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Questions and Answers
If you need to ask me more questions, email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I will try my best to answer them and post them here. Since I have engineered these Everest shoulder rests, I should be the best one to answer your questions regarding them. Please DO NOT modify the Everst grippers, all aspects of the gripper design are essential.
Question 1:
How to adjust the height of the Everest shoulder rest?
Answer 1:
Just unscrew the gripper screws to obtain different height required. There is about 6mm of recommended adjustment height (at this height, half of the screw length is still within the threads) with the standard grippers that came with the shoulder rests. If additional height is required, then you would need to order a pair of the optional extra-long grippers. Between these two sizes of grippers, it should satisfy all height adjustment requirements.
Question 2:
How to adjust the Everest shoulder rest to fit different sizes of violins?
Answer 2:
Each models of Everest shoulder rest have been designed to fit different violin sizes. If you look closely to the place where the shoulder rest grippers connects to the shoulder rest body, you would find different threaded hole positions. You can unscrew one or both of the gripper and place it to the adjacent hole to accomodate larger or smaller instruments. The standard non-collapsible Everest shoulder rests (EZ-4A, EZ-3A, EZ-2A, EZ-1A) have already pre-adjusted to fit their target size of violins, in most cases, you do not need to futher adjust the grippers. In some cases, depending on the model of the violin and the way you position the shoulder rest, you may need to adjust the grippers to different hole positions.
Question 2A:
Is it possible to adjust to a position between the holes?
Answer 2A:
Yes, it is possible. There is a secret in design of the hole positions. The hole positions seem to be equal distance on both ends of the shoulder rest, but due to shoulder rest curvature and geometry, the effective distances are not equal. When moving gripper on narrow side of the shoulder rest makes the spacing too wide, try moving gripper on the wider side of the shoulder rest instead, the effective distance is different. If this still doesn't work, try also moving the narrow side gripper after moving the wider side gripper.
Question 3:
What is the best way to repair foam pads?
Answer 3:
I've found the best way to repair the foam pad is to use the super glue or Krazy glue (cyanoacrylate). Follow these instructions:
1. Apply a small amount of the super glue to the place for bounding. Careful not to touch any glue on your finger or apply any glue to the surface of the shoulder rest (cosmetic concerns). If too much glue is applied, absorbe it a piece of paper towel or napkin.
2. Bind the two surfaces together, wipe off excess glue with paper towel.
3. Wait few seconds, the foam is repaired.
This method is also applicable to binding foam pad to the shoulder rest body if required.
Question 4:
I bought a collapsible Everest shoulder rest this summer and was really pleased with it. It was wonderful and stayed on my violin beautifully, never falling off.
But just recently, it started falling off every so often. And now it is falling off just about every time I take the violin away from my chin. I don't understand how it could change from staying on so well to falling off just about every time. I have not changed the way I play or hold the violin. I was just wondering if you have any idea why this might be happening--when it wasn't happening before? Or have any suggestions of how to make it stop.
Thank you,
Mitzi Lebensorger
P.S. Added by David : On some brand new Everest Shoulder Rests, it is also recommended to do the procedures below to recondition the grippers.
Answer 4:
Dear Mitzi,
The reason is most likely because the gripper has too much oil deposits on the surface due to daily handling or picking up some varnish polish from the violin. Here is what you can do:
1. Remove the two grippers by unscrewing them in counter-clockwise direction. Remember which holes you have removed the grippers from. The two grippers are identical, so you don't need to worry about which one goes to which ends of the Everest shoulder rest.
2. Rinse these grippers with running warm water from kitchen or bathroom faucet.
3. Apply some hand washing liquid soap and rub all surfaces of the black rubber part of the grippers. Especially the inner C-part where it clips on to the edge of the violin.
4. Rinse again with warm water to remove all liquid soap.
5. Use a paper towel to dry the grippers by squeezing them with paper towel to absorb the water droplets. Try not to wipe the paper towel against the gripper rubber surface, as this may leave excess lint on the gripper surface.
6. Use a tissue paper (Kleenex, NOT paper towel), apply some water and squeezed dry.
8. Use this tissue paper to clean the edges of your violin in areas that will be in-contact with the grippers. Try to remove all oil from these edges, a small amount of liquid soap may be applied.
10. Wipe these edges dry with another dry tissue paper.
11. Screw the grippers back onto the shoulder rest, into the same holes as before. Make sure you insert the grippers vertically into the holes. Don't force it in when you just started to insert them. It should be very easy to turn in the beginning 2~3 turns with just one finger, if not, remove and re-insert.
Now test the shoulder rest with your violin. The grippers should be working as new. If this still does not solve your problem, you can order new grippers from my Official Everest Shoulder Rest Website at www.everestshoulderrest.com
Sincerely,
---David
You can ask me more questions, email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I will try my best to answer them and post them here. Since I have engineered these Everest shoulder rests, I should be the best one to answer your questions regarding them.