Pirastro Launches the KorfkerSpring®
The World’s First Flexible Chinrest
Breaking the Rigidity of Tradition - Pirastro Launches the KorfkerSpring®
VERMONT VIOLINS NEWSROOM – The ergonomic landscape of the string industry has just shifted. Following the massive success of their mold-breaking KorfkerRest® shoulder rest line, legendary string maker Pirastro, in collaboration with Dutch concert violinist and master pedagogue Berent Korfker, has officially unveiled the Pirastro KorfkerSpring® violin / viola chinrest.
Weighing a mere 15 grams, this groundbreaking chinrest marks the arrival of the world’s first flexible, three-way adjustable ergonomic system engineered for both violin and viola.
- Product Launched: Now Available at Vermont Violins
- Material Composition: Hardened Swiss Maple, Anodized Aluminum, Silver-Plated Components
- Acoustic Footprint: Ultra-low Mass (15g) for Maximum Tonal Fidelity
The Ergonomic Crisis in String Playing
For centuries, string players have treated the relationship between body and instrument as a static compromise. Fitting a wooden instrument to complex, moving human anatomy presents severe muscular and skeletal challenges.
When a violin or viola is supported incorrectly, the human body compensates destructively. Players unconsciously clench the jaw, stress the neck, and constrict the fine muscle groups across the shoulders and upper back.
The hidden danger of poor violinplaying ergonomics is cumulative. Repetitive strain injury, nerve compression, and tendinitis do not hurt until permanent structural damage is already done. Often, by the time a player notices chronic pain or a loss of tactile sensation in their fingertips, the physical toll is well underway.
Our core philosophy at Vermont Violins mirrors a progressive neurological approach: the violin should function as seamlessly as a surgical prosthetic. The left hand must remain completely liberated to navigate shifts and vibrato without ever bearing the physical weight of the instrument. Achieving this total freedom of movement requires a proactive approach to setup right from the start.
The Innovation Gap: Why Shoulder Rests Evolved While Chinrests Stood Still
While modern shoulder rests offer immense customizability for height, angle, and tilt, the traditional chinrest has remained stubbornly static. Musicians have historically been forced to select a fixed shape—whether a flat, curvaceous, diminutive, or extended model—and permanently adapt their posture to that single, rigid block of wood.
The PIRASTRO KorfkerSpring® shatters this limitation through a patented, pressure-sensitive spring system. By replacing static clamps with a flexible foundation, the KorfkerSpring® acts as a dynamic cushion that absorbs excess downward jaw force, providing real-time tactile feedback. This flexibility limits the extreme leverage pressure traditionally transferred directly onto the instrument's fragile top plate, protecting both the anatomy of the player and the preservation of the violin.
(5mm Increments)
Bout Placement
Up to 180° Range
Unboxing the Engineering: Universal Adaptability
Crafted meticulously in Austria, the KorfkerSpring® is an elite piece of specialized engineering. Every component has been chosen for its hypoallergenic properties and tone-optimized acoustic performance:
Premium Tonewood Geometry: The compact, convex chin plate is shaped from a single piece of premium hardened Swiss maple (not beech), meticulously refined to provide a neutral, universally comfortable contact area. A fine, subtle ridge ensures absolute stability during intense shifting and rapid vibrato.
The Patented Spring Matrix: The complete kit includes six interchangeable, single-action springs. These allow the height of the rest to be set from 25 mm to 50 mm in precise 5 mm increments. The lower springs yield a reassuringly traditional feel, while the higher springs provide game-changing relief for players with longer necks.
Unidirectional Bout Traversal: The mechanism can cross over the tailpiece effortlessly. It can be center-mounted or adjusted to sit completely on either the left or right side of the lower bout—a feature highly sought after by left-handed violinists or musicians with unique jaw structures.
180-Degree Spatial Swivel: Underneath the plate sits a micro ball-joint mechanism adjusted via an included Allen wrench. This allows the plate to turn, tilt, and slide laterally along a grooved baseplate, locking perfectly to the unique angle of the player's jawline
Adaptable for Violin and Viola: Out of the box, the system includes two separate sets of clamping barrels, allowing a single unit to fit both standard violin and viola ribs.
Hypoallergenic Metal and Varnish Defense: The clamping mechanisms feature high-grade anodized aluminum paired with a stunning silver-plated mounting disk. To protect historical varnishes, the premium Portuguese cork pads are coated in an advanced, non-slip synthetic film that prevents the rest from slipping under minimal clamping tension.
Courtesy of Pirastro
Acoustic Fidelity: Letting the Tonewood Breathe
Traditional, heavy chinrests and dense rubber pads act as acoustic dampeners, muting the natural resonance and string response of fine instruments. By using customized polymer compounds and a spring layout that leaves the critical edges of the instrument free to vibrate, the KorfkerSpring® allows the violin's body to move as if no chinrest were attached at all. When paired with a premium maple shoulder rest like the KorfkerRest® Model 2 or LUNA®, it establishes a new benchmark for projectable dynamic range and immediate bow response.
For professionals logging hours of rehearsal time daily, or older players navigating the structural realities of arthritis and joint degradation, optimizing your ergonomics is an investment that pays dividends in both physical health and musical longevity.
The Pirastro KorfkerSpring® ships complete with a luxurious leather zip-up carrying pouch to store all alternative springs, barrels, and adjustment tools right inside your instrument case.
Experience the KorfkerSpring® Firsthand
The ultimate setup cannot be guessed—it must be felt. We invite players to visit our studios at Vermont Violins to experience a personalized, luthier-guided fitting of the new Pirastro KorfkerSpring® system.
THE WORLD'S LIGHTEST & FIRST EVER FLEXIBLE CHINREST!
Lovingly crafted in Germany from just 15 grams of custom lightweight and sound-optimized materials, the PIRASTRO KorfkerSpring® is another outstanding addition to the Korfker range. With this innovative chinrest, inventor and product developer Berent Korfker redefines the standards for playability, acoustic fidelity, and sound projection, while the flexibility of its suspended chin plate enables freedom of movement and upper body tension release.
The position, height, rotation and tilt of the meticulously shaped, hardened Swiss maple chin plate are fully customizable allowing comprehensive individual adjustments. The low springs offer a more conventional chinrest feel, while the higher springs allow players with a longer neck to play more comfortably than ever.
Designed for both violin and viola the PIRASTRO KorfkerSpring® paves the way for effortless self-expression and the discovery of the instrument’s full potential.
*This article was released by Vermont Violins on June 2, 2026. For media inquiries, catalog access, or scheduling availability regarding our imported instrument collections, contact us directly at info@vermontviolins.com*