Chinrest Viola, BERBER, Ebony, Titanium, ZK-V269-T
ZK-V269-T
Mounted centrally over the tailpiece, with a small wing to the left and the corner that gives it the ear shape. That corner saves wood and therefore weight. Black stained ebony with the white Götz mark, the heaviest of the three woods.
- Screws and barrels in pure titanium, uncoated and free of nickel
- Sized for viola rib heights
Technical data
| Model | Berber |
| Material | Ebony |
| Fittings | Screws and barrels in pure titanium |
| Instrument | Viola |
| Item number | ZK-V269-T |
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.
The Berber is one of the shapes we recommend for a central head position. It is built with closed screws only, not with Hill screws.
In the titanium version we fit the Berber with 27 mm titanium screws. The Berber comes with a small tool for adjustment, and standard chin rest keys fit as well. The Berber with titanium screws comes in ebony, boxwood and rosewood; the upper parts are fitted, the lower parts are screwed on by hand.
On the versions with the suffix -T, screws and barrels are made of pure titanium. Screws and barrels in titanium Grade 2 weigh around 42 to 44 per cent less than the same shapes in steel.
On the Guarneri in rosewood the scales show the difference: around 51 g with standard metal screws, around 45 g with titanium screws. Pure titanium contains no nickel and resists corrosion without any coating, including from perspiration. A thread in pure titanium runs a little stiffer than one in an alloy and therefore likes a light oiling.
We make our titanium screws ourselves in Wernitzgrün. We offer titanium in the closed design only; pure titanium cannot be brought into the geometry that Hill fittings need.
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 are happy to recommend the Berber to anyone looking for a shape with closed screws for a central head position.
For us titanium is the choice when a chin rest is meant to stay on the instrument for decades: in normal use we know of no limit to its lifespan.
When another model suits you better
Anyone who would like to combine the central position with pronounced support in the middle will be well served by the Flesch Traditionell with its chin hump.
Anyone who values the classic Hill fitting will find it on our models with gold-plated Hill screws, whose feet are firmly joined to the chin rest.
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.
Do you make the Berber with Hill screws?
No, we build the Berber with closed screws only, optionally in titanium.
Can I convert a chin rest to titanium later?
With models that have closed screws, yes; the titanium screws are also sold individually for this. Models with Hill screws cannot be converted to titanium.
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.