Thanks to all our customers for all the emails, letters, and even phone calls. We pay attention to every comment or suggestion. Please keep the cards and letters coming.
Stephen Kallai
Inventor of the GelRest
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The GelRest has been the most helpful and reliable of any of the strategies I have tried to decrease the pain and irritation under my jaw. It seems to have just the right thickness, density, and freedom of placement to provide really great relief from the discomfort I've experienced most of my playing career. In my case, the issue seems to not be a surface of the skin problem as much as a localized pressure between my jaw bone and the hard surface of the chinrest. The Gel Rest, though not bulky, provides just enough cushion and distribution of force between the chinrest and corner of the jaw that my soreness there has improved dramatically. Also, because the material is not absorbent, it seems to stay clean more so than other materials..
Jonathan Vinocour, Principal Viola, San Francisco Symphony
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!! I am SO happy I called you yesterday and you were willing to part with some of those gel rests! They are the best invention in my opinion! And I play 7 days a week, 5 hours a day sometimes. I can truly say I am the most working fiddler in Orlando, Florida. I play all different styles and have my own band. We have an entertainment company that supplies music for Disney, Universal, and Gaylord Entertainment as well as many of the conventions that come to town. I perform daily at EPCOT Center varying between the Norway, Canada, American Adventure, and France pavilions---playing the appropriate styles of music of course. When you play all the time, comfort matters the most. I can fit in more gigs thanks to Gel Rest! And the customer service is great too! Steve really cares about his customers and that his products provide what's promised.
Thanks!
Jonita Aadland
Orlando, Florida
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Stephen,
The GelRest arrived yesterday and I LOVE it! I noticed the improvement the minute I put it on the chinrest. The added cushion made it easier to keep the viola steady without discomfort. Before, I was always aware of the pressure on my chin and now I can forget about that and concentrate on the music. I'm thrilled!
Thanks, and good luck with your business.
Laura Chaskes
USA
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My neck/chin is SO much better. I've gone from having a very dark, unattractive and often painful callus to almost nothing! It has made playing more comfortable, easier (because I don't juggle a soft rag on andoff anymore) and healthier. . . . I would like to see all students using them for health reasons. I do believe that once someone uses a GelRest pad, they will not want to play without it. I only regret that the pad was not available for me 30 years ago!
Hope you have a great new year and I wish you continued success with this super invention!
Kathryn Powell
USA
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I am on the mailing list of a firm called Caswells who recently sent me their latest catalogue. In it was listed Gel Rest price £5.95. I did wonder if it originated from you. With Christmas coming up I ordered three, one for myself and two for violin pupils. Here's the interesting bit. I received a phone call saying the firm had sold out as soon as clients had seen the item in the catalogue! Once restocked, my three arrived in due course. The packaging showed your name, hence this 'feed-back' E-mail. You seem to have hit on a need for string players needing greater comfort under the chin.
Last time we were in contact, you did not have a UK distributer. This has obviously now changed. May I wish you continuing success in marketing your product which in essence is so simple yet effective.
Yours,
Gareth Clemson
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I recently bought one of your gelrests (complete chinrest), after years of having a sore red lump which was very unsightly as well as painful, from where I play so much. I have to say that the gelrest has cured my problems, and my neck is lump and redness free - the first time in 10 years! I would recommend the gelrest to anyone.
Thank you so much
Becky Haydock
Isle of Wight
United Kindgom
www.tinlids.20m.com
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I had intended to add the tortoise gel rest to my mid-price Chinese but, when it arrived it looked so good that it has gone onto my posh hand made fiddle. The older gel rest will go onto the Chinese.
The gold fleck still looks good and with a gold coloured Incredibow brings real bling to my electric fiddle.
The delivery, BTW, was incredible, it got here faster than a lot of stuff sent from the UK. I had to wait to e-mail you 'til the weekend so that I could see it in daylight.
Thanks
Jeff Flatters
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Hi Steve,
Just thought I'd let you know that the chinrest is great! It was so easy to install on my violin, only took a few minutes. It feels so comfortable on the chin and it helps so much, to make you feel like playing longer. Now, my neck doesn't hurt like it use to.
Thanks again,
Dave Nelson
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Hi,
I am so impressed with my new GelRest! It is SUPER comfortable and the tortoise shell
pattern looks absolutely beautiful. It's bling bling for my fiddle - can't beat that!
I am so very happy with my purchase.
Thank you...
Nan Cunningham
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A wonderful product! I can never play without my gelrest!!
Ina van Staden
South Africa
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Dear Stephen,
We heard about GelRest on the internet. We are very happy with it. My
daughter is 10 and has been playing the violin for 5 years now. We have
recommended it to friends. Thank you
Mohammad Inayat
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Dear Stephen,
I just wanted to say 'thank you' for my ebony GelRest! It really is very comfortable, but, more importantly, I have no red mark on my neck and the GelRest can hardly be seen! It has made a huge difference to me.
I wish you every future success,
Best,
Poly Victoros
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Hi Stephen,
Tristan Clarridge here. You sent me a gelrest which I've enjoyed a lot. It's been on my
fiddle ever since, and I've had a lot of folks notice it and express
interest in it. It happens to raise my chinrest up to the proper
height for me, and is way more comfortable, as well as looking cool.
Thanks,
Tristan
www.myspace.com/newoldstockmusic
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Stephen:
The GelRest is for my 16 year old daughter's viola. I just want to let you know that she really likes the comfort and thinks the purple adds a unique flair to her instrument. More importantly, the sore spot on her neck has cleared up.
Thanks- Tim Edwards
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Hi,
I'm taking advantage of your offer to receive comments about the
GelRest. Because of a calcium deposit or somesuch there is a rather
sharp point on my jawbone, just where it contacts a chinrest. For
years I've used a thick pad of carpet foam, covered with cloth, to be
able to play, but this system left a lot to be desired. Now that the
GelRest is here, my problem is solved. With the GelRest I have no
discomfort or problems. Thanks for that.
Katherine Doversberger
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I've played fiddle for 25 years--wish I'd found Gel Rest way back at
the beginning! What a difference!
I teach out of studio at a music store. When I saw a Gel Rest in
stock, I decided to try it. I put it on, played a bit, then took it
off, not sure I was feeling a $15 difference. When I played without
it, I stopped in 5 seconds and put the Gel Rest right back on. I've
never going back to a plain chin rest!
15 minutes later, one of my fiddle students did the exact same thing.
I'm recovering from surgery to fuse two neck vertebrae and Gel Rest
has made it much easier to get back into playing. It's comfortable,
lets me relax my neck, and provides all the "grip" I need without any
strain to head, neck, or back.
Wonderful!!!!
Thanks!
Will Harmon
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Just a quick note to say that the GelRest arrived today and I installed it to the violin with no problem at all (the YouTube video is a help). I'm astonished at how well it adheres to the chinrest and blends with its boxwood color. Furthermore, it is very comfortable, adding "traction" to the chinrest, making it easier to hold. Since it's the summer, I usually have problems with perspiration on the chinrest and also the wood painfully jabbing into my neck. The GelRest has gone a long way to easing those problems. I used it a rehearsal tonight and, in fact, will play on it this Thursday at the Whiskey á Go-Go on the Sunset Strip.