| Model | Berber |
| Material | Boxwood |
| Fittings | Screws and barrels in metal |
| Instrument | Viola |
| Item number | ZK-V269B |
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.
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.
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.
We are happy to recommend the Berber to anyone looking for a shape with closed screws for a central head position.
Anyone looking for a deep black will find many of our models in stained ebony too, the densest of the three woods.
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.
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.
Yes, boxwood darkens with age and use.
No, we build the Berber with closed screws only, optionally in 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.