Bonmusica 4/4 Violin Shoulder Rest

The Bonmusica shoulder rest represents some very high level thinking, when it comes to properly positioning and placing the instrument. The rest is malleable and can be fitted to just about any physique, bending with little force, but strong enough to hold its shape during normal use. This rest works amazingly well, as its over the shoulder design triangulates the support points on the instrument in a manner unique to the Bonmusica. The instrument's weight is then evenly distributed between the collarbone, the chin rest, and just over the left shoulder. This makes the instrument infinitely easier to support, and frees up left hand movement exponentially. It automatically places the violin in an ideal playing position, so much so that you could hand your instrument to just about anyone and the rest would guide them to a correct, well supported position, with little to no adjusting. My complaints are few. First, the rest has a lot of adjustable parts and is prone to loose nuts and screws. I wouldn't recommend the rest for a small child, as I could easily envision them losing a critical component, making the rest useless at that point. Just make sure you tighten all the screws and nuts periodically. Also, the rest is meant to be flexible and adjustable, and will work best for you if you take the time to find the correct fitment. Do not expect a "rock solid" shoulder rest. Lastly, freedom of motion is limited. You will support the instrument easily, but you will also lose some ability to sway with the instrument, which could be a deal breaker if you move a great deal while playing. Overall, the Bonmusica has been the best rest I've owned, and I've owned them all. Once you use it, it sells itself to your colleagues, that's for sure.

Superb adjustability. After careful shaping this thing is rock solid stable. It hangs over the shoulder and rests on your clavicle/sternum. The combination of shoulder hook and chest friction prevents unwanted pivot assuring consistent bow angle and scroll height. I use a center chin rest and combined with the Bon Musica the whole thing feels very secure so tension is relieved and there is much less fatigue. Count on fiddling with it at each practice session for a couple of weeks to get it properly adjusted. Twist it, bop it and twang it until it feels like part of your torso. It is pretty much indestructible. Hilary Hahn performs with this on her bare shoulder, so draw your own conclusions. After adjusting mine a joint was perilously close to precious finish so I protected the threatening parts with gaffers tape around the joint. Minor drawbacks: You will have to re-tighten the thumb nuts occasionally, and it likely won't fit in your case.

The Bon Musica is such an outstanding shoulder rest and exactly what I've been looking for! It is completely bendable metal and fully adjustable in so many ways to fit the exact contour of your body. And as I just recently found out, it can be run over by a truck, mangled, and still be bent (or rather hammered) back into shape! Amazing! After a long search, the Bon Musica has made my violin extremely comfortable and I no longer have any neck, shoulder, or back strain. This shoulder rest does take a good while to fit, however, because it is designed to be bent and twisted to fit the player exactly. That is why at first, it seems very unnatural, especially the part that hooks over the shoulder. But once fiddling with it enough, it forms a perfect fit! If you are looking for a low profile shoulder rest or are a smaller musician, the Bon Musica probably would not be best for you, as it can only be adjusted so low and also has some weight to it. You will also want to consider the space in your case, as this shoulder rest may not fit very well in small cases. This is how mine happened to drop in a parking lot and get run over. All in all, I love this shoulder rest and will be using it for a very long time!

I have degenerative disk disease in my back and at times I practice so long that my back begins to ache. I then tend to lower my left hand and bring the violin around to the front a little more than necessary. This product will not allow you to do so without its edge cutting into your shoulder. I now have no choice but to keep correct posture while playing. So, take heed, lazy players, this shoulder rest will improve your playing by correcting you poor posture. Another plus to this product is the craftsmanship. It is well made and adjusts in so many ways it may take a while to find the right position for you. However, once you do, you won't go back to a Kun style shoulder rest again. Gives a very good sense of security supporting the violin, which is why I bought the Bon Musica Shoulder Rest. Excelent for beginners. Finally, you do need to be careful to adjust the feet for a proper fit. It took a while to adjust the feet so it would stay attached to my violin. It did fall off a time or two until I found the proper adjustment for the feet. Enjoy.