gudrun walther Posted May 10, 2001 Report Share Posted May 10, 2001 Hi! I´m playing the fiddle in various Folk Music bands and my main problem at the moment is my shoulder-rest. When I play very fast and I´m moving on stage, I start to sweat. Then my violin starts to slip away. To prevent it from slipping away, I try to press it a bit more to myself - then the shoulder rest starts moving...! I´m now even using a fan to cool down a bit but do not yet feel comfortable. Does anybody know this problem???? all the best, gudrun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lwl Posted May 10, 2001 Report Share Posted May 10, 2001 Try putting some kind of absorbent padding on your chinrest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nashville violins Posted May 10, 2001 Report Share Posted May 10, 2001 You want your rest to grip the violin so it won't come loose, but not be so tight as to distort the back of the violin. The new Viva rests fit that bill! My rep actually demonstrates by swinging the violin around supported only by the rest. I don't recommend that practice, but it drives the point home. Let me know if you want to try one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
U of I violist Posted May 10, 2001 Report Share Posted May 10, 2001 I was wondering, what kind of shoulder rest are you currently using? Also I know some people might not recommend it, but I haven't found anything wrong with using a rubber band to keep it in place...it works for me and doesn't hurt my instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKH Posted May 10, 2001 Report Share Posted May 10, 2001 I don't use a shoulder rest, so I never have these kind of problems! Horace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamenco Posted May 10, 2001 Report Share Posted May 10, 2001 Cut a piece of real or synthetic chamois to go over chin and shoulder rest. Anti-slip stuff for RV tables and drawer liners also good. Can dye black if you're vain or actually play with guys in tuxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_A Posted May 11, 2001 Report Share Posted May 11, 2001 Baby powder on your neck, chin, jaw, and collarbone (the whole area) -- put it on liberally BEFORE you get dressed. I hate it when I forget to put it on until I'm all decked out in long black! The baby powder seems to really help keep you dry. I use it on my hands, too, although I have a friend who can't play unless his hands are either sweaty or coated with lotion -- YUK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gudrun walther Posted May 11, 2001 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2001 Thank you all for the advide! Great! "nashville violins", have you got any adress where I could have a look at these shoulder rests (internet) or do you know who deals with them over here in Germany? flamenco and D_A - I will try!!! The trick with the rubber band doesn´t work... WEll again, thank you - it´s really a great forum!!!!!!!!! bye for now, gudrun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon Posted May 11, 2001 Report Share Posted May 11, 2001 gudrun, I've no advice to add, but just wanted to say I enjoyed the sound clips on the More Maids site. Really nice fiddling on Ferret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Griffith Posted May 12, 2001 Report Share Posted May 12, 2001 I had the same problems....when I used a shoulder rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gudrun walther Posted May 14, 2001 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2001 Hi everybody! I had some gigs during the weekend and was away, so I couldn´t visit the forum. I´m still curious how YOU deal with problems like that and looking forward to more suggestions! take care, gudrun. PS: simon, thank you! Great that you like the music! more of my fiddling can be found at: http://www.king-walther-treyz.de Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claire_uk Posted May 14, 2001 Report Share Posted May 14, 2001 Here's a link to the shoulder rest nashville violins was talking about: http://www.viva-sas.com/default.asp hope the link works! claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caleb Posted May 15, 2001 Report Share Posted May 15, 2001 hallo gudrun! love that fiddlin on 'ferret'. and love the singing on 'the queen and the soldier'. is that song 'ready for the storm' a rich mullins tune? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gudrun walther Posted May 15, 2001 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2001 Originally posted by claire_uk:Here's a link to the shoulder rest nashville violins was talking about: http://www.viva-sas.com/default.asp hope the link works! Hi Claire! Thanks a lot for the adress, I will go and have a close look at these!!! gudrun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gudrun walther Posted May 15, 2001 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2001 Hi Caleb! Ready For The Storm is a song written by Dougie Maclean, a scottish singer/songwriter (He has also written "Caledonia" which is very popular and many other fine songs.) Do you know him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caleb Posted May 15, 2001 Report Share Posted May 15, 2001 gudrun: no, actually i'd never heard of him. i looked for some sound clips on the web but the only clip i could find was "rfts" done by rich mullins. mullins usually wrote his own music and the style of that song fit in so well with his own that i never guessed it wasn't his own. that's kind of amusing seeing as how mullins was native american he has some awesome rhytms and lyrics in his songs. i couldn't get plougenast and passepartout to download last night, but i got them fine this morning. very interesting style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtl1 Posted May 15, 2001 Report Share Posted May 15, 2001 I just wonder, the viva sas and viva la musica are the same product/shoulder rest ? If not the same then where can I get the viva sas shoulder rest in US ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gudrun walther Posted May 16, 2001 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2001 Hi rtl1, just go to their homepage (adress is on page one of this thread) and ask them. That´s what I did to find out where in Germany I can buy their products. I asked yesterday and got a quick, informative answer today! gudrun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamburg Fiddler Posted May 16, 2001 Report Share Posted May 16, 2001 Hi: Anyone know where I can obtain a Newsky shoulder rest? The one I have is getting a little ragged--but it's very comfortable. The Kun type has so much curve in it and digs into my chest. Anyway--it's made in Finland. Shars doesn't carry it. any info email me. Thanks, Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Ellison Posted May 19, 2001 Report Share Posted May 19, 2001 In olden days, before all these new fangled shouler rests and such, players would put a hankie on their chin rest to absorb the sweat and prevent slippage. I also put a folded cloth between the instrument and my collarbone. this provides additional padding and support and makes playing more comfortable. D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hildtfw Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 Sharon, Were you ever able to find a Newsky shoulder rest? I need to replace mine too, and a friend wants one as well. TIA, Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_W Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 I've tried several "Kun-style" rests and the best one I've found for staying on my violin and not moving around or collapsing is Kun's new Voce rest (see here). The carbon fiber styling takes some getting used to (although it does make for a light and rigid rest) but the feet are a big improvement over the standard Kun style; they're wider and thus more stable, and grip the edge of the violin better. Also the distance between the feet can be adjusted in minute increments which allows a lot of flexibility in fit. -Steve P.s. although Dougie Maclean is best known for his folk songs which he accompanies with guitar, he's a wonderful fiddler! I highly recommend his CD "Fiddle" on which he plays self-composed fiddle tunes (all instrumental except for one track, I think). [edit: oops, sorry; didn't notice how old this thread was! Never mind...] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hildtfw Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 Thanks for replying, Steve. Yes, it's an old post originally, but I was just asking about the Newsky today. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Schutz Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 I purchased a piece of chamois at an automobile supply place (about $12). Cut it into a long rectangle. Had my wife sew down one edge so that I had a tube. The size of the tube was such that I could snuggly fit it over my chinrest. (I do not use one of the wide, over-th-tailpiece models. If you do, you will need to revise these instructions.) The portion of the "tube" not slipped over the chin rest is now doubled back to drape over the back edge of the fiddle. The tube is long enough so that it also serves as a small pad underneath between the fiddle and my shoulder. I also use a rubber band under and behind the chinrest to help secure the chamois tube. It works well and feels good. After a while, one should wash the chamois. HS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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