Vermeer Chinrest Viola in Ebony, ZK-V281
ZK-V281
Mounted on the left side, with a wing that reaches over and around the tailpiece. Large, flat rounded plate with a low edge. Black stained ebony with the white Götz mark, the heaviest 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 | Ebony |
| Fittings | Screws and barrels in metal |
| Instrument | Viola |
| Item number | ZK-V281 |
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
When another model suits you better
Anyone seeking the central position with clear support in the middle will find it in the Flesch Traditionell.
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.