New Flesch Chinrest Viola in Boxwood, ZK-V300B
ZK-V300B
Mounted centrally over the tailpiece, with a gently rising curve and a clearly defined dip. Boxwood in a light golden tone with the black Götz mark, the lightest of the three woods.
- Central mounting brings the neck of the instrument in front of the body's centre line; for bowing this is more ergonomic than a purely side-mounted rest
- Screws and barrels in metal
- Supplied with one pair of barrels each in 32 mm and 35 mm
Technical data
| Model | New Flesch |
| Material | Boxwood |
| Fittings | Screws and barrels in metal |
| Instrument | Viola |
| Item number | ZK-V300B |
Features
- Contact points lined with Portuguese cork
- Alongside the Slim Style, one of the two models we also make for fractional sizes
- 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
Viola barrels come in 32 mm and 35 mm; many viola models are supplied with one pair in each length. What counts for the choice is the rib height at the lower bout, measured from back to top.
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 viola chin rests we have weighed come to between around 55 g and 67 g including screws.
Boxwood is the lightest of the three woods we use for chin rests; rosewood and ebony are denser. With titanium fittings the boxwood Berber comes down to around 41 g.
Our boxwood is Buxus sempervirens. It is a light wood, light brown to deep orange, and the shade depends on the batch. It darkens with age and use, which is why newly made boxwood chin rests are lighter than older ones. The wood is sensitive to moisture, so we only work with thoroughly dried parts.
Both Flesch shapes are mounted centrally over the tailpiece. At around 2.5 cm the New Flesch is a little higher than the Flesch Traditionell at around 2.0 cm; the Traditional in turn has a higher chin hump in the centre that supports the chin in the middle. The New Flesch sits further from the outer arching and closer to the chin and has no strongly curved contour, so it finds its position easily on many instruments.
With centrally mounted models, the height of the tailpiece above the top sets the minimum height of the chin rest. The viola version ZKV4880 also weighs 67 g with the same plate.
Our experience
When we advise on a viola, we ask for the rib height and then put together the matching pair of barrels. Our experience with tightening applies to the viola as well: only firmly enough that the chin rest holds securely, because the rib beside the bottom block is more delicate than the spot directly over the block.
We will try a darker re-staining on request, but the result rarely convinces us, because not all parts darken evenly.
For us the New Flesch is the classic, and for most of the musicians we advise, the favourite. We recommend the Flesch Traditionell when the chin is looking for clear support in the middle.
When another model suits you better
Anyone looking for a deep black will find many of our models in stained ebony too, the densest of the three woods.
Anyone looking for a central head position with even more hold will find two further shapes we recommend for this in the Berber and the Vermeer.
Frequently asked questions
Is boxwood subject to CITES?
No, boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) is not subject to CITES regulation; the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation confirmed this to us in 2016, and nothing has changed since.
Will my boxwood chin rest become darker?
Yes, boxwood darkens with age and use.
How do the New Flesch and the Flesch Traditionell differ?
The New Flesch is a little higher at around 2.5 cm and less strongly contoured; the Traditional measures around 2.0 cm and has a higher chin hump in the centre.
Do you make the Flesch in different heights?
No, the Flesch comes as the New Flesch and as the Flesch Traditionell, not in height steps; adjustment is made through the 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.