Flesch Traditionell Chinrest Viola Ebony, ZK-V4880
ZK-V4880
Mounted centrally over the tailpiece, with the classic ridge and a pronounced curvature. Named after the violinist and teacher Carl Flesch. Black stained ebony with the white Götz mark, the heaviest of the three woods.
- Plenty of stability for players who hold the instrument firmly with the chin; heavier than the flat models, the instrument sits higher
- Screws and barrels in metal
- Supplied with one pair of barrels each in 32 mm and 35 mm
Technical data
| Model | Flesch Traditionell |
| Material | Ebony |
| Fittings | Screws and barrels in metal |
| Instrument | Viola |
| Item number | ZK-V4880 |
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
- The ebony we use is not subject to CITES requirements
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.
Ebony is the densest of the three woods we use for chin rests, followed by rosewood and boxwood. African ebony (Diospyros crassiflora) has a density of 1,000 to 1,050 kg/m³ at 12 % moisture content. Only the deep black heartwood is suitable for instrument making; the broad sapwood is discarded.
It is stained mainly with walnut stain and then polished; this gives the even black surface. After making, our chin rests are stored for several months so that they dry through completely.
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.
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 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 the ebony coloured?
Yes, our ebony chin rests are stained and polished so that they are evenly black. Anyone who wants to see the natural figure of the wood chooses the unstained version with the suffix -NAT.
How dense is ebony compared with rosewood?
On average, African ebony at around 1,030 kg/m³ is just under a fifth denser than East Indian rosewood at around 870 kg/m³.
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.