Mach One V-16 Viola Shoulder Rest

This shoulder rest is my first...I've been playing without one since I started Viola 18 months ago. The Mach One is a good choice for me as my neck is shorter than some other players, and the low profile is a must. My only gripe is that this rest is not a good fit for Violas with a narrower lower bout (my instrument is a 16" Viola). The feet are both set to the narrowest position and still, it is not snug on my instrument. I had to rob the "fatter" feet from another shoulder rest to get this one to work, and there is no room for any lateral adjustment.

Absolutely horrible. I bought this and played with it in my lesson. I never could play comfortably with it. I felt like my viola was constantly slipping. My professor noted how the curve design really made it impractical. At the end, it’s curving away from your body. Now they want me to pay to return it.

This shoulder rest changed everything for the better. It’s such a good fit and it frees me up to shift and have better vibrato.

I have been searching for the perfect shoulder rest for years and I've tried everything. I've taken recommendations from everyone, but every musician's set-up is different! Nothing has been comfortable because I need a low set-up, but a sponge just isn't
enough. When I saw this wonky-shaped Mach one, I had to give it a try. I was skeptical because there isn't really any padding, and the shape is so different. However, as soon as I put it on my viola, I noticed a major difference. I no longer need to shift
the position of my viola while playing because it stays on my shoulder. The rubberized bottom is comfortable, even thought there isn't any traditional padding on it. It doesn't feel "hard" or like it is "digging in." I was surprised, but I am so happy with
this shoulder rest!

I was skeptical about the lack of padding and this shoulder rest felt a little stiff compared to my Kun the first time I used it, but after a day or so I was completely hooked. The rubbery surface is very stable while playing and the shape/angle is so comfortable for me that I don't even miss the padding! As a violist with a long neck it's been hard to find a shoulder rest that keeps everything at a comfortable height and angle for me but this one seems to do the trick. I've had no issues with the feet slipping and sliding off while playing and my viola feels more resonant with this shoulder rest compared to others I've used.