mm
max height of lip
20mm
price
£12
The Berlin is a fairly wide and flat chinrest.
Dresden Chinrest - Boxwood
cup width
90mm
max height of lip
20mm
price
£12
The Dresden is a fairly wide low chinrest with more of a cup than the Berlin.
London Chinrest - Ebony
cup width
90mm
max height of lip
23mm
price
£12
The London has a greater left to right angle than the Dresden.
Leipzig Chinrest - Ebony
cup width
81mm
max height of lip
19mm
price
£12
The Leipzig is a small and low chinrest.
Leipzig Chinrest - Boxwood
cup width
81mm
max height of lip
19mm
price
£12
The Leipzig is a small and low chinrest.
Kaufmann Chinrest - Ebony
cup width
102mm
max height of lip
16.5mm
price
£12
The Kaufmann is a very wide and low chinrest.
Aron Chinrest - Boxwood
cup width
95mm
max height of lip
26mm
price
£12
The Aron has a deep cup and pronounced left to right angle.
Guarneri Chinrest - Boxwood
cup width
100mm
max height of lip
22mm
price
£12
The Guarneri is a large chinrest that clamps over the tailpiece but the cup is placed well to the left. It is the standard style chinrest that comes by default with most of our instruments. It is bigger than most people need, but allows some flexibility in chin position as a result, it also gives plenty of space for mounting a pickup jack on the chinrest.
