Five things decide whether a shoulder rest suits you and your violin. Here is each one, and how the Cadenza rest answers it.
Our criteria
Fit on your violin size. A rest that is a centimeter off slides. The big Cadenza model runs 20.3 cm (8.0 in) along the arch and fits 4/4 and 3/4 violins; the small model runs 15.8 cm (6.2 in) and fits 1/4 and 1/8 violins; both stand 4.4 cm (1.7 in) tall. A half-size (1/2) violin falls between the two and is not covered by either, and on a compact 3/4 the big model sits at the roomy end of its range. The sizes guide shows how to measure.
Hold and grip. The feet clamp onto the ribs of the violin, with no tools and no sticky pads. Seat the feet firmly, until the groove clicks over the edge, and the rest holds; perch them lazily and it can slide. The technique that fixes it is in our setup guide.
Comfort. The arch is a foam pad over a slim metal core. The foam is on the thin side, so players with bony shoulders sometimes lay a thin cloth over it.
Adjustment. The two feet pivot on thumbscrew joints for width and angle, and the joints hold their set position. It is a fixed-arch design with no height tower: it raises the violin a modest amount rather than several inches.
Folding and portability. The feet fold in against the arch, so the rest lies flat and drops into most violin cases, with no loose bracket and nothing to lose between lessons.
What this changes for you
You know which model fits your violin before you order, and how to seat it so it stays put. Every order ships free and carries a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can read buyer feedback on our reviews page, learn more about the team on about Cadenza, or reach us through contact.
