Vermeer Chinrest Viola 4/4 in Boxwood, ZK-V283
ZK-V283
Mounted on the left side, with a wing that reaches over and around the tailpiece. Large, flat rounded plate with a low edge. Boxwood in a light golden tone with the black Götz mark, the lightest of the three woods.
- Lets the chin travel from the side section to over the tailpiece; plenty of freedom of movement
- Screws and barrels in metal
- Supplied with one pair of barrels each in 32 mm and 35 mm
Technical data
| Model | Vermeer |
| Material | Boxwood |
| Fittings | Screws and barrels in metal |
| Instrument | Viola |
| Item number | ZK-V283 |
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.
Boxwood is the lightest of the three woods we use for chin rests; rosewood and ebony are denser. With titanium fittings the boxwood Berber comes down to around 41 g.
Our boxwood is Buxus sempervirens. It is a light wood, light brown to deep orange, and the shade depends on the batch. It darkens with age and use, which is why newly made boxwood chin rests are lighter than older ones. The wood is sensitive to moisture, so we only work with thoroughly dried parts.
Its present curvature is flatter than that of the original shape, which we adapted a little over two decades ago. The Vermeer is built with closed screws; a conversion to Hill screws is not planned.
For a central head position we name it alongside the New Flesch, the Flesch Traditionell and the Berber. For the viola we include two pairs of barrels, so that it can be adapted to different rib heights.
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.
We will try a darker re-staining on request, but the result rarely convinces us, because not all parts darken evenly.
When another model suits you better
Anyone looking for a deep black will find many of our models in stained ebony too, the densest of the three woods.
Anyone seeking the central position with clear support in the middle will find it in the Flesch Traditionell.
Frequently asked questions
Is boxwood subject to CITES?
No, boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) is not subject to CITES regulation; the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation confirmed this to us in 2016, and nothing has changed since.
Will my boxwood chin rest become darker?
Yes, boxwood darkens with age and use.
Can the Vermeer be converted to Hill screws?
No, the Vermeer is built for closed screws; it is, however, made in a titanium -T version.
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.
