The Mach One Maple Wood Hook Viola Shoulder Rest is a great option for violists looking for a lightweight, form-fitting shoulder rest with excellent acoustic properties.
All Mach One shoulder rests have been ergonomically designed to mould perfectly to the player’s chest/shoulder, eliminating the need for thick padding. The body has been hand carved out of a single piece of maple, while the contact surface is a thin piece of suede leather that provides comfort and grip. This particular model has a ‘hook’ shape which is designed to hook over the shoulder to prevent the shoulder rest from sliding off.
Adding weight and/or foam to a shoulder rest can dampen the sound of your instrument, so the idea behind the lack of thick foam padding is also not to hinder the vibrations of the viola, allowing for a more open and resonant sound. The feet can also have a dampening effect; however, the Mach One feet have also been designed with sound in mind, having minimal contact with the instrument.
We have performed blindfold tests in-store that have shown that Mach One shoulder rests really do outperform the rest when it comes to sound performance, with some staff members saying that the wooden Mach One rests actually improved the sound of the instrument!
Mach One shoulder rests are made and designed by Peter Mach, a Luthier based in Canada. Peter’s goal was to “design a shoulder rest that is so comfortable that you don’t even know it’s there!” His Luthier background has helped to create not only a fully functional shoulder rest, but also a beautiful one to compliment the beauty of the viola.
- Available Sizes:
Small – Fits violas with lower bout width from 222 to 245mm
Medium – Fits violas with lower bout width from 230 to 262mm
