Gordon Chinrest Violin 4/4 in Rosewood, ZK-1573G
ZK-1573G
Mounted on the left side, elliptical shape with a high build, related in type to the Ysaÿe. Rosewood with a warm reddish brown figure and the white Götz mark.
- For players who want the neck of the instrument further forward
- Hill type screws, gold plated
Technical data
| Model | Gordon |
| Material | Rosewood |
| Fittings | Hill type screws |
| Instrument | Violin |
| Item number | ZK-1573G |
Features
- Contact points lined with Portuguese cork
- Height means the distance between the top and the plate. It depends on neck length and shoulder rest: those who set the instrument high get by with a flat chin rest, those who carry it lower need more height
- Higher models are usually heavier. In our experience a heavier chin rest makes the sound a little warmer and darker; a light one leaves it more open
Sound and physics
The chin rest sits on the lower bout of the violin and is clamped to the rib with a metal bracket. Its clamp grips over or beside the bottom block, the wooden block inside the body that holds the end pin and reinforces the rib at this point.
The resting chin creates a hold between shoulder and head, and the violin is carried almost entirely by this hold; the left hand supports it only slightly.
Acoustically, the chin rest adds a mass with its own damping to the edge of the body through a few contact points. It therefore mainly slows those natural vibrations of the body that move strongly at these contact points, and leaves free those that have a node (a point at rest) there.
The violin chin rests we have weighed come to between around 41 g and 80 g including screws, depending on model, wood and fittings. With closed screws the barrel sets the height above the rib; violin barrels come in 25, 27 and 29 mm, and most of our violin models take barrels up to 27 mm. With the Hill fitting, by contrast, the feet are firmly joined to the chin rest.
The rosewood of our chin rests is East Indian rosewood, botanically Dalbergia latifolia, Palisander in German. Its density at 12 % moisture content is 820 to 920 kg/m³. Among the three woods we use for chin rests, rosewood therefore sits in the middle: denser than boxwood, lighter than ebony.
On the violin Berber, which has the same shape in all three woods, the rosewood version with standard metal fittings weighs around 49 g, the ebony version around 56 g, the boxwood version around 45 g. For the same model the dimensions are the same in every wood; in height two pieces may differ by up to 1 mm, because each is made by hand from natural wood.
The Ysaÿe is a side-mounted shape with Hill fittings; the Gordon carries Hill fittings too. The Ysaÿe ZK-700G measures 2.2 × 9.3 × 5.8 cm and weighs around 50 g. We fit its feet to each chin rest individually by hand. We make the Ysaÿe in ebony only, with gold-plated Hill screws.
With the Hill fitting, also called English style in our house, two independent single clamps hold the chin rest, without a connecting bridge. Each screw set consists of top part, barrel and lower part. We make Hill chin rests specifically with their Hill screws and cover the feet with cork; the feet are firmly joined to the chin rest, so the height stays fixed.
Hill screws are heavier than closed screws and more stable for it. The gold-plated Hill screws are made of brass, on individual models combined with steel, and are polished and electroplated with gold.
Our experience
Before we recommend a model, our first question is whether the chin prefers to rest beside the tailpiece or centrally over it. Our experience when tightening: a chin rest only needs to sit firmly enough to hold securely, because the rib beside the bottom block is more delicate than the spot directly over the block. If the chin rest touches the tailpiece, we solve it through the angle of the screws or with a slightly longer barrel.
When a chin rest is to match a set of fittings in colour, we will pick out a slightly lighter piece of rosewood on request; the variation between pieces is usually small. For us a rosewood chin rest and a rosewood tailpiece make a harmonious set.
On the Guarneri with Hill fittings the feet stand further apart than on the closed version; we therefore give particular care to the fit against the arching of the instrument. We keep the top parts of the Hill screws as spare parts, in pairs.
When another model suits you better
Anyone who would prefer titanium fittings on a side-mounted shape will find them on the Kaufmann in the -T version.
Anyone who wants titanium chooses a model with closed screws in the -T version, as we make titanium in the closed design only.
Frequently asked questions
What material belongs at the contact points?
Natural cork without coating, so that the chin rest does not slip and no metal touches the varnish; pressed cork is unsuitable because it crumbles over time.
Is Palisander the same as rosewood?
Yes, Palisander is the German and rosewood the English name for the same wood.
Are the dimensions in rosewood the same as in ebony?
Yes, for the same model the dimensions are identical; in height, natural wood and handwork produce small deviations of up to around 1 mm.
Do I need CITES papers for a rosewood chin rest?
No, because since 14 December 2019, musical instrument parts made of East Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) have been exempt from CITES certification; our rosewood chin rests therefore reach you without a separate certificate.
Why are the feet of the Ysaÿe fitted individually?
Because on this model we fit them to each chin rest by hand; that is why they sit so precisely.
Can I raise a Hill chin rest?
The feet are firmly joined to the chin rest; unlike with closed screws, the height therefore cannot be changed through longer barrels.
These texts hold decades of experience and a great deal of heart. They are protected by copyright, C.A. Götz jr. GmbH. Please ask us before any use. Thank you for your appreciation.
