Stüber Chinrest Violin Ebony, ZK-301
ZK-301
Compact, relatively high shape that flattens towards the top on the left side. Pronounced curvature, the chin finds a secure hold. Black stained ebony with the white Götz mark, the heaviest of the three woods.
- Often chosen together with the Berber
- Screws and barrels in metal
- Barrels up to 27 mm for the 4/4 violin
Technical data
| Model | Stüber |
| Material | Ebony |
| Fittings | Screws and barrels in metal |
| Instrument | Violin |
| Item number | ZK-301 |
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
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.
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.
How density shows in the finished piece can be seen on the violin Berber, which has the same shape in all three woods: in ebony with standard metal fittings around 56 g, in rosewood around 49 g, in boxwood around 45 g.
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.
Of our models, the Stüber is the one most strongly designed for chin support. The Hamburg has a higher curve at the top that gives the chin extra grip, and it runs out longer. Compared with the Hamburg, the Stüber is rounder and smaller.
The violin Stüber ZK-303 in boxwood weighs 56 g with screws, with a plate of 6.3 × 11.7 cm and barrels up to 27 mm. We make the Hamburg in ebony only, the Stüber in ebony and boxwood. For the Hamburg we use deep black ebony of documented origin.
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.
For anyone who wants to play without a shoulder rest and hold the instrument securely with the chin, our first recommendation is the Stüber. On the violin, the Hamburg in ebony is among our best-selling standard models.
When another model suits you better
Anyone who would like less weight at the chin will find many of our models in boxwood too, the lightest of the three woods; on the violin Berber that is around 11 g less than in ebony.
Anyone who prefers a flat, side-mounted rest will find it in the Slim Style or the Kaufmann.
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.
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.
Do you also make the Hamburg in rosewood or boxwood?
No, we make the Hamburg in ebony only, stained or unstained.
Which of the two gives more hold?
For pure chin support the Stüber; with its higher curve at the top the Hamburg offers good grip for the chin.
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.
