As a cellist, you’ll need a way to hold your endpin in place as you play. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to sit uncomfortably while you try to hold your cello in place with your knees (or head or hands or shoes…). This is what an endpin stop or strap is for. You’ll also hear them called rock stops. Using a rock stop will also protect your floors so you don’t end up with tiny holes! And those of you with a rubber stopper attached to the endpin? That won’t really do much on a non-carpeted floor, so you’ll want to be sure you have a strap or stop just in case. The first step is to decide if you want a strap or a stop.
Endpin Strap
An endpin strap is a long piece of fabric with a cup on one end for the endpin to rest in, and a ring on the other to go under the chair leg. It should work for most people, the only potential issue is the cellist’s height. For really little ones if it’s too long – even at the shortest possible adjustment – you can just put part of the strap itself under the chair leg rather than the ring. For very tall cellists, it may not be long enough depending on how you hold your cello (but we’ve seen clever hacks, like tying an extra piece of fabric through the d-ring).
Pro: It will not slip. Since it’s secured under the chair leg, there’s really no way for it to move.
Con: You might have to adjust the length when sitting in different chairs. To adjust you’ll most likely have to put your cello down and may have to give it a few tries to find the right length. This can be time-consuming and annoying for some cellists.
Endpin Stop
A stop is just a small circle that has a cup for the endpin to rest in, with rubber or some similar material on the bottom. It does not attach to the chair. This can be used for a cellist of any height since you simply move it around to find the right spot.
Pro: Easily adjustable to where you need it to rest. You can move it around by pushing it with the tip of your endpin.
Con: It can slip more easily than the strap. If the floor is dirty or you don’t have a good-quality stop, it can constantly move, which can be frustrating.
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While no strap or stop is guaranteed slip-proof, here are the three straps and stops we think are the best:
Xeros Endpin Anchor – This is an endpin strap that’s adjustable between 16 and 32 inches. It’s always lasted well for us and our students and most importantly, stays put. Click Here for Pricing and More Information.
Dycem Black Hole – The best endpin stop in our opinion. It holds in place much better than any other rock stop due to some fancy material they use. The only point to note for students is the endpin spot is small and best fits endpins that don’t have a rubber stopper (but you should be able to just pull off the stopper). Click Here for Pricing and More Information.
The Slipstop Cello Endpin Rest – A good endpin stop. It has occasionally slipped a little but still a solid choice. Click Here for Pricing and More Information.