As we have seen in this post most people will need a help to support their violin hold, mostly because their neck is simply too long to keep the violin between shoulder and jaw bone.
So you are shopping for a shoulder rest. Almost inevitably you will come across two major brands: the Canadian Kun and the German Wolf.
While both build excellent shoulder rests there are some differences I’d like to explain.
For copyright reasons I just post two links to the pictures:
Kun Original
Wolf Forte Secondo
Kun’s product is rather light. It’s made of plastic with a contact face of synthetic foam. The shoes or forks as they call it attached to the violin are coated to prevent scratches or other damage to the violin.
Same solution we see at the Wolf Forte Secondo. The main difference between both is the material of the frame. While Wolf uses synthetic foam as well, the base is made of metal and it’s much larger and also heavier, giving it a more rugged look.
Both rests are adjustable by screws although you can adjust the Wolf for longer necks when it’s “out of the box”. But I’m sure you can also get longer screws for the shoes if you ask Kun.
So, what are the advantages or shortcomings of both rests?
As I mentioned above Kun’s shoulder rest is pretty light. Some people would say “unstable” though that’s a matter of taste and direct comparison. If you are coming from the Wolf you would feel unstable with the Kun. After some days that might change.
Kun’s light weight, on the other hand, makes it pretty comfortable. Sometimes you don’t have the impression of using a shoulder rest at all, whereas the Wolf will never let you forget you are using it.
Another issue is the size of the contact face on the shoulder. The larger it is the more friction you get. Due to Wolf’s much larger surface it lies very stable on your shoulder. It’s almost impossible to shift the violin into a position it isn’t meant for, making it ideal for beginners and unexperienced violinists.
The instrument sits on your shoulder as if attached with screws. With the Kun you have to be more careful not to spoil your violin hold.
As I said, the adjustment is basically the same. Fully extended you will get more stability from the Wolf because also the forks are made of metal.
My suggestion – as you will guess already – try them out. Both are great, perhaps, and that’s my personal opinion, the Wolf is more suitable for beginners and people with really long necks.
To make your decision even more difficult:
Have you ever heard of the Kun Voce? That means Kun’s light weight with the high tech material carbon fiber, making it amazingly stable. That’s the shoulder rest I use myself. The only real disadvantage is the price. When I heard it my first thought was “what an impudence”, but it’s worth the money.
For those interested in this shoulder rest here the link:
Kun Voce
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I recently came up with a chest support and strap that holds the violin in position without the use of your neck and chin, I am trying to contact some distributors, such as Kun and Wolf can anybody help me.
I would be hesitant to label any shoulder rest as merely “for beginners”. I use a wolf primo and have been playing for 20 years.
A lot of websites mislabel those circular red sponges as shoulder rests for beginners yet you see a lot of professionals using them.
Also if a shoulder rest fits you correctly, you don’t notice the weight at all. It really comes down to what fits your body best.
Thanks for your comment. But I never wrote a particular shoulder rest would be merely for beginners. The Wolf rest is ideal for beginners. Nevertheless I used one for three decades until I moved to Kun.
My advice, as I wrote at the end: try them out.