Violinist's (or Violist's) Neck

Do you suffer from Violinist’s neck? (Or the more unseemly term “fiddler’s hickey”). The causes and cures are varying and somewhat controversial. Take it from this violinist (now in retirement a violist), who has played for 65 years with an instrument between his jaw and shoulder, that it may be the most misunderstood malady in the upper strings.

I have had teachers insist on a shoulder pad or the immediate dispensing of one. In my 50 years of teaching I never thought one way or another was right or wrong. So, for the purposes of this article, we will ignore the shoulder pad issue, as it is often conflated with chinrest problems.

After reading several articles on violinist’s neck, I was surprised to find that consensus among medical professionals is easy to come by, and there is really little controversy about the leading causes of irritation for us upper and middle string voices. It is true that there are nickel sensitivities as well as allergic reactions to ebony. But they are rare. The main cause of this painful condition is just plain contact irritation and the off putting of sweat, oils, etc. that are absorbed by the wooden chinrest that create a fertile medium for bacterial growth.

1. Allergies:  NERO is hypoallergenic. It was studied extensively, and there are no toxic residues in the material. For those with an ebony sensitivity, this is a godsend, since it still looks as beautiful and natural as the finest regular Madagascar ebony.

For those with a nickel sensitivity, it can be mitigated by using the brass powder coated brackets, which will not eliminate all problems, but downgrade most players’ issues. Those brackets are available as an option on our website.

2. Bacterial Irritation:  Since NERO is impervious to sweat and oils, there is no chance of a build up on our chinrest like what occurs in the wood or a pad that covers your chinrest. NERO can be cleaned with a lightly soapy sponge and then dried carefully with an absorptive cloth. It will also tolerate most non-bleach household cleaners as well.

3. Friction: Besides using proper technique that doesn’t produce more tension than is necessary to use the chinrest as a lever to counterbalance the weight of the instrument, the proper model for you is crucial. From the flat Guarneri and Berlin to the Stuber and Berber models, we offer a range as diverse in shapes as anyone. In addition, we have consulted with teachers, performers, and our manufacturer to make our models comfortable, functional, and acoustically maximized. We also carry two models, the Houston and the Northwoods, that are custom designed and have received rave reviews from teachers and players.

We provide you with solutions for all of that!

So, come to us for comfort and functionality...FITTINGS MATTER!