Kaufmann Chinrest Viola Rosewood, ZK-V4255
ZK-V4255
Mounted on the left side and kept flat, with a rim running all the way round. In principle like the Slim Style, only higher and with a little more hold. Rosewood with a warm reddish brown figure and the white Götz mark.
- Side mounting shifts the neck of the instrument slightly forward; for flexible, mobile playing
- Screws and barrels in metal
- Supplied with one pair of barrels each in 32 mm and 35 mm
Technical data
| Model | Kaufmann |
| Material | Rosewood |
| Fittings | Screws and barrels in metal |
| Instrument | Viola |
| Item number | ZK-V4255 |
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
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.
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.
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 Slim Style and the Kaufmann are mounted beside the tailpiece and built flat. The Slim Style is around 11 mm high in every wood; the Kaufmann is built a little higher, on the ZK-4255 in rosewood 13 mm without and 14.5 mm with cork.
The Slim Style runs straight back and is built for instruments with a usual arching of the top. The Slim models go with short 25 mm barrels. Because of its flat shell shape, we also know the Slim ZK-256 in-house as the Flat or shallow shell. We make the Slim Style in rosewood, in stained and unstained ebony and in boxwood. On the viola the Kaufmann ZK-V4256 in ebony weighs 55 g with a plate of 6.4 × 10.9 cm.
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.
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.
We keep receiving warm feedback on the Slim; one teacher wrote to tell us they recommend the thin chin rests to all their students. With a very highly arched top, we are glad to look at a photo of the instrument before choosing.
When another model suits you better
Anyone looking for more hold at the chin than these flat shapes offer will find higher-built models in the Morawetz High or the Stüber.
Frequently asked questions
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.
Is there a left-handed Slim Style or Kaufmann?
We do not make a dedicated left-handed version; a Kaufmann can be fitted, but it does not sit exactly symmetrically.
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.