Armrests

[jaizbones]

I am considering an armrest or equivalent since I am wearing the skin off that part of my forearm. Any one use one or suggest otherwise.

Bueno, Bye http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[neal]

Lots of opinions, but here's mine. I always play with a bare forearm, short sleeve, or sleeveless. The armrest helps keep the sweat off the finish. I notice no sound improvements, and I really don't notice that it helps keep my arm in line for picking, but it is comfortable, and keeps the acid off the finish, as I'm like the Alien and would probably burn right thru the wood. I'm using a Siren armrest, though others make them, too.

I've noticed that a lot of my guitars have finish "problems" right where my arm lies, so I've put pearse armrests on those. Unfortunately, those are permanent.

[mandroid]

Mandolin ones use the clamp on hardware of violin chinrests.
I got one from Cumberland acoustics. the top joins body, in my case,at a sharper angle (than square) so it is more comfy on the forearm. [Lebeda F5]
I see my long used A to be balding a bit of finish at that point,but has not, the sharp corner at the binding edge.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Mace]

I found, and I do not remember the maker,it marred the finish a bit. Be careful the clamp is not put on too tight. I go without now.

[Dfyngravity]

SIREN armrest...good enough for Chris Thile...good enough for me. But seriously, I have one and it is awesome. You will definately hear a difference in tone and volume. I say go for it. If it's not for you I know someone hear on the cafe will want it.

[mrbook]

I found a small, narrow, kidney-shaped violin chinrest among some items in my basement, and decided to try it before investing in an arm rest. It works, and I have not needed anything else.

[Lee]

Weber makes this combo armrest/tailpiece. I haven't tried it yet. Some cafe memebers really like it.

[Asha]

I have been considering one of the Sirens as well. But I also have a Tone-gard in place. QUESTION: Will the Tone-gard interfere with appropriate placement of the Siren arm rest? (I've got a Breedlove Oregon model if that matters.)

[jim simpson]

I recently received a Tone-Gard with a mando I purchased. I installed my home-made armrest (copy of the Siren) and it is compatible with the Tone-Gard. I like the armrest a lot! I'm not sure yet about the Tone-Gard. I wear my strap over one shoulder so the mando doesn't really rest against my chest.

[jaizbones]

Good point with the Tone Guard. I have one and a pickup that attaches like the armrest, so its going to look like a tricked out chevy or something. Thanks for the ideas. I think I am going to try the Siren.

Adios http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[Potosimando]

For Asha: I have a Siren-armrest/Tonegard combo on a couple of mandos (Givens and Coombe) and the combination works fine on both. Would be the same for your Breedlove--i.e. no problem.

[Big Joe]

I use an arm rest on my mandolins and love them. They not only keep sweat stains off the finish, they also make the mandolin louder just like a tone guard. We stock the Cumberland Acoustic arm rest in our store at the Bluegrass Showcase.

[mandorado]

I use one on my Flatiron A5 Artist, and it's great. No problemo. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[ira]

is there actually a diff b/w the armrests. cumberland, siren, king brown, etc...
they all seem made of ebony with cork to avoid marring. the only diff seems to be price??? anyone compare the actual products?

[Harvey]

I have a Siren on my Flatiron A5 Artist. It helps keep your arm off the hard edge of the top.

[Luthier Vandross]

I am building armrests into my instruments.

M

[ira]

ordered my siren from janet davis (least expensive price around- and they carry my strings!) the other day. can't wait till it gets here.

[levin4now]

what is the price range on various models out there (siren, for example)?

[Geno]

I've had both a Siren and a Cumberland Acoustics. I found the Siren to be more comfortable, but a bit too clunky and the Cumberland a bit scrawny. I redrilled the holes and cut down the height of the Siren, which made it work much better for me.

[ira]

siren= 35-40 plus shipping.

[sgarrity]

Does anyone have a pic of the Cumberland Acoustic armrest?

[siren_20]

Been using the Siren arm rest for about 2 or 3 weeks now after the Symposium on (oddly enough) my Siren String Works F-5, and all I can say is: Wow! What a difference! It's a lot more comfortable and I like where it puts my arm over the top.
At the symposium I think that Chris put it the in best way, he basically said that it's about damn time that they invented an armrest...violinists have chinrests and shoulder rests because they improve posture and allow the instrument to reach its full potential, undamped by the player's body. I agree!
J.T.

[ira]

so, got my arm rest today. directions discuss positioning with f-hole, and i have an oval hole. how do i position it on my mando?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif?
heeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllpppppppppp!

[berkeleymando]

Just ordered a King Brown myself.

[jim simpson]

Ira,
You should be able to determine a good spot based on where your arm crosses that portion of your instrument. I guess you could also look at an illustration of one mounted on an F-hole and guestimate your location.
To Luthier Vandross,
Were you kidding about building a rest into your mandolins? If not, please provide us with an illustration.
Jim

[Will Little]

+1 for siren, I've had mine for a few months now, it saves my forearm, and improves volume.

[Stillpicking]

Put a Siren on mine about a year ago and it will never come off if I own the mando. In fact got a new mando a few weeks ago and just ordered one from FQMS. Its going on first thing, won't play without it.

[Avi Ziv]

I see that a couple of you use the Siren on a Flatiron A5 Artist. This is what I have and I just got the Siren arm rest. Seems pretty good but I'm curious - the radius seems larger than the radius of the A5. This means that it does not follow the outside circumference lines of the mando. I just want to make sure that this is the case and that I didn't get an arm rest designed for a larger instrument by mistake. I also think that it's a small challenge to keep the metal bars completely away from the sides of the mando. The playing position and sound are both excellent though. Nice looking piece of ebony too.

Avi

[SternART]

Avi........Mine are like yours, a tad off, on some mandos...... but fit perfect on others. I just center it as best I can.

[David Miller]

I recently added a King Brown onto my Collings MT, and I am loving every minute of it. I did it for the same reasons others have listed - I was tired of the line that was embedding itself into my arm, my tailpiece was already starting to discolor, etc. What I like the most about the King Brown is that it goes over the tailpiece too, which is right where my arm centers. They are in Australia, so it took about a week to get to me, and it was $50, but that included shipping, and it was worth every penny to me.

Why do it with only 6 strings when you can do it with 8?

[keymandoguy]

I hide the extra cord from my pickup under my armrest tucked up under makes mando look nicer and doesnt bother the sound. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Heres a great one that I've been extremely happy with.
You can inquire one from WWW.BRUNKALLA.COM

[Yellowmandolin]

gdae_boy, where is the arm rest on Brunkalla?

[TerryA]

My Siren armrest on my Gibson F5L is comfortable, puts
my right arm at a better angle, and improves tone. Highly
recommended.

TerryA

You can email Mr Brunkalla about custom making the arm rest. And if you throw in a few extra bucks he'll even attach an amazing mandolin to the arm rest for ya! Thats what I did lol!

[straight-a]

Installed a Siren on mine last night. WOW,WOW,WOW!!!!!! Should have done it the day I got the mandolin!! Talk about comfort! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[berkeleymando]

I got the King Brown I had ordered and it is great. Beautiful ebony design, nice results on tone and playability.

[GVD]

Been using a Siren for a couple of months now and don't think I'll ever play without one again.

GVD

[dan@kins]

I use one of the cumberland acoustic armrests on my F9. I plan to get a second one for my two point. I like the smaller size.

regards,
Dan

[Joe F]

I'm using a King Brown armrest on my deep-box Freshwater mandolin. #The Siren armrest doesn't open up far enough to fit the 60mm depth, but King Brown uses modified viola chinrest clamps to gain the extra grip distance. #Other than that, both the Siren and King Brown are very well made and comparable in price.