NS Design Balanced Shoulder Rest - a Solution
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- Опубліковано 18 чер 2012
- I hope this will be of some help to those players who have encountered difficulty with the NS Design Balanced Shoulder Rest (BSR) & Standard Shoulder Rest (SSR) Your comments are welcomed and I will read them but may not be able to reply.
Such a simple and brilliant solution! How come the NS people couldn't think of that? And you are right - if it's comfortable, can't be bad for you. Classical arts never cared about physical pain neither bothered about ergonomic designs. People just put up with that for centuries!
Quite true. thanks for your input Pedro Yi.
Appreciate the video so much! Especially after I got my BSR. Just wanted to let people know though that this isn't very comfortable for everyone, especially if you're someone with larger breasts and/or short neck. It's a good solution but it doesn't work for everyone!!
An NXT-5. That's what I call a Violin! As for the diameter, it might be an improvement in the NXT-5. My current project uses the SSR only. It has a longer support arm. Good if you've a fair length from collarbone to chin. I simply cut a paint roller shaft, put it in a vice and whacked it into the correct shape. It would suit a Giraffe (LOL). Diameters are compatible (with paint rollers sold in U.K.) I'll need to spray it black to take the 'chrome' look away. Glad to be of help...Phil.
OMG. At last, a solution that actually works! I have total support of my violin now and my sore back has gone. I'm going to put my acoustic away and start playing my wav 4 again. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you,Thank you!
Wow this is great to hear! After all these years, are you still using it?
Thank you very much my dear friend ! A wonderful 2017 to you !
Thanks Edu :-)
wow, this is really cool!!!
I had no idea you can adjust the violin on your neck.
And...olive oil? You are hilarious :-D
Are you Scottish?
NS Designs also sells an accessory to the BSR called the "Spider" for about $130. It lets you use your BSR (and SSR as Phil shows) with an acoustic violin.
If I could have a longer bar on the shoulder rest, or the option for a taller chinrest, there would be no need for this, but NS support was no help with this request.
Been thinking about getting a Yamaha YEV-105 violin, just so I can use standard compatible third party solutions, only thing stopping me is that my Nxt violin simply sounds better.
My pet hate was: You do all you can to make the shoulder rest fit and be comfortable, then, when you put it back in its case, you have to dismantle it again and go through the same set-up procedures to get back to where you were. The case should be larger to keep the shoulder rest on all the time. I sold my WAV 4 and have a Bridge Aquila now. I agree with what you say...the NXT sounds great. It might be worth getting a metal worker to make you a longer support rod and to bend it into shape like the original. After all, its just 'round bar steel'
regards, Phil
Happy to be of help...Phil
Thanks for the great idea here! I have used your technique with my NXT-5 and BSR and am finding it very comfortable. Far more secure and usable than either the SSR or BSR on its own. I did find that the BSR's support arm simply would not fit into my NXT-5.I measured and found that the BSR's support arm is nearly .02" larger in diameter than the SSR's support arm. I fixed that by using a metal file on the support arm until it fit readily.
Again, thanks for the great help!
How much longer is the BSR’s Support Arm vs the SSR? In terms of its length and how high you can set it up?
Thanks
And thank you for the feedback
I've tried this and its good for me. Cheers big ears!
Hi, when in it's normal position, it hooks over the shoulder with significant body contact and is sort of kept in position by counterweight. My way has less contact with the body and relies more on the counterweight. The negative points (if they are negative for you) are; that it keeps the fiddle firmly in position. It has no left to right movement. It's almost impossible to tilt to the left or right. If you dance your fiddle or dance with your fiddle, it's unsuitable. Thanks for comment.
I love this video
and I keep watching it again and again :-)
I just finished making a hilariously 'Heath Robinson' device that works on the same principle, with a lump of metal out the back for a counterweight. First signs are that it works and is sort of comfortable, but needs tweaking. Not so hard once I knew the principle behind it. Ta!
Not quite sure how the bsr works; is it just a counterweight for the violin, or does it somehow grip your back? Well done for such a thorough video, btw
Thanks Dede...Phil
Thanks FatherJ0hn. I had looked at this spider away back but it was a bit expensive. Now its down in price so I might think again. THANKS for reminding me. I never really had a problem with my Acoustic violin though, it was the WAV 4 that gave me a sore back until Phil came up with his solution. Did you see his new idea with the paint roller shaft? It sounds good. NS's website doesn't list any extened support arm for sale. This could be useful to people with longer necks.
Hi, I'm interested in this as want to buy an NS WAV. Can you tell me what is included with this? Will it have a shoulder rest and chin rest? Will the chin rest be adjustable? Do I ideally need to buy more accessories? I have done the whole frustration with shoulder rest on my acoustic so I am keen to get onto this. Comfort is everything. Thanks!
Hi Jennie. For an acoustic violin, I would suggest a Bon Musica shoulder rest (probably the best in the world) www.thomann.de/gb/bonmusica.html
and for a Chin rest I would suggest The "Kreddle" (The best in the world...in my opinion). www.kreddle.com/
I know what you've been through...'cause I've been there :-))
You get a chin rest and a shoulder rest with the WAV 4 but it is the standard shoulder rest, not the Balanced shoulder rest... which I feature in my video :-( The balanced shoulder rest is an optional attachment to the standard shoulder rest and is basically a flat bar of aluminum which is shaped and covered in a comfortable foam.
This is the Balanced shoulder rest... www.electricviolinshop.com/ns-violin-bsr.html
When I made this video, it was intended for players that had already purchased the BSR. I would not recommend the WAV 4 or BSR if you don't already own one.
The good points are...it stays in tune for ages, maybe 2-3 weeks and it sounds nice. The bad points however...are that it doesn't treat nylon cored strings with respect. It bites into them and this can result in snapping of the strings. You might get away with it for a while but eventually it will break through the casing of the string and cut through the "perlon" of the string. Thicker string gauges don't fit through pre-drilled channels for the strings. ('G' & sometimes 'D'). You're stuck with steel strings in other words.
Whether you have the SSR or BSR, you have to use a hexagonal wrench to dismantle the shoulder rest before putting it back in its case (something manufacturers don't tell you) It just won't allow the lid of the case to close. It's frustrating setting up & dismantling all the time. It's great if you stand it upright or hang it on the wall though.
In summary, I would say that if you don't mind steel strings and you don't gig (you only play at home) then the WAV series is a nice violin to have but the BSR is not cheap. I sold my WAV4 and BSR a while back and bought a "Bridge Aquila". I hope this information helps and assists you in making your decision to purchase or not. regards, Phil :-)
Thanks very much for your reply. Food for thought! I have had a very varied journey with my violin - from classical to playing in a folk rock band. But now I have realised how highly sensitive am to everything and how important it is to feel good, that I feel i need a new way ahead. And my bridge snapped on my acoustic so I took that as a sign for needing change! Blues is my thing and probably mostly I will have fun making videos for UA-cam. Playing out would be very occasional. it would have to be exactly the right setting for my nervous system and the right combination of instruments for my ears! I'm not so keen on the shape of the Bridge Aquila. My brain keeps telling me there are some pieces missing! I've tried a Yamaha and found very uncomfortable. The journey continues . . .
Phil, someone mentioned he could create a balance shoulder rest himself or something similar that works same way; can you ask everyone in a new video or do something that can help us finding a way to make a counter balance shoulder rest or to convert our shoulder rest into counter balance; It will be great for all who cant afford the NS design.
+philsskills why did you sell it?
Agreed!
I hope you get expected results from your work. The BSR is covered in oval shaped foam but if removed, it reveals a length of FLAT bar aluminium. This is what allows it to be bent into position on a repeated basis. Threaded bar is then welded onto the end so as to allow the round counterweight to screw on. You also might be interested on the long support leg I made. (See my reply to FatherJOhn). Cheers...Phil
Hi Phil, are you still fiddling my friend??? Just have a question: how long is that BSR Support Arm that goes onto the SSR into the violin? I’m wondering how much longer it is than the standard SSR Support Arm?
Thank you!
This is amazing, I know I’m 11 years late but here we are
@@meals24u Yes but I sold the NS design Violin around 2015, so I have no measurements I can give you. You can get some measurements here...www.stradviolin.com/shop/accessories/ns-balanced-shoulder-rest/
If you decide to make your own, 'Flat bar' Aluminium is the best solution. regards, Phil
@@philsskills oh wow, thank you phill for that information! I truly appreciate that very much! 🙏🙏
By the way, can you provide us the dimensions of the (long) metal stem, the one that comes with the BSR? I can see it comprises a 90-degree followed by a 45 degree three bend. The reason I'm asking is that even the NS store run out of stock of those BSR, so I'm looking at making one myself.
Sorry, I sold that particular violin back in 2015 and the BSR went with it.
Hey, I’m in the same shoes! How did you go about building your own?
Thanks
Pretty interesting - I think I need one for my guitar..ha ha.....
Just to let you know I'm getting on fine with my WAV 4. Thanks sooooooo much. Could you help with something else? It's a lament from Ireland. Written in early 1800's and set to music around 1850's I think. I need the sheet music and can't get it anywhere. It's called The death of an Irish maiden. Thanks, Alisha. Can anyone help?
Do you have a solution for the acoustic BSR?
+Lori Marty Hi Lori, I have not experimented with the Cradle for the acoustic version. I find my preference to be towards the Kreddle with or without the use of a Bon Musica shoulder rest. I feel that these two items are the best available in shoulder and chin rests. :-) This was the reason for not obtaining NS Design's acoustic BSR. ua-cam.com/channels/vkD36sDMjNNxx0JU2X67DA.html & ua-cam.com/video/cwO8-4vLaIo/v-deo.html
Hi Alisha, I think I know the one. It's entitled "an marú ar maiden gaeilge" (The killing of an Irish maiden) roughly translated. Last time I saw a score for this was about thirty something years ago. I was told back then that it was rare and was set to music around the time of the Potato blight. So you're probably right about the 1850's. Can ANYBODY help? I'll get back to you Alisha if no one else does...Phil
you should have used a spotlight on the shoulder rest and its components. As the clip is, one can hardly distinguish what you are doing as all the components blur into black an there is no detail at all. Also avoid having sun-lit white walls behind you.
In which language are you talking?
Ah, thank you! I thought it might be Egyptian or some other Arabic dialect. I didn't know that Scottish is that thick.
I know the expression "thick" only in the meaning of a remarkable accent
Too expensive, too much aggro. Just rest the Headstock onto the lower lip of a music stand. Cheap and simple..ha-ha...Phil