Armrest for a Gibson J mandobass?

[rickbella]

Does anyone know where I could get an armrest for an old Gibson J mandobass?

Or what about someone who would build one?

Lacking that, how about someone who could provide measurements and/or a good drawing?

Thanks!

[soliver]

Hey rickbella, I sent you a PM

[soliver]

Is it the piece that goes across the body at an angle?

[rickbella]

Yes! Gibson installed them on some of their mandobasses, but not all. I asked Gibson about them and they didn't know much.

Got any good ideas about who to approach to build one?

[Nevin]

I play upright bass and I can't figure out what it does. Is a pick used on a mandobass?

[rickbella]

Most mandobassists use a pick. The armrest lets them position their right hands over the strings for picking.

[Bernie Daniel]

Most mandobassists use a pick. The armrest lets them position their right hands over the strings for picking.

So you pick it right over the sound hole then? If you could get some good pics and maybe the measurements too - it should be pretty easy to build one? Must be a big pick?

[rickbella]

Some mandobassists use big felt picks, like those commonly used to play an autoharp, to cut noise when the pick lets off the string.

[mrmando]

Yes, but some others use leather picks, and some just go down to the slaughterhouse and get an entire hoof. Big debate about this over on Mandobass Cafe.