Zurich model chin rest by Wittner in Hi-Tec composite, played to the side, centrally mounted, height and tilt selectable.
- Hi-Tec composite, described by the maker as anti-allergenic
- For the Augsburg an adapter pair adding 8 mm is also available
- Wittner in Isny, founded 1895, today a division of Gewa Music GmbH
Technical data
| Model | Zurich |
| Material | Hi-Tec composite |
| Mounting | central |
| Country of manufacture | Germany |
Features
- Zurich model
- Height and tilt selectable
In practice
- Together with the shoulder rest, the chin rest determines your posture. With a long neck the height of the chin rest is the right lever, not a shoulder rest wound up to maximum.
- After fitting, check the clamping screws: tight enough that nothing moves, and not so tight that the rib edge is marked.
- Nothing hard belongs between chin rest and rib. Where the rest bears, a thin cork pad protects the varnish.
- Anti-allergenic is the maker's wording and refers to the material. It does not mean free of allergens.
Versions
- 4/4 + 3/4 One size, WIT-258111
- 1/2 One size, WIT-258131
- 4/4 + 3/4 (without key) One size, WIT-258211
- Viola Standard, WIT-259131
- Viola Hi-Tec, WIT-259231
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 Wittner chin rests Augsburg and Zürich are not wooden chin rests. On the Augsburg, height and tilt are selectable, and it is centrally mounted. They thus complement our wooden range, whose chin rests have a fixed height and are adjusted only through the barrels.
The Augsburg is made for the violin in 4/4 and 3/4 as well as in the small sizes 1/2 and 1/4.
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 another model suits you better
Anyone who prefers a wooden chin rest will find a centrally mounted shape in our New Flesch, which we also make for small violins.
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.
Can the height of the Augsburg be adjusted?
Yes, on the Augsburg height and tilt are selectable.
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.
