A Buyer’s Guide to Violin Chin Rests
This guide compares the most common chin rest designs—what their main capabilities are, known issues or challenges, and basic specifications (price, weight, stability, etc).
Chin rests fall into one of two categories: fixed designs that tend to work for a narrow range of anatomy (ex. generic chinrests), and adjustable designs that attempt to accommodate change (ex. the kréddle chinrests).
Links to each manufacturer website have been provided. Every effort has been made to find and communicate the most correct information. Please get in touch if you find an error.
violin & viola Chin rests compared
Data assembled in January 2026.
Models In Detail
Kréddle Classic
- Best for: Players who want a chin rest that fully adjusts to their body and playing, not the other way around.
- What it does well: Fully adjustable along every 3 dimensional axis, and comes with two interchangeable hypoallergenic chin plates.
- Limitations to be aware of: To leverage the full capabilities of the kréddle expect a fair bit of experimentation. (Learn more about Kréddle Setup and Capabilities here.)
Kréddle Custom
- Best for: Players who want a chin rest that fully adjusts to their body and playing, and offers a perfect 3D contour of their own jawline carved into hypoallergenic flamed maple.
- What it does well: Fully adjustable along every 3 dimensional axis, hypoallergenic compared to other woods, and a perfect impression of the player's jawline.
- Limitations to be aware of: To leverage the full capabilities of the kréddle expect a fair bit of experimentation. (Learn more about the jawline impression and custom process here.)
Generic Chinrests
- Best for: Players who have shorter then average neck length.
- What it does well: Simple design and very common.
- Limitations to be aware of: Frequently made out of woods known to cause skin irritation due to the oils in these tropical species. Does not adjust to the player. Typically requires lifting the instrument up to the jawline to accommodate neck length, thereby jeopardizing healthy and biomechanically sensible positions and motions (Elements of Chin Rest Setup).
Pirastro KorfkerSpring
- Best for: Players who want the lightest chin rest available.
- What it does well: Light. Adjustable along many dimensions.
- Limitations to be aware of: Most players prefer a rock solid and stable chin rest. The KorfkerSpring is new as of late 2025, so first-hand reports will be limited for some time. Regarding the inherent flexibility of a spring-based chinrest, the manufacturer states: "Under continued high pressure, deformation will gradually increase until the spring eventually needs replacement. As the user learns to reduce the force used during playing, the service life of new springs increases. Players applying low pressure to the chin plate may never need to replace the spring. Some users may need time to adapt to the unique playing experience offered by the PIRASTRO KorfkerSpring®. In particular, when playing without a shoulder rest or when using the highest springs, it is advisable to allow some time to become fully familiar with it."
SAS Chinrest
- Best for: Players who want a higher chinrest with a little bit of tilt adjustment, along with options for hypoallergenic maple wood.
- What it does well: Provides a higher chin rest option for players exploring creating a solid connection from jaw to collarbone through the chinrest + instrument.
- Limitations to be aware of: Early brass bracket models had a brass adjustment screw that would strip out and result in movement of the chin plate. Newer models may have addressed this issue. Contacting the manufacturer is recommended.
Wittner Ausburg
- Best for: Players who want a higher chinrest with a little bit of tilt adjustment, and a hypoallergenic chin plate.
- What it does well: Provides a higher chin rest option for players exploring creating a solid connection from jaw to collarbone through the chinrest + instrument.
- Limitations to be aware of: Only allow tilt and height adjustment. Bracket is not compatible with the Kréddle Cushion.
WAVE Chinrest
- Best for: Players who want a higher chinrest or a chin rest with more contour.
- What it does well: Provides a higher chin rest option for players exploring creating a solid connection from jaw to collarbone through the chinrest + instrument.
- Limitations to be aware of: Fixed shape does not accommodate ongoing learning or experimentation.
Frisch & Denig Chinrests
- Best for: Players who want a customized chinrest that is fitted to their body and playing.
- What it does well: Frisch & Denig have been doing customized chinrest fittings for many years. Their knowledge of biomechanics have helped many players find greater comfort while playing.
- Limitations to be aware of: Appears to require an in-person measurement and fitting session. Once carved the chin rest is fixed, and cannot accommodate ongoing learning or experimentation.
Viva la Musica Chinrest
- Best for: Players who want a higher chinrest with a little bit of tilt and lateral adjustment, and a hypoallergenic chin plate.
- What it does well: Provides a higher chin rest option for players exploring creating a solid connection from jaw to collarbone through the chinrest + instrument.
- Limitations to be aware of: Only allows limited tilt, height, and lateral adjustment.
