MIMF

Having got this far, any suggestions for a shoulder rest?

Disclaimer - I don't play violin, don't own one, and have never made one.

With that said... how about two dowels sticking out perpendicular from the flat spot between the tuners and the end, supporting a comfortably contoured kidney bean-ish shaped shoulder rest? Maybe removable so it still packs up nice and small?

I've always used a "Kun" shoulder rest and I'd figure out a way to adapt one of those if it were to be my instrument.

David King wrote:I've always used a "Kun" shoulder rest and I'd figure out a way to adapt one of those if it were to be my instrument.

My Yamaha SV120 violin uses a modified Kun shoulder rest in the size for the smallest violins. But also that one will not fit easily on Your instrument unless You add a plate to mount it. You might search the net for pictures of that instrument.

Another approach is to add an "anchor" shaped extension to the body that has the size and curvature of a standard instrument and gives the player the freedom to chose the rest he or she usually prefers. The shoulder rest is a fairly individual choice, and IMHO that freedom of choice should not be taken away from the player.

Another remark: unless the player explicitly wishes something different it is wise to follow the traditional shaping of the neck. It helps with the orientation on the instrument.