PIRASTRO KorfkerRest Model 2 for Violin

I am delighted with this shoulder rest and I have tried most of them! I have a very long neck and this is the most secure and adjustable rest I have used. It is quite tricky to set up and takes a lot of patience to understand the instructions. But it inclines beautifully for people that play with an over-the-tail chin rest. It also allows for the most instrument resonance of any shoulder rest I have tried. Pricey but worth it!

The sound was amazing, but the rubber kept slipping when it was warm in my condo. I did try adjusting it and tightening it....nothing worked. The thought of it slipping during a concerto gave me nightmares so I just returned and am back to the Kun Voce which doesn't slip....

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I like the slick shape and appearance, but I have been struggling with it. I am not a professional player, but I can tell that this shoulder rest is not very comfy and I will try to exchange it.

Perhaps because I am such a fan of Pirastro, when the KorfkerRest first came out I was very eager to try it. I was just starting a Masters of Music and used it exclusively for over a year in preparation for my first recital. So, between rehearsals and practice sessions I've had a lot of time to become familiar with the shoulder rest and give it a thorough assessment. The first thing that is truly striking about the product is how light it is. This was Pirastro's raison d'Ítre; since the shoulder rest was made of light tone wood, the idea is that it would not restrict the vibrations of the instrument. My honest opinion is that it makes little to no difference in that regard. I notice no discernible change from my Bonmusica shoulder rest. My guess is, since the shoulder rest is in constant contact with your shoulder anyway, the real difference is in where the shoulder rest contacts the instrument. In this regard, the KorfkerRest is not all that different from most other shoulder rests. But even if it had really improved the tone of my violin, I would still rank it very low. It is one of the most uncomfortable shoulder rests that I have ever used. The first problem is that it is very narrow and has just the bare minimum of padding. I was constantly adjusting my violin while playing to try and find a somewhat more comfortable position. The padding itself is also prone to wearing off. Within the year I was using it, I had to buy replacement pads (which aren't easy to locate!). Also, I am fairly tall with a long neck. I couldn't get the shoulder rest high enough to feel totally secure under my chin. This won't be a problem for everyone, but it was certainly a drawback. Adjusting the shoulder rest is needlessly complicated. It is very difficult to explain, but the angle, pitch, and even the tension is adjusted by loosening two screws on each arm of the shoulder rest. I really struggled to get everything set up even close to what I wanted. And if both arms are not perfectly parallel with one another, the shoulder rest won't stay attached to your instrument. Another irritating point is that the screws gradually come loose during playing. And because the tension of the shoulder rest against the instrument is also adjusted with these screws, when they begin to loosen, the shoulder rest slips right off the instrument. After more than a year of use I finally gave up on the KorfkerRest and went right back to the Bonmusica I'd been using since I was in high school. I really wanted to like this shoulder rest. But in the end I cannot recommend it in the slightest. It is extremely expensive, finicky, and certain details seem not well thought out.

I purchased the KorfkerRest shoulder rest in 2014 and am thrilled with it. I've played professionally for years and messed about with countless other shoulder rests. The KorfkerRest is amazingly comfortable but a bit tricky to set up. However once you have the rest fitted to your liking you'll never regret the purchase. It's beautiful to look at, featherlight and my violin has never sounded better.

I have a long neck and skinny shoulders and have tried countless different shoulder rests over the years...but my search is finally over! This rest is completely adjustable and unbelievably lightweight. My violin sounds wonderful and my shoulders and upper back are finally happy. It's also the first wooden shoulder rest I've tried that doesn't jam into my collar bone. My violin is very small and I had a hard time adjusting the shoulder rest so that the feet weren't at extreme angles. The extra hardware in the ergo pack helped with further adjustments and now the rest is completely stable on my violin. This shoulder rest is absolutely the way to go!!

I debated a long time before getting this shoulder rest because of the cost, but in the end decided it was worth a try. Iíll start with the things I love. This shoulder rest is amazingly light, stays on the violin really well, and allows the violin to resonate better than anything Iíve ever used. The problem is, no matter how many ways I adjust it, itís uncomfortable (partly because thereís almost no padding-i guess thatís how they made it so light) and leads to left arm pain after a short time playing. If I canít find a way to make it more comfortable, this will be an expensive mistake.

I was sent some adjustments for the shoulder rest and have found it fits better than my previous review. The sound is quite wonderful.

I would like to say better things about this rest because it is a great concept and has some unique qualities. But, it hasn't been good so far. I used the ergo pack and found that all the screws together are what's holding the position. Even one slightly loose screw and you risk it falling against your varnish. Customer service at both Shar and Pirastro is excellent but unfortunately those benefits haven't yet been able to help the product work for my body. Because shaping the rest is part of trying it, this is a pricey item that cannot be returned if trialed. I watched the video tutorials and am a pretty handy person but could not find a comfortable adjustment. It either slips off my shoulder or digs into a nervy area. I will keep trying because as everyone has said, the sound quality is an upgrade. The last resort for me is to try a new chin rest. I have the side chin rest currently so trying a center attachment would give me more positional wiggle room. Currently, I can only recommend this rest for the sound and the secure fit on the violin. I cannot recommend it for its "try-ability" or universal fit potential. Side note, tiny screws are easily stripped, no matter how beautiful the rest of the materials are, so they will get worn down during the timely and elaborate setup process. They are easily replaced but, I personally am not enjoying having to put this much money, time, and focus into my shoulder rest. All bodies are different and this rest just hasn't worked out for me yet. I will update my review if I have a breakthrough. Here's hoping

I've been using the KorfkerRest for over a year now. It's amazingly light, stays securely on the instrument, and allows my violin to resonate better than anything I've ever used (and I've tried a lot of shoulder rests over the years!) It's expensive, but once I heard how much better my violin sounds, I considered it in the same category as an instrument adjustment or upgrade. Since using the original KorfkerRest, I've had an opportunity to try the updated version, and I really like the thicker padding and improved adjustability. There is a learning curve with this shoulder rest--I had to experiment a bit and consult the webpage--but now I couldn't be happier.

I splurged for this rest and I donít regret it. It is the most confortable Iíve ever been playing. Itís ingenious in its design, infinitely adjustable and weighs almost nothing.