I'm struggling finding a shoulder rest that suits me. I have quite a long neck (or so my teacher tells me!) so the standard ones with adjustable legs don't go high enough (Kun, Wolf etc) I've also tried the Voigt High shoulder rest, and although was great height wise, was not padded enough and dug in my collar bone.

I'm getting neck ache now when I practice and really need to do something. Any advice?

QUOTE (Appassionata @ Mar 5 2005, 07:49 AM)

I'm struggling finding a shoulder rest that suits me. I have quite a long neck (or so my teacher tells me!) so the standard ones with adjustable legs don't go high enough (Kun, Wolf etc) I've also tried the Voigt High shoulder rest, and although was great height wise, was not padded enough and dug in my collar bone. I'm getting neck ache now when I practice and really need to do something.  :( Any advice?

It always amazes me that upper string players think of shoulder rests as a means of compensating for a long neck. Your bow and your left hand both join on to the body at your shoulders. To relate them in a constant manner to the position of the instrument, therefore, a shoulder rest should be used only to make the instrument feel comfortable, and the space to the chin should be filled in by the chin rest, which should be adjustable for the length of neck. I believe "giraffe" chin rests are made, but I don't recall ever seeing one in use.

If you could find one of those, you could choose a shoulder pad instead of a hard rest. When we lived in Orpington, my daughter had one that was made locally; it was about 15 mm thick and had a sort of corduroy cover. I don't know what the stuffing was, but it was fairly soft.

QUOTE (kenm @ Mar 5 2005, 10:32 AM)

It always amazes me that upper string players think of shoulder rests as a means of compensating for a long neck.

I don't think this, honestly - I'm a physiotherapist and just know the implications of constantly having my neck in a position that causes pain. I am just asking for any advice, that's all. The shoulder pad idea seems a good one.

I also have a long neck and chin!! My best set up is what I have had since I was 9 or 10 and really helped me. I have a Wolf Maestro chin rest that is quite thick, and also has a sort of extension bit that goes over the tailpiece - it's very very adjustable. With it I use a Wolf Secondo shoulder rest, although presently I'm awaiting a replacement and find that even a lesser shoulder rest is fine because the chin rest is just right for me. The only time I've had neck or back problems since is when I've been playing without that chin rest that I'm used to. Anyway it's worth a try, and I will take a picture of the setup for you if you would like.

Thanks Sarah-flute, that would be great!

Sorry I can't help with choosing a good shoulder rest for long necks but I've got one piece of advice: whatever you do, make sure it doesn't fall off easily! My viola shoulder rest always falls off at the most inconvenient times such as when we are all ready to start playing a piece in orchestra. The viola players' shoulder rests have become a running joke in my orchestra...

Right, don't currently have my wolf shoulder rest, but here are a few pictures of my chin rest and how it attaches to the violin. I'll also put the urls just in case the pics get deleted by the moderators at some point.

N.B. moderators, these are very low res images so even though they appear large I don't think they'll use up much bandwidth.

this shoulder rest is at least 15 years old - I've had it longer than my violin - or indeed any other instruments I own except perhaps my descant recorder!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v172/sar...wolfmastro1.jpg

the top view, you can see how it crosses over the tailpiece

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v172/sar...wolfmastro4.jpg

again, you can see how it goes over the tailpiece. the flat of material that comes down to cover the metal parts is rather worn through! you can also see how thick it is especially at the section where it passes over the shoulder rest. it's also much wider than most wooden or plastic rests, and the cover is a soft "faux-leather", which is very comfortable.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v172/sar...wolfmastro2.jpg

this shows the violin with my current shoulder rest, it isn't perfect but it's passable with the chin rest.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v172/sar...wolfmastro3.jpg

This shows how the rest attaches to the violin - because it only has one bar that comes down, it gives great flexibility of position and angle. It holds very firmly, I've never had it fall off or anything.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v172/sar...wolfmastro5.jpg

The silver bit is the screw that holds the rest in place, it's openable with a little screwdriver of the sort that often comes with adjustable shoulder rests/chin rests - mine says "wolf" on it and I believe it came with the chin rest.

Don't get me wrong, it ain't cheap - but it's certainly worth a try. I struggle to play on a violin or viola with a normal chin rest - have problems holding it firmly, neck ache, etc. Really worth giving one of these a trial, I know it has helped me a great deal over the years. And it's lasted well too! The rest is designed to fit any violin from very small to a big viola - they claim 1/4 size up to "biggest viola", and I certainly had mine from 1/2 size upwards. It's also easy to remove and replace, so if you play viola too that's a bonus.

Anyway, I'll stop advertising for them now but I do recommend having a try with one if you possibly can.

Thanks that's really helpful I'll take the pictures and show my teacher. Where do you get a setup like this from?

I should think any music shop should be able to order one, specialist violin shops I should hope would have one in stock and may be able to let you have one (or even a few different models) on approval for a week or something... are you near a specilist shop? I know of one in Bristol I think, I'm sure there must be several (million) in London, and I know a guy near me who is a specialist string* person!!

* initially typoed that "specialist strong person"...!