Shoulder Rests

A shoulder rest is chosen by height and tilt, not by the name on the box: a long neck or a flat collarbone needs more lift, and the two feet can be set at different heights so the instrument angles outward on its own. A wood body in maple or walnut sits firm and a little heavy against the shoulder, while the leather suspension of the Mach One MLS cradles the violin instead of pressing on it, and the two feel nothing alike under the collarbone. Some viola rests are sized by body length, which is why the Everest EZ-VA is listed as 15 to 16.5 inches, and others by fraction, and a small violin from 1/16 to 1/4 needs a rest built for that size, not a full-size one opened wide. If your case is shallow, a folding model such as the KUN Collapsible or the Kapaier 810S can stay on the instrument when you put it away.