Vermeer Chinrest Viola in natural Ebony, ZK-V281-NAT
ZK-V281-NAT
Mounted on the left side, with a wing that reaches over and around the tailpiece. Large, flat rounded plate with a low edge. Natural ebony with brown to grey figure; every piece shows its own grain.
- 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 | Unstained ebony |
| Fittings | Screws and barrels in metal |
| Instrument | Viola |
| Item number | ZK-V281-NAT |
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.
The suffix -NAT stands for unstained ebony: it is not stained, only treated with beeswax. The natural features of the wood with their grain flames therefore remain visible; the difference from stained ebony is purely aesthetic and not a difference in quality.
As a wood it is the same dense ebony; after working, the chin rests are stored for several months to dry through. Of the three woods we use for chin rests, ebony is the densest, ahead of rosewood and boxwood. African ebony (Diospyros crassiflora) has a density of 1,000 to 1,050 kg/m³ at 12 % moisture content.
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 make the unstained chin rests with 1.5 mm cork on the feet, just like the stained ones.
When another model suits you better
Anyone looking for a consistently deep black to match stained ebony pegs will choose the same model in stained ebony.
Anyone seeking the central position with clear support in the middle will find it in the Flesch Traditionell.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the NAT version differ visually from the stained one?
The difference is small: the unstained wood shows its natural features and grain flames, while stained ebony is black throughout.
Do you also make boxwood as a NAT version?
No, the suffix -NAT is used by us for ebony only; boxwood is a light wood in any case.
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.
