So who makes armrests besides McClung and Cumberland?

[thecelloronin]

Hi all,

I'm looking to purchase an ebony armrest for my mandocello. Everyone raves about the McClungs, but it looks like availability is quite limited. Build quality looks good on Cumberland, but folks complain those armrests are too thing.

Are there any smaller makers/companies out there willing to make a mandocello-sized armrest? Preferably with the removable violin-esque hardware rather than adhesive.

One more question: what is the ideal ratio of armrest height to bridge height? I imagine my mandocello has a taller bridge than most mandolins, possibly necessitating a taller armrest. What's the math for a comfortable fit here?

Thanks!

[kjbllc]

make your own?

[OneChordTrick]

Have a look here http://leoswood.com/armrests/. He’s also a member here.

Very happy with mine, made to order and shipped to England in good time.

[multidon]

Spencer Oliver, who is a member here, makes armrests and advertises on our Classifieds from time to time.

[Paul Busman]

make your own?

I've made a couple and of all the mandolin accessories, an armrest is just about the easiest. However,Ebony is a b*tch to work with so unless you're an experienced wood worker with decent tools, I wouldn't bother.

[sblock]

McClung doesn't make armrests! 'McClung' refers to a particular style of armrest made by Doug Edwards of Hill Country Stringworks. See here. NFI.

[Charles E.]

Spencer Oliver, who is a member here, makes armrests and advertises on our Classifieds from time to time.

Mr Olivers current ad in the classifieds.........

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/128068#128068

Spencer can probably make anything you want.

NFI

[geoffa]

Dan Voight here in Nashville also makes mandolin armrests. I recently bought one from him and it's great. Probably worth contacting him to see if he could make something like what you're looking for: http://voightmandolins.com/

[Northwest Steve]

Lyn Dudenbostel also lists arm rests from time to time. They are about the size of the Cumberland arm rests.

[8strings]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S_uoyHDnC4



PS: The armrest is for sale here on the mandolincafe website, but only with the instrument attached
and in its Pegasus case. All 3 items in mint condition.

[thecelloronin]

Thanks for everyone's reply. I've checked out each one of these recommendations, and one thing stood out to me in Spencer Oliver's ad:

NOTE: Armrests are not recommended for instruments with delicate finishes such as Varnish. I cannot be held responsible for any damages to your instrument's finish from your use of one of these armrests.

Is this always true, or is it more for recently varnished instruments which may not have fully cured yet?

[Mark Gunter]

Is this always true ...

Pretty much, yes. Most finishes can possibly be damaged in some way over time when items are clamped to them.

... is it more for recently varnished instruments which may not have fully cured yet?

Yes, certainly. A softer, fresh, not fully cured yet finish is more susceptible to damage, for obvious reason.

There are ways to mitigate damage to most finishes: Use of leather, felt, etc.

Since a manufacturer of an armrest doesn't control installation of the armrest generally, nor can he control what finish is actually on a particular instrument, or any number of other factors, I doubt that any would guarantee against any possible damage to a finish. Would be great to hear from more manufacturers on their thinking on this topic, I suppose.

[thecelloronin]

Could "damage" ever be accurately compared to "honest wear" in the case of an armrest? I know violins all sport varnish and chin rests without suffering effects that might be considered particularly undesirable. What sort of damage are we talking, here?

[Denny Gies]

Take an old sock, cut it just above where your ankle would be and use the to part on your forearm; no need for an arm rest. It actually works.

[Mark Gunter]

Could "damage" ever be accurately compared to "honest wear" in the case of an armrest?

You're getting into strictly opinion here, with that question. In my opinion, yes, "honest wear", or in other words, I couldn't care less whether the armrest makes a mark on my instrument. For me, an instrument is a thing of beauty, but it is utilitarian. It's a tool. It gets used, and I'll modify mine in any way I see fit.

"Damage" could be anything from a practically invisible marring of the topcoat to a slight dent to ??? and the eye of the beholder defines any amount of wear or damage as acceptable or not. I'm not a luthier, but I am a professional finisher - so if I were to manufacture an accessory for a musical instrument, like an armrest, I'd make a similar disclaimer. You can't have the super-picky person come along and want to hold you accountable for any possible mark that an armrest might make. Who needs that grief? If you clamp something to your instrument, there is a possibility it could leave a mark. You mitigate this best as possible, then just do it if you want to use an armrest. An armrest will not destroy your instrument if you install it correctly. It may leave a mark if you use it for any length of time.

[Charles E.]

Mark has made some good points. I used to do violin repair for a living and have removed hundreds of chinrests from violins and violas. The worst damage I have seen was from over tightening the bracket, crushing the overhang of the top and distorting the rib. Many times the removal caused the varnish to come off with the pads of the chinrest. Chances are, if you clamp anything to the finish it is going to leave an impression of some kind.

One thing that you have to consider is how tall the sides of your mandocello are. Most if not all arm rest makers use viola brackets that come in a limited selection of heights. You may not be able to get any tall enough.

John Pearce makes arm rests that do not use brackets including small ones for instruments smaller then a guitar.

http://www.jpstrings.com/armrest.htm

[MediumMando5722]

Take an old sock, cut it just above where your ankle would be and use the to part on your forearm; no need for an arm rest. It actually works.

It looks stylish, as well!

Seriously, this wouldn't accomplish what I like from an armrest. Before I got one (armrest, not a cut off sock), my forearm laid across a good portion of the top, deadening the tone of my instrument. Of course, I wasn't really aware of this until after installation. Also, it changed the angle of my pick attack, further improving the sound (to my ears).

If a cut off sock does the trick, more power to you, but maybe invest in a sweat band?

[mandroid]

Got one from http://www.lynndudenbostel.com/

[thecelloronin]

I've got a pretty good handle on not overtightening violin-style hardware, considering how much time I've spent handling, teaching, and playing fiddles. I guess I won't worry too much about what I'm gonna call "honest wear".

FWIW, I also used to use the cut-out sock method with electric guitars.

It seems what makes a McClung a McClung is that angle. Indeed, I'd prefer a solution that not only lifts my forearm a bit off the edge of the instrument, but projects my arm and wrist out to a more natural angle for picking.

Does anyone know what angle Doug uses in his McClungs? And, is there an optimal bridge height/arm rest height ratio? Since he's in retirement, would it be bad form to adopt some of his design cues in a custom order with another builder?

One thing that you have to consider is how tall the sides of your mandocello are. Most if not all arm rest makers use viola brackets that come in a limited selection of heights. You may not be able to get any tall enough.

You know, that's been a concern of mine as well, but it seems that Hill-style clamps can extend the 3 1/4" that is the thickness of my m'cello. There also seem to be standard clamps, as evidenced by this Cumberland product image:

[Mark Gunter]

That last image is pretty cool! Those are some long clamps (turnbuckle portion, anyway).

I used a McClung, it was my first mandolin armrest. I've used two other types since, including a Spencer Oliver one. Personally, I find little to no difference between them. They all provide what I want: Some comfort, and what I consider a better playing position for me.

It's been a while since I've read Doug's hype, but I think he was aiming to have an angle that sort of pointed to the top of the bridge. That may be wrong. But in my opinion, anyone could make an armrest you'll like, just be sure to explain any preferences clearly.

[DHopkins]

Spencer Oliver custom made an arm rest for my Blevins octave mandolin. It was designed to conform to the larger body and a perfect arm rest was delivered in a week. It's beautiful. A regular mandolin would be a breeze for him.

No, I'm not affiliated with him in any way other than being a customer,

[Phil Goodson]

I don't know the exact McClung angle, but it looks to be just a tad more than the angle from the end of the tailpiece (where strings leave the TP) to the top of the saddle. A straightedge along the top of the rest seems to reach to about 1 cm or so above the saddle on my mandolin. With all the curved parts involved, exact measurement is difficult.

I've used these for years and loved them.