How to choose

Selection Guide

Find Your Perfect EFEL

My name is Luboš Forman. Over the last 30 years, more than 70,000 EFEL supports have passed through my hands. Together with my son Gabriel, we've designed a professional system that adapts to you—not the other way around.

The Engineering Edge

8-Cylinder Stability System

The #1 frustration for musicians is a shoulder rest that slips mid-performance. EFEL delivers 100% stability through our proprietary 8-Cylinder System.

These eight precision rubber cylinders utilize flexible wire mounting. As you play, the rollers slightly "flatten" against the instrument's surface, creating a secure, locked grip without ever risking the varnish. In 30 years, not a single musician has complained that their EFEL would not stay on the instrument.

The Anatomy of Playing

How to Choose: Low vs. High

Selecting the right height isn't just about the length of your neck. It's about your unique playing geometry—how you hold your instrument and where you place your support.

Choose LOW if:

You place the support close to the neck of the instrument.
Your fingerboard points more forward (perpendicular to your shoulders).
The scroll of your instrument points more toward the floor.

Choose HIGH if:

You place the support further away from the neck (toward the center).
Your fingerboard points more to the side (parallel to your shoulders).
The scroll of your instrument points more toward the ceiling.

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The "Fist Test" Rule

Assume your natural playing position. If you can comfortably fit a man's fist (approx. 10 cm / 4 inches) between your chest and the instrument, the HIGH model is your perfect match. If the gap is smaller, go with the LOW model.

Minimal Footprint

Let Your Instrument Breathe

Standard shoulder rests grip your instrument through rubber feet covering a large surface area. Measured on the Mach One, that contact area reaches approximately ~1,120 mm². EFEL touches your instrument at only 8 specific points, totaling just 56–100 mm².

This twentyfold reduction in contact area leaves the back plate free to vibrate. Take a cylinder from an EFEL and a foot from a Mach One. Press both against a violin varnish. You will feel the difference in grip immediately—with far less surface area.

Feature	Mach One (measured)	EFEL Technology
Contact Surface	~ 1,120 mm²	56 – 100 mm²
Contact Type	Continuous foam pad	8 individual cylinders
Back Plate Coverage	Large central area	Edge contact only

Contact area comparison: EFEL vs foam pad rest

Contact area comparison: EFEL cylinders vs. continuous foam pad (Mach One, measured).

Choose Your Model

TOP CHOICE

Artist

Comfort for long sessions

The dual-sided frame extension distributes pressure across a wider surface, reducing strain during hours of daily practice. For players who demand maximum comfort without sacrificing freedom.

Developed following feedback from Prof. Ulf Schneider, Hannover University — who needed wider contact surface for professional-level daily practice.

Shop Artist

Plus

Stability and confidence

The extended frame on the shoulder side keeps the instrument securely in place. Reliable support for students who need confidence, and for orchestral players who need consistency.

Born from a request by a music school teacher who wanted the stability of a Bonmusica with the lightness of EFEL.

Shop Plus

Ergo

Freedom of movement

Minimal footprint, maximum flexibility. At only 37g (4/4), it lets the instrument feel like a natural extension of the body. Preferred by advanced players who want zero restriction.

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Technical Specifications

Instrument	Model	Height	Weight (g)	Material
Violin 1/16-1/8	Ergo / Plus	Low	32 / 36g	Spring Steel & Galapor
Violin 1/4-1/2	Ergo / Plus	Low	36 / 38g	Spring Steel & Galapor
Violin 3/4-4/4	Ergo	Low / High	37 / 39g	Spring Steel & Galapor
Violin 3/4-4/4	Plus	Low / High	42 / 44g	Spring Steel & Galapor
Violin 3/4-4/4	Artist	Low / High	44 / 46g	Spring Steel & Galapor
Viola	Ergo	Low / High	45 / 47g	Spring Steel & Galapor
Viola	Plus	Low / High	49 / 51g	Spring Steel & Galapor
Viola	Artist	Low / High	49 / 52g	Spring Steel & Galapor

Dermatologically Tested & Latex-Free

Your comfort and health are our priority. We use Galapor, a premium EVA foam originally developed for medical orthotics.

Our material is 100% Latex-Free—ensuring safety for long-term skin contact during intense practice and performance.

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Direct-to-Musician: 5-Year Warranty

When you purchase directly from our official workshop, we provide an exclusive 5-year warranty. This is our personal commitment to your musical journey.

Buying direct ensures a hand-inspected unit and a direct line to the makers for any support or setup advice.

Experience the Difference

Every EFEL is hand-assembled and personally inspected in our family workshop in the Czech Republic, backed by our maker's 5-year warranty.

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