Morawetz Chinrest Viola Rosewood, ZK-V4841R-HIGH
ZK-V4841R-HIGH
Mounted on the left side, with wings towards the tailpiece. Rounded dip with an additional step at the edge. Rosewood with a warm reddish brown figure and the white Götz mark.
- Available in three plate heights, so it can be matched closely to neck length
- High plate (2.8 cm), for a long neck
- Screws and barrels in metal
Technical data
| Model | Morawetz |
| Material | Rosewood |
| Fittings | Screws and barrels in metal |
| Instrument | Viola |
| Item number | ZK-V4841R-HIGH |
Features
- Contact points lined with Portuguese cork
- Supplied with one pair of barrels each in 32 mm and 35 mm
- 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.
We make the Morawetz in three heights: Low, Med and High.
- Low: plate 1.8 × 10.0 × 5.5 cm, 45 g including screws
- Med: plate 2.4 × 10.6 × 5.6 cm, 52 g including screws
- High: plate 2.8 × 10.4 × 5.3 cm, 61 g including screws
Between Low and High, 1 cm more plate height adds around 16 g on the scales. Low and Med are close in their dimensions; they differ clearly in plate height, 1.8 against 2.4 cm. Portuguese cork sits at the contact points.
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.
For anyone looking for more height and hold at the chin, we often recommend the Morawetz High. The Morawetz High can also be built as a viola chin rest.
When another model suits you better
Anyone looking above all for chin support will be well served by the Stüber, which of our models is the one most strongly designed for it.
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 the Morawetz also made for the viola?
Yes, we also make the Morawetz as a viola chin rest, with the same wooden plate and longer fittings.
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.