Are you looking for a suitable chin rest for your violin?
Then this article will help you!
In the buying guide, you can read info about important features you should consider when buying violin chin rest. There are many models, and the most important is to find the one that’s suits your body the most, so you’ll be comfortable when playing the violin. Compare 5 best models I’ve described by reading about their material, shape, dimensions, etc., and decide which one is the best for you!
Things To Know When Buying Violin Chin Rest
Violin Chin Rest Types
There are different violin chin rest styles considering shape, height, and positioning on the violin. So models can be left, right, or centered. Then you can buy high-profile or low-profile ones, considering the length of your neck. Also, if you have a wider jaw you should consider wider chin rest.
Where To Place Chin Rest?
The violin chin rest position is individual. It’s best to look yourself in the mirror and to see where your head naturally falls when you play the instrument under the chin. It might be more natural to you for the chin rest to be in the middle, than left or right of the tailpiece.
The Suitable Chin Rest Height
Some people have longer necks than others. Therefore, different chinrests are suitable considering their height. If you have to low model for your neck, you may start to feel pain in that body area. Some models have an adjustable height which is a very user-friendly feature.
Violin Chin Rests For Sale Near Me
Online retailers such as Amazon offer a wide range of violin chinrest types, and you can often find discounts on the original price. However, you can find many great models at their brand’s official websites. If you’re not into online shopping, visit a local music store. However, online you can browse more models and find many reviews from other costumers.
Price Range Of Violin Chinrest Models
The best violin chin rest can be found for less than $100. In general, the price range for chin rest is between $5 and $70. Their cost depends on the brand, materials, structure, design, quality, warranty, etc. The plastic ones are cheaper than wooden models. However wooden models will prevent slipping when you’re sweating and they last longer.
Best 5 Violin Chin Rest Reviews
Best Tall Violin Chin Rest
Wittner Augsburg Violin Chinrest
Material And Structure
This Wittner high chin rest violin is made from composite carbon fiber material. That means it’s both durable and lightweight, and it doesn’t add to much weight to the violin. Another user-friendly feature of the Wittner violin chinrest is its compact design.
Tall And Lightweight
It’s 3.3” long, 1.18” wide and 6.49” high. The weight of the model is only 1.6 ounces. It’s not specifically made for Wittner chin rest violin, but it can be installed on any model. It’s suitable for a full 4/4 size violin and designed to fit the left of the tailpiece. The model includes a Wittner nylon tail cord.
- for full-size violin
- compact design
- weighs 1.6 ounces
- with nylon tail cord
- fits left to the tailpiece
Best Center Chin Rest Violin
Guarneri Chin Rest
Dimensions And Weight
Unlike the previous model, this Guarneri chin rest is a low-profile model that should be placed at the center of the tailpiece. It’s 4.5” long, 1.4” wide and 0.9” high. The compact design is also lightweight since it weighs only 1.76 ounces.
Made From Indian Ebony
Therefore the center chin rest violin doesn’t add to much weight to the violin. It’s suitable for full 4/4 size violins. The body is made from high-quality Indian ebony which means it will support your head efficiently. Also, it includes a standard bracket.
- centered model
- lightweight and low-profile
- Indian ebony structure
- comes with the standard bracket
Best Low Profile Violin Chin Rest
Conrad Gotz Chinrest
Hamburg Ebony Wood
Unlike the previous model, the Gotz chinrest comes with the closed style brackets. It’s suitable for full-size violin models, and its whole structure is made from Hamburg ebony wood. That makes it durable and efficient for the violinist.
Padding And Height
The wood origin is certified. The padding of this low profile violin chin rest is made from hand-crafted Portuguese cork. The structure is 5.91” long, 2.24” wide and 1.02” high. It weighs only 1.76 ounces, so it’s lightweight.
- certified Hamburg ebony structure
- Portuguese cork padding
- only 1.02” high
Best Portable Chin Rest For Full Size Violin
Berber Violin Chinrest
Lightweight And Compact
The Berber chin rest weighs 2.39 ounces, so it’s slightly heavier than the previously reviewed models. However, it’s still lightweight enough so it doesn’t add too much weight to the violin. The length of this portable chin rest is 5.8”, width is 3” and its height is 1.5”.
Fits Over The Tailpiece
The mode is low-profiled, and it’s not suitable for people with longer necks. The Berber chin rest is suitable for full-size violins and it fits over the tailpiece. The structure is made from high-quality ebony wood. The standard brackets are installed.
- over-tailpiece positioning
- made from ebony wood
Best Adjustable Violin Chin Rest
Wolf Chin Rest
Adjustable Height
The unique user-friendly feature is the adjustable height. The Wolf chin rest can be positioned in different height according to the length of your neck. Therefore you can be sure this custom violin chin rest will make violin playing comfortable.
Patented Design And Leather Cover
The adjustable violin chin rest is suitable for full size 4/4 violin. It’s Foot And Single-Barrel design is patented and minimizes the reduction of the violin’s sound. The frame is made from metal, while the cover is made from Nappa leather that’s successfully absorbing moisture.
- Foot And Single-Barrel design
- metal frame
- Nappa leather cover
- adjustable height
- suitable for full size violin
Conclusion: Two Best Violin Chin Rest Models To Buy
The best model depends on your body structure, so there isn’t one model that’s best in general. However, I’ll recommend two models considering the quality of their structure and materials: the Conrad Gotz chinrest and the Wolf violin chin rest. The first has a certified ebony structure, while the other has a patented design with useful anti-moisture cover.
In case you need new strings too, check out this review on the best strings on the violin. For more info on many violin types on the market, read the best violin review with a buying guide. And if you’re looking for a suitable bow for your violin, I recommend reading this article about the best violin bow.