Kun Seven Violin Rest | 2023

Designer: Maartje Pel, DCA Design International Ltd, DCA Design International Ltd., Warwick, United Kingdom
Manufacturer: Kun Europe Ltd., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Playing the violin requires a complex set of composite movements, placing a high level of stress on the musculoskeletal system. As playing technique improves, movements may become more efficient, but when session duration increases, even the most proficient players are likely to suffer some level of discomfort, and in some cases even injury.

Musculoskeletal tension can be reduced by improving the way the violin is held in place during play. In modern playing practice, a chin rest and shoulder rest are attached to the instrument, aiming to provide a secure hold, wedging the instrument between the chin and shoulder. Both pads are in direct contact with the player’s body and are ideally adjusted to individual fit and preference, while not impacting the condition of the instrument or acoustics in any way.

Most current industrially produced shoulder rests offer a good level of customization to create an appropriate setup for the majority of players. The new design seeks to go beyond that. The Kun Seven shoulder rest has been developed in close collaboration with top professional violin players, who have provided invaluable input throughout all stages of the development process. A wide range of use cases, from stage performances to full-day rehearsals, studio recordings and long-distance travel, have all shaped the requirements of the new design in terms of acoustics, adjustability, grip, and comfort. Uncompromised fit, to the player and to the instrument.

The design is based on a radical new approach - going back to the first principles. The two main functional elements are split into separate parts that can be adjusted independently - a stiff bridge that provides reliable grip on the instrument and a separate pad that can be adjusted to fit to the user’s shoulder.

This separation achieves the functional goal of uncompromising fit, both to the player and to the instrument, leaving space for the sound to emanate freely. It also provides the opportunity to achieve customization beyond one execution of the product.

Kun Seven is a system. Swapping out different versions of the bridge connection piece and the pad, as and when needed, addresses the most individual and specific of user requirements. Whether it is a multi-million-pound Italian antique instrument, or a state-of-the-art electrically amplified version, Kun Seven enables switching from one use case to the next like never before.