Pirastro KorfkerRest LUNA - Premium Violin Shoulder Rest
PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA® – Features and advantages
- Instantly comfortable ergonomic shape
- Simple click-system for easy and secure adjustments
- Folds into an ultra compact shape
- Delivers outstanding freedom and integrity of sound
- Custom made and sound-optimised materials
- Featherlight (only 32 grams)
- Fits violins from 4/4 to 3/4
- With our trusted rubber feet and comfortable foam pads
Instantly comfortable
During the design of the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA®, we took advantage of the many years of positive feedback we received from users of our KorfkerRest®.
We started off by integrating all the advantages of the successful shape of the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® Model 2 and enhanced these with curves, made possible by the process of injection-moulding.
The rounded shape of the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA®’s cross section for instance, naturally fits the body’s curves and eliminates the need for any tilt adjustment. Two soft pads – the same as on the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® Model 2 – focus body contact in two areas, shoulder and chest, avoiding the collar bone. Every player who has tried the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA® has commented on how quickly they have become comfortable with its feel.
Easy adjustment
When designing the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA®, we wanted to make the adjustment process as easy and secure as possible. To achieve this, we invented an ingenious click system which integrates the need for adjustment with the ability to fold the legs.
A set of six differently sized and interchangeable barrel legs is provided which, once clicked in, become an integral and secure part of the rest.
Depending on their orientation, each can occupy either a wide or narrow position. This not only allows the size of the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA® to be adjusted to the body of every violin from 3/4 to full size, it also enables subtle positioning closer to the shoulder or the chest of the player. One really needs to give this system a try to appreciate its clever simplicity.
Ultra compact shape
We wanted to design the most compact shoulder rest ever made and we succeeded! The PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA® is perfect for anyone who needs to store their shoulder rest in a tight space.
It will even fit snugly in the pocket of your concert jacket!
Freedom of sound
With the introduction of the PIRASTRO KorfkerCradle® and the original PIRASTRO KorfkerRest®, we both responded to and encouraged a rising awareness amongst violinists about the acoustically negative effects of traditional shoulder rests. With these highly innovative products, Pirastro committed itself to the uncompromising pursuit of an unrestricted dynamic range, the truest timbre of your instrument and the most accurate bow response.
During the design process of our PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA®, this commitment expressed itself through the research into customised high tech materials as well as advanced and patented developments in the field of (as we call it) resonance-shaping; adjusting the shape of the shoulder rest so it resonates in unison with the instrument it’s attached to, thus minimally interfering with its acoustic freedom.
For this purpose the shape of the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA® went through a variety of changes and we tested many material compositions. At every step of this process we conducted acoustical tests, starting by listening to the sound of the violin without a shoulder rest before comparing this to the sound of the same instrument with a prototype attached. Only those prototypes which offered the best tonal properties would be chosen.
Our efforts resulted in a shoulder rest which allows the violin to express an astonishing freedom of dynamic range, accuracy in response and trueness of timbre.
Material composition
As we learned when designing the original PIRASTRO KorfkerRest®, the material composition of a shoulder rest has a very significant effect on the sound a violin produces. When using synthetic materials instead of wood, there is a greater likelihood of sound deterioration. It was only after discovering a composite polymer material with exceptional tonal properties that we decided to design a synthetic shoulder rest.
During the design process, the recipe of this composite polymer went through numerous iterations resulting in a custom-made aerospace-grade material which provides improved resonance properties and an amazing integrity of sound, making it the ideal material for a new class of synthetic shoulder rest.
Weight
From the start, weight reduction was an important factor in the design of the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA®. We wanted to get as close to the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® Model 2 as possible!
First of all, the convex shape of its cross section helped to significantly reduce its thickness, and therefore its weight. Our custom made, composite material was simultaneously adjusted to provide the right stiffness and stability. Additionally, simplifying the adjustment system allowed us to shave off a couple more grams. Borrowing the super-light and secure rubber feet from the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® Model 2 gave us the final edge.
As a result and to our own surprise, we ended up exactly matching the incredible 32 grams of our PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® Model 2. Less than half the weight of the average shoulder rest!
Stability
During the development of the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA®, Berent Korfker painstakingly worked out the correct angles for the barrel leg mechanism to ensure that its alignment would be correct for every conceivable set-up, which is a fundamental requirement for designing a stable shoulder rest. This significantly contributes to the excellent stability of the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA® even when using our extra long rubber foot.
Another precondition for a stable and secure playing experience is a set of good rubber feet. When we started designing the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA®, we already had the advantage of having developed the most secure rubber feet on the market for our PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® Model 2.
Using the barrel legs
The PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA® comes supplied with six numbered barrel legs. Three short ones, primarily for the shoulder side (no. 1 - 3) and three long ones, primarily for the chest side (no. 4 - 6), see picture 1.
1 Barrel legs no. 1 - 6
These barrel legs are used to change the width of the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA® and to adjust its position relative to the violin. For most of those adjustments one or both of the barrel legs need to be reversed or replaced by an alternative barrel leg. For this purpose the barrel leg will first need to be removed form its hook.
Before pulling the barrel leg out of its hook, first tilt it inwards half way. Now, while holding the rest firmly over the opposite hook and barrel leg with one hand, use the other hand to pull the barrel leg out of its hook by its rubber foot. The thumb should be used for support (see picture 2).
Now reverse the barrel leg or replace it by an alternative one and insert the reversed or replaced barrel leg back into the hook by lining its barrel up against the hook jaws and firmly clicking it into position (see picture sequence A to E).
When replacing a barrel leg, first turn its rubber foot out of its thread until you can see the start of the silvery slot in the screw. Now pull the barrel leg out of its hook as seen in picture 2 and remove the rubber foot. Next, click the alternative barrel leg into the vacant hook and carefully screw the rubber foot into its thread.
Finally remember to position the rubber foot so its jaw openings face inwards.
To ensure that the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA® functions correctly over time, it is important to prevent dust and dirt from accumulating between the hooks and the barrel legs. For this reason it is recommended to place your PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA® into its included cloth bag when not in use.
2 Pulling the barrel leg out of its hook
A Tilt half way
B Pull out
C Reverse
D Click back in
E Fold out and turn
Width adjustment
Each of the three barrel legs of each length has a different off-centre thread position and can be clicked into the hooks in two different ways: with the shaft outwards for a wide position and inwards for a narrow position.
As an example, in picture 3 you see barrel legs no. 3 and 6 positioned for the maximum width of the rest. In picture 4 you see the same barrel legs reversed for its minimum width.
The barrel leg combination chart shows with which combinations to achieve a specific width. In the chart, »w« stands for the »wide« use of a barrel leg (shaft outwards), »n« stands for its »narrow« use (shaft inwards).
Before reversing or replacing a barrel leg please refer to the chapter »Using the barrel legs«.
By combining different barrel legs, the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA® can be adjusted in 2 mm increments to fit violins from 3/4 to full size. When used on a 3/4 size violin, please check if the size and height of the rest are suitable for the player in question.
When clamped onto a violin, the minimum width of the rest is 186 mm and the maximum width is 210 mm. Since the shoulder rest is ideally placed closer to the player's neck, the rest can be used for violins wider than 210 mm.
Usually, a long barrel leg will be used on the chest side and a short barrel leg on the shoulder side. For an overall low position two short barrel legs can be used, for a high position two long barrel legs. When using the same length of barrel leg on both the shoulder and the chest side, the width range of the shoulder rest is 188 - 208 mm.
3 Widest leg combination (3w/6w)
4 Narrowest leg combination (3n/6n)
Barrel leg combination chart
| Width in mm |
Chest
←
Rest towards
→
Shoulder
|
| 210 | 3w/6w |
| 208 |
2w/6w
3w/5w
|
| 206 |
1n/6w
2w/5w
3w/4w
|
| 204 |
1n/6w
1w/5w
2w/4w
3w/4n
|
| 202 |
2n/6w
1n/5w
1w/4w
2w/4n
3w/5n
|
| 200 |
3n/6w
2w/5n
1w/4n
1n/4w
2n/5w
3w/6n
|
| 197 |
3n/5w
2n/4w
1n/4n
1w/5n
2w/6n
|
| 194 |
3n/4w
2n/4n
1w/5n
1w/6n
|
| 191 |
3n/4n
2n/5n
1n/6n
|
| 188 |
3n/5n
2n/6n
|
| 186 |
3n/6n
|
Position relative to the violin
Once a good width setting for your violin has been found (please refer to the chapter »Width adjustment«), you can experiment with the following subtle positioning.
As can be seen in the barrel leg combination chart, most width settings can be achieved with more than one barrel leg combination. In the chart, »w« stands for the »wide« use of a barrel leg (shaft outwards), »n« stands for its »narrow« use (shaft inwards).
By using these different combinations, the position of the shoulder rest can be subtly altered in relation to the violin so that it sits either higher on the shoulder or closer to the chest. For instance, if the width of the rest needs to be 200 mm, the combination 3n/6w will position the rest higher up the shoulder (see pic. 5), 3w/6n will position it lower towards the chest (see pic. 6). The difference in position of these two combinations is 10 mm.
5 Rest over shoulder (3n/6w)
6 Rest over Chest (3w/6n)
Changing the height
The height of the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA® can be adjusted by turning the rubber feet into or out of the thread of the barrel legs.
Alternatively a short barrel leg can be replaced by a long one in order to achieve extra height.
In order to maintain the correct leg angles, it is essential to use a short barrel leg on the shorter side and a long barrel leg on the longer side when the difference in height between the shoulder and chest side is more than 20 mm.
7 Rubber foot, long
EXTRA HIGH POSITIONS
For even higher positions, please replace the standard rubber foot with our long rubber foot (available separately, see picture 5) which adds a maximum of 15 mm to the height of the chosen side of your PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA®.
MEASUREMENTS
The shoulder side has a minimum height of 40 mm and a maximum height of 52 mm using a short barrel leg and 60 mm using a long barrel leg. Using a long rubber foot (available separately) will add up to 15 mm for a total height of 75 mm.
The chest side has a minimum height of 43 mm using a short barrel leg and a maximum height of 62 mm using a long barrel leg. Using a long rubber foot (available separately) will add up to 15 mm for a total of 75 mm.
The lowest point of the rest offers a minimum distance to the violin of 23 mm using two short barrel legs or 25 mm when using a long and a short barrel leg. The latter configuration offers a maximum distance of 35 mm. Using a long rubber foot (available separately) on both the chest and the shoulder side adds up to 10 mm for a maximum distance to the violin of 45 mm.
When using one long rubber foot, do not install it into a short barrel leg. Pirastro advices against using two long rubber feet with long barrel legs simultaneously.
Cleaning the rest
To ensure that the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA® functions correctly over time, it is important to prevent dust and dirt from accumulating between the hooks and the barrel legs. For this reason it is essential to place your PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA® into its included cloth bag when not in use.
The PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA® should be cleaned with a damp cloth. Dirt accumulating in the cavity under the barrel legs can be removed with cotton.
The rubber feet
For the best grip on the instrument, keep the rubber free from dust and dirt. Clean with a damp cloth. Over time and depending on usage, the rubber of the feet may wear. Please check the condition of the rubber before every use and replace a foot as soon as damage has been detected.
Replacing the rubber pads
Starting off at one of the ends, first remove the worn-out rubber pad. If the glue of the pad does not easily peel off, it can help to slightly heat the rest with a hairdryer. Any glue left after removing the pad can be removed with the sticky side of a worn-out pad.
Next, peel the backing off one of the replacement rubber pads included with the accessories. Position the new pad by aligning the large eyes of the pad exactly over those of the shoulder rest, making sure that the pad is also placed exactly centred along the length of the rest.
On the chest side the pad may need to be slightly stretched to match the circle at the end of the rest.
Before using your PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA®, press the full surface of the rubber pad strongly onto the rest, paying special attention to its entire edge. Failing to do so will cause premature peeling.
Leave the rest overnight before extensive use.
The o-rings
The o-rings around the stopping pins are important for the optimal functioning of the PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® LUNA®. If one of the o-rings has been damaged or lost, replace it by a new one taken from amongst the accessories.
Please observe that the small o-rings are used for the short and the larger o-rings for the long barrel legs. Install the correct o-ring into the small bevel around the stopping pin. Starting at one corner, with a wooden toothpick carefully stretch the o-ring from corner to corner around the end of the stopping pin. Finally push the o-ring into the bevel along the sides of the stopping pin so it sits flush with the wall of the barrel.
If an o-ring needs to be removed because it is damaged or the wrong size has been fitted, care must be taken not to damage the surface of the barrel leg. For this purpose, a wooden toothpick can be used and hooked behind the o-ring.
8 Small o-ring on short barrel leg
9 Larger o-ring on long barrel leg
