EVEREST Flamed Maple Wood Pattern Shoulder Rest: Beauty, Durability and Great Fit

Everest Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4 Flamed Maple Wood Pattern

Close-up of Wood Pattern

 Introduction: While exhibiting at NAMM this year I had the pleasure of meeting the inventor of the Everest Shoulder Rest --  a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and an engineer.  As he explained certain features of his design, I realized how much technical thought had gone into producing this product.  With its sturdy feet, designed to avoid excessive contact with the sides of the violin, and shape engineered to fit the human body, this rest has found a home in music shops across the country -- and, at an affordable price.  In my studio, I have used the traditional black colored body (along with the brightly colored versions that the kids love) especially for students with long necks, or who have had difficulty finding a comfortable rest in the past.  Often, the Everest is the only one that actually works for them.  Shoulder rests are a bit like shoes -- when they are comfortable, life is good.  When they are not, playing violin can be quite uncomfortable.  In addition, I have noticed that the Everest works particularly on small sizes, a real benefit to both teacher and student.

Thick Padding

Fit and Finish:  The Everest line all share the same overall shape, pad, and foot design.  But the Flamed Maple Wood Pattern Rest is a real stand-out, with its professional grade good looks.  Although made of plastic, the wood looks real, and does not suffer from expanding and shrinking like the real thing.  As with the other Everest models, the padding is thick and comfortable yet grips without slipping.

Everest Foot

While the Everest feet may have a bit of an industrial look to them, they have been engineered for minimal contact with the violin to avoid altering or muffling the sound.  Further, unlike feet by other manufacturers, Everest's black feet are very durable -- I've never seen a single foot fail -- unlike rests where a tube of plastic that eventually wears out is the only thing protecting your instrument from getting scratched by the shoulder rest.  In my experience, Everests are, in general, very durable.

RoHS Compliant

RoHS Compliance:  The Everest is RoHS Compliant.  RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliance is actually a European standard not required for imports into the United States.  Its stamp should guarantee that a product is free from certain hazards including Lead and Mercury.  Shoulder rests often come in contact with skin, and so it is good to know that users of the Everest need not worry about lead exposure.  It is an often overlooked but real truth that many imports into the United States that are used by violinists in close contact with skin may actually contain dangerous substances -- particularly lead.  This danger extends to rosin, which produces dust that can be inhaled, as well as to chinrests and shoulder rests.  In my opinion, it is worth considering, when comparing a brand to an imported generic knock-off, whether safety is worth the added expense of the "real thing."

Usability: Like the rest of the Everest line, this one fits easily and grips nicely, even when there is very little lip to the ribs of the violin.  Typically, it stays in place nicely without sliding.  Although it does not offer tilt, I have yet to find a tilting rest where the tilt can be locked in place.  In fact, after just a bit of playing, these tilting rests often end up with the tilt in the opposite direction of where I had it set.

Everest Bottom View

Conclusion:  Offering beauty, durability, and excellent fit, the Everest Flamed Maple Shoulder Rest is truly the total package.

Price:  Violin can be an expensive enterprise for a parent, with $50 shoulder rests, $50-$100 string sets that must be continually replaced, and the added cost of lessons, repairs, instrument rental/purchase, bow rehairs, sheet music, and the list goes on.  The Everest Flamed Maple Wood Pattern retails for $21.99, and is one of the least expensive rests on the market.  In a world of no free lunches, this combination of value and quality is a rare find.

General Review of Shoulder Rests

The subject of shoulder rests has generated a lot of controversy amoung teachers and violinists. Because they were not used until fairly recently and also because they may affect the sound somewhat, there are still some teachers who recommend against using them at all. Certainly, there are some violinists who do fine without a shoulder rest. Often, these people have short necks.

For example, David Oistrakh, one of my favorite recording artists, fits this mold!
For the rest of us, a shoulder rest can make playing the violin much more comfortable. It frees the left hand from having to support the instrument and should allow the violinist to play without raising the left shoulder. The choice of shoulder rest depends on the unique physiology of each student. Sponges (even a kitchen sponge with a rubber band) and Play-on-Air are examples of padded rests.

Play-On-Air. Some teachers prefer rests that are not rigid, such as this Play-on-Air model. However, the sound can be affected by the pressure of the pad against the back of the violin.



There are also various rigid models with feet that are produced by many manufacturers. Each fits slightly differently.

Everest. The Everest is made in America and is relatively cheap. The padding is thick and the rest seems to fit well for medium to long necks. One model offers collapsible folding feet.

The Bonmusica is made of flexible metal with a "hook" that can be molded to fit over the shoulder. It is a heavy rest that can affect the sound more than some but can work well for violinists who have not found any of the other rests to be comfortable.

Kun is the original inventer of the rigid rest with feet. There are several different models. They tend to fit most people fairly well but can be expensive.

The Mach One is light and made of a nice quality maple. Some people find it very comfortable but it is rather short and the padding can seem slippery.

The Wolf is an excellent rest for very tall necks, but can feel very rigid. Though it appears to have no curve, it can be bent to suit the player.

The viva comes in many colors and adjusts in two planes. This extra adjustibility allows it to accomodate certain violinists who have had difficulty finding a comfortable rest.



In sum, my recommendation for selecting a shoulder rest is to try several and look for a comfortable fit. In the case of the rigid models with feet, the pad should rest securely against your shoulder and collar bone without any gaps between you and the rest. Try to find a violin shop that has a selection of rests and will allow you to try them. Adiditionally, your teacher should be able to help you assess fit.

Everest Shoulder Rest

Everest Shoulder Rest. I think I may possibly own or have tried almost every shoulder rest on the market. Blessed with a long neck, I need not only height but also a good, well-conforming shape for my shoulder rest. This shoulder rest has very thick padding, feels well-constructed, fits the violin well without falling off, and is actually a good buy compared to comparable rests such as the Kun or the Viva.

Several of my students prefer the Everest. Typically, these students have long necks and have not been satisfied by other rests that they have tried. Although the 4/4 model is excellent, I have noticed that the smaller sizes seem excessively high for most younger students.

That being said, this rest is built like a tank and costs about $15 (or about $25 for the collapsible version).

If you have had problems finding a comfortable shoulder rest, this is certainly a good option to consider.

Rating: 5 Stars