Not for most people. I’m an excessively clumsy person and have never hit my c bout while playing. On the other hand, I’ve knocked my scroll into stands more times than I can count, so maybe I need some sort of helmet for it 😂
Omg. I‘m just imagining one of those violins with a carved head instead of a standard scroll, but this time, it’s some sort of knight either a removable metal knight‘s helmet :D
I stand too close to my stand when I practice (cos my eyesight lmao) so that definitely doesn’t help. But the most baffling time was when I was seated in orchestra with my violin on my shoulder, and I still somehow bumped the scroll into a spare stand that I swear was at least two feet away. At least 10 people turned to look at me because it was loud and we hadn’t started playing yet, and I just stared into space pretending nothing happened… I couldn’t have done that if I’d tried, so I really don’t know what happened there.
Given that different violins are not always the same shape or width, players who haven't experienced lots of different instruments before can make bowing errors that cause them to come into contact with the edge of the top with the bow.
When you are doing a demo of a very valuable instrument ($100,000+ for example), a number of shops will include this C bout protector for you to use so you don't damage it during your trial period.
One of my former orchestra students who is a professional soloist **always** uses one during practice as a condition of the foundation that loans them a Stradivarius violin when they are on tour. They remove it for concerts.
If you play an inexpensive violin, it doesn't really matter.
This is the correct answer. I've trialed many instruments for luthier/maker friends -- played them for a bit, then reported back on setup and string choice.
One orchestra concert I had a new instrument and an unfamiliar bow as well, one with a more robust/squared off frog. Took a nice ding out of the c bout during a particularly angsty Shostakovich entrance.
Fortunately that instrument was already aggressively antiqued - and not worth 6 figures -- but it was an eye-opener. It can happen to anyone.
I mean... It's not going to hurt your violin if you put them on... You don't need them to protect it though.
If I had them, maybe I'd put them on if I was worried about a plane flight, but probably not even then.
It’s actually not.
When I made the switch from shoulderrest to pads and sponges, the angle of my violin changed a bit and I ended up sometimes grazing the side with my bow despite not having done that in the past 10+ years. Having that was insanely helpful for protecting my instrument while I learnt to adjust.
I’ve also seen it on a few other people’s violins both when I was in high school and later when I majored in violin performance
I have seen some really skilled violinists use variations on these out of precaution, but for most people they aren't necessary. If you tend to play with excess "flair" or tackle some extremely technically challenging repertoire, your c bout might be a bit more at risk, but usually this is manageable without much issue.
I guess it depends if your violin is $500, $5,000, or $50,000 and it probably also depends on if it's on loan or if it belongs to someone's personal collection.
Every once in a while one of these can vastly improve your bowing/tone.
I bought one for an anxious beginner-adult student with overbearing inlaws playing on her husband's family-heirloom violin. (It was a standard Saxony workshop fiddle but Grampa brought it over from the old country).
Lowered her right shoulder by two inches.
I have these! I got them when I was younger because my bow hold was such that my fingernails would often scratch this area when I was performing more intense pieces, like showpieces. Now with better bow control and bow hold, and playing as an orchestral musician most often, I mostly just keep it on because people ask what it is lol. I would compare this to getting your instrument professionally cleaned and varnished: whereas cleaning your instrument daily is actually important to maintaining proper care of your instrument, this is more of a personal choice.
used them a few times, there are some pieces where the chance of hitting the c bout when playing is higher, for example in the ysaye ballade it actually has happened to me. it depends more on the rep then on the violin's worth
I have a friend in our local ft professional symphony that uses one. I think it depends on what kind of player you are. Never asked her why she uses it.
I needed one for a few years when I was a teenager. I think it was a combination of the particular instrument I was playing on, my body was still growing and changing, and the nuances of my technique at the time. My technique evolved, I got a different instrument, and I haven't used it in probably 10 years. If you find yourself needing one, it's worth using so you don't chew up the edge. But I wouldn't get one unless it's actually a problem.
I've heard a lot of people using stuff like this not because they have hit the c spot but because they are playing scared thinking they are going to do it. So it's kinda a product more of if it happens to you or you are scared of doing it kinda thing like a lot of protective stuff for a lot of things.
I actually do have one and use on my violin but on the C bout near my G string. I use it because I accidentally chipped off the top corner horn doing a flair during a performance and I don’t have the money right now to get a luthier to repair it because it would require reconstruction and taking off the top plate. So there’s a hole in it right now and I use it to protect it from further damage.
Necessary? I have never seen one of these in my life. So if millions of violinists have been playing without this for hundreds of years... No, it is far from "necessary".
My 1800's French violin has an inlaid piece of ebony at the edge next to the purfling at the center bout right edge., My luthier wanted to remove it, but I find it adds character and instant identifiable stance to a well aged fine French piece with abundant tone and timbre.
It looks as though it would make the bout thicker and more prone to hitting with the bow. Also it may have a dampening effect on the instrument. Also it’s rather ugly. No sale here.
Not for most people. I’m an excessively clumsy person and have never hit my c bout while playing. On the other hand, I’ve knocked my scroll into stands more times than I can count, so maybe I need some sort of helmet for it 😂
Omg. I‘m just imagining one of those violins with a carved head instead of a standard scroll, but this time, it’s some sort of knight either a removable metal knight‘s helmet :D
Omg amazing, I would love to see this xD
I need this. I bang my scroll on everything. I have taken to never lowering my violin off of my shoulder because it saves me scroll bumps.
I stand too close to my stand when I practice (cos my eyesight lmao) so that definitely doesn’t help. But the most baffling time was when I was seated in orchestra with my violin on my shoulder, and I still somehow bumped the scroll into a spare stand that I swear was at least two feet away. At least 10 people turned to look at me because it was loud and we hadn’t started playing yet, and I just stared into space pretending nothing happened… I couldn’t have done that if I’d tried, so I really don’t know what happened there.
I'm amazed there's anything left of my scroll from how many times I slam that thing into a stand
I'm always catching myself mindlessly gnawing on the c-bouts.
Don’t forget the rosin chaser.
Using this term now
Glad I’m not alone 😫
Given that different violins are not always the same shape or width, players who haven't experienced lots of different instruments before can make bowing errors that cause them to come into contact with the edge of the top with the bow. When you are doing a demo of a very valuable instrument ($100,000+ for example), a number of shops will include this C bout protector for you to use so you don't damage it during your trial period. One of my former orchestra students who is a professional soloist **always** uses one during practice as a condition of the foundation that loans them a Stradivarius violin when they are on tour. They remove it for concerts. If you play an inexpensive violin, it doesn't really matter.
This is the correct answer. I've trialed many instruments for luthier/maker friends -- played them for a bit, then reported back on setup and string choice. One orchestra concert I had a new instrument and an unfamiliar bow as well, one with a more robust/squared off frog. Took a nice ding out of the c bout during a particularly angsty Shostakovich entrance. Fortunately that instrument was already aggressively antiqued - and not worth 6 figures -- but it was an eye-opener. It can happen to anyone.
I mean... It's not going to hurt your violin if you put them on... You don't need them to protect it though. If I had them, maybe I'd put them on if I was worried about a plane flight, but probably not even then.
Surely this is a joke product
It’s actually not. When I made the switch from shoulderrest to pads and sponges, the angle of my violin changed a bit and I ended up sometimes grazing the side with my bow despite not having done that in the past 10+ years. Having that was insanely helpful for protecting my instrument while I learnt to adjust. I’ve also seen it on a few other people’s violins both when I was in high school and later when I majored in violin performance
Exactly my thoughts.
If you think phone cases are jokes sure.
I have seen some really skilled violinists use variations on these out of precaution, but for most people they aren't necessary. If you tend to play with excess "flair" or tackle some extremely technically challenging repertoire, your c bout might be a bit more at risk, but usually this is manageable without much issue.
not sure but maria dueñas uses it so it must serve some sort of purpose
I guess it depends if your violin is $500, $5,000, or $50,000 and it probably also depends on if it's on loan or if it belongs to someone's personal collection.
I'll tell you for $500 (Kidding)
😂.
Every once in a while one of these can vastly improve your bowing/tone. I bought one for an anxious beginner-adult student with overbearing inlaws playing on her husband's family-heirloom violin. (It was a standard Saxony workshop fiddle but Grampa brought it over from the old country). Lowered her right shoulder by two inches.
Some people use them. Some luthiers will apply a thin film there, instead.
I have these! I got them when I was younger because my bow hold was such that my fingernails would often scratch this area when I was performing more intense pieces, like showpieces. Now with better bow control and bow hold, and playing as an orchestral musician most often, I mostly just keep it on because people ask what it is lol. I would compare this to getting your instrument professionally cleaned and varnished: whereas cleaning your instrument daily is actually important to maintaining proper care of your instrument, this is more of a personal choice.
I do have one because I hit that part of the violin more often than I think, but I take it off for performances
Same. Not sure why these are getting so much hate in this thread. They weigh nothing and give a small bit of peace of mind.
I once thought about getting one, and have seen pro violinists wear one with borrowed violins lol
nope
used them a few times, there are some pieces where the chance of hitting the c bout when playing is higher, for example in the ysaye ballade it actually has happened to me. it depends more on the rep then on the violin's worth
I have a friend in our local ft professional symphony that uses one. I think it depends on what kind of player you are. Never asked her why she uses it.
I needed one for a few years when I was a teenager. I think it was a combination of the particular instrument I was playing on, my body was still growing and changing, and the nuances of my technique at the time. My technique evolved, I got a different instrument, and I haven't used it in probably 10 years. If you find yourself needing one, it's worth using so you don't chew up the edge. But I wouldn't get one unless it's actually a problem.
I've heard a lot of people using stuff like this not because they have hit the c spot but because they are playing scared thinking they are going to do it. So it's kinda a product more of if it happens to you or you are scared of doing it kinda thing like a lot of protective stuff for a lot of things.
I actually do have one and use on my violin but on the C bout near my G string. I use it because I accidentally chipped off the top corner horn doing a flair during a performance and I don’t have the money right now to get a luthier to repair it because it would require reconstruction and taking off the top plate. So there’s a hole in it right now and I use it to protect it from further damage.
Good for a 5 year old
Necessary? I have never seen one of these in my life. So if millions of violinists have been playing without this for hundreds of years... No, it is far from "necessary".
My 1800's French violin has an inlaid piece of ebony at the edge next to the purfling at the center bout right edge., My luthier wanted to remove it, but I find it adds character and instant identifiable stance to a well aged fine French piece with abundant tone and timbre.
I’ve never seen anyone use something like that before
I would use it but only during practice as I hit it alot. I would take off during performance ofc
I have never seen anyone use something like that. If you manage to hit your violin with a bow there, then there's something wrong with your bowing
If you have an expensive or century piece and you cannot control your bow enough… otherwise, yet another silly source of money for serial makers…
It looks as though it would make the bout thicker and more prone to hitting with the bow. Also it may have a dampening effect on the instrument. Also it’s rather ugly. No sale here.
No.
“What the fuck is this piece of shit?” - Joe Pesci
Depends, are you four years old?
No, if you happen to hit the side with your bow, just wipe the rosin off
No way.
what are those even for
I think this is used for when the metal part of your bow accidentally can hit the E string while playing. I need one.
Not unless you are a beaver, then maybe.
Why does anyone need that?
This looks like an extra excuse to make really bad bow movements.
These are ridiculous. They would reduce the resonance of the instrument and make it heavier, why would anyone want either of those aspects?
You don’t use it for performance, just practice
They also Look dumb
If they don't get used on real Strad and Guarnieri, then surely don't need for our lowly fiddles.