After a few weeks of using the KorfkerCradle® its fit has become less tight. Why is this?
During the first weeks of use the fresh leather cover of the hooked feet and leather discs will indent to adjust to the shape of your instrument. When this happens simply bring the ball feet slightly closer to the edge, thus tightening the cradle.
Therefore please refer to the following video.
Video: Fitting the cradle
Is this true that the tightness of the KorfkerCradle® affects the sound of my violin?
Indeed the tightness of the cradle has a subtle effect on the sound of the violin. It is important for it to sit tight enough so it can synchronise with the vibrations of the violin, but if it is attached too tight, the instrument may start to sound slightly »pinched« compared to when the cradle has the ideal tension.
Some experimentation will show what is best for your instrument.
The rubber pad on the shoulder is wearing in only one place, why is this happening?
When designing the KorfkerCradle® we discovered that the amount of rubber used in the a has a significant impact on the sound of the violin. For this reason we looked for the ideal balance between comfort and acoustical properties. Particular attention was given to the choice of rubber and adhesive for the pads to make sure they last as long as possible. Many users have reported years of intensive use without major wear, but as usage between players varies, some have found they have to replace them more often. These are some factors which influence wear and tear:
- Angle of the tilt of the rest
If the rest of the KorfkerCradle® is tilted too much, this can put a disproportionate amount of pressure on one edge of the pad, which can then start to peel off the edge. You can prevent this by reducing the tilt. This will also make using the rest more comfortable. Please refer to the video »Changing the tilt«.
Video: Changing the tilt
- Shape of the rest
In some cases the rubber pad has worn predominantly at the very end of the shoulder rest, where it sits on the shoulder. If this is the case, the rest may be too much curved, as only the last bit of the rest will be touching your shoulder. In this case you may want to reduce the curve of the rest so more of it is in contact with the body. This will reduce wear and make using the rest more comfortable.
Why do the rubber pads of my rest wear faster than the ones of my colleagues?
When designing the rest of the KorfkerCradle® we discovered that the amount of rubber used in the rest has a significant impact on the sound of the violin. For this reason we looked for the ideal balance between comfort and acoustical properties. Particular attention was given to the choice of rubber and adhesive of the pads to make sure they last as long as possible. Many users have reported years of intensive use without major wear, but as usage between players varies, some have found they have to replace them more often. These are some factors which influence wear and tear:
- Angle of tilt
If the rest is tilted too much, this can put a disproportionate amount of pressure on one edge of the pad, which can then start to peel off the edge of the rest. You can prevent this by reducing the tilt of the rest. This will also make using the rest more comfortable. Please refer to the video »Changing the tilt«.
Video: Changing the tilt
- Shape of the rest
In some cases the rubber pad has worn predominantly at the very end of the shoulder rest, where it touches the shoulder. If this is the case, the rest may be too much curved, as only the last bit of the rest will be touching your shoulder. You may want to reduce the curve of the rest so more of it is in contact with the body. This will reduce wear and make using the rest more comfortable.
- Shoulder pressure
Inevitably some players use less shoulder pressure during playing than others. The combination of shoulder pressure and pulling the violin downwards can cause increased wear of the shoulder pad.
I would like the rest to sit closer to the end of the violin. How can this be done?
The design of the KorfkerCradle already allows for positions closer to the body that any traditional shoulder rest. If an even closer position is desired, the ErgoPack will allow this. Please see the section about the ErgoPack which shows the various extra positions which can be achieved.
There seems to be a slight creaking noise when I put pressure on the KorfkerCradle®. What can I do?
In some weather conditions and in combination with some types of violin varnish, the leather of the hooked feet and leather discs may make a creaking noise during use. In this case, use a cotton bud to spread a very small amount of the lubrication powder onto the leather where it touches the violin.
When I tighten the tightening disc to attach the shoulder rest to the cradle, it does not stop turning. What is wrong?
The tightening disc pulls the head of the adjustment screw onto the inside of the track in such a way that the screw should not turn. Under rare conditions, this turning does not really lock the screw. In this case here are some advise:
- Play only when both disks are tightened firmly.
- Make sure the disk, the head of the adjustment screw and the inside of the track are all clean. If necessary clean with a damp cloth.
- Pull slightly while turning the tightening disc.
- Please contact Pirastro if this problem persists after trying above solutions.
The leather on the discs of my ball foot looks worn out on the area it touches the instrument. What should I do?
After extended use the leather discs of the ball feet may become worn where they touch the violin. To line up a fresh area of leather, slightly loosen the torx screw holding the disc and ball foot in place and rotate the disc to a suitable position before tightening the torx screw again.