Arm yourself, it's another 'Arm Rest' thread!

[mtucker]

Perhaps this question has been addressed before, I don't recall but thought we needed another arm rest thread anyway so here goes....

Armrests definitely serve their purpose, they're more comfortable on your forearm and do prevent you from muting the top. But, if you're like me, you have trouble bringing yourself to mounting one up because of the way the armrest rides on your instrument and inherent problems with the finish and from the clamping system, too loose or too tight, case issues, etc.

There are a number of acoustic guitar builders who are integrating arm rests into their tops (see pic) and so I was wondering why I've seen only one builder I can recall, Brian Dean that's doing this on some of his instruments. Why not from others building say folks that build less traditional A and F models or other designs?

It doesn't seem like it would be terribly difficult to execute and could be functional yet aesthetically pleasing. Are there reasons why we don't see more of these?

[Mark Gunter]

Maybe some do it still on neapolitan mandolins? Seemed to be more of a thing 100 years ago.

For starters though, I'd think that most builders would prefer not to limit their market. Not everyone wants an armrest ... and those who do can add one aftermarket.

[Don Grieser]

I think Steve Sorensen builds some with a built in armrest, but I can't find the pics. Yo, Steve! Post some pics.

[Br1ck]

A bevel will give you the comfort of a founded edge, but I find the height of an armrest also is better for my whole arm angel and allows me to pick in the sweet spot. I would wander toward the bridge before I got the armrest.

[MontanaMatt]

Weber makes a tail piece arm rest combo. I have it on both my mandolins and love it.
Compact, slick, low profile, comfortable.

[Dave Greenspoon]

Rigel's radiused sides preclude the need for an armrest IME. I find that usually a tpc corner is trying to gouge a hole in my arm and I resolve that with an 1/2 otp rest. I have a preference for the stuff Doug Edwards produces at Hill Country Stringworks.

[mtucker]

Thanks for your responses. Here's two of Brian Dean's (Labraid) take on a canted top and the Lyon snd Healy as examples.

[mtucker]

Of all the add-ons, this Campanella rings my bell aesthetically, but i'm trouble with clamps.

[Mark Gunter]

Thanks for your responses. Here's two of Brian Dean's (Labraid) take on a canted top and the Lyon snd Healy as examples.

Those are gorgeous.

[mtucker]

Those are gorgeous.

Agree, very nice.

[Buck]

As noted by others, a built-in bevel and a clamp-on armrest do different things. The bevel simply changes the shape of the edge where your forearm touches, but it doesn't significantly affect the geometry of your arm in relation to the mandolin. The elevated arm rest changes both the contour where your arm touches and moves your forearm into a different plane, closer to that of the strings.

Personally, I dislike the looks of both. Can't recall ever playing a mandolin with a bevel (other than Rigels) built in, but I don't like the feel of clamp-on rests at all. I much prefer the look and feel of a traditional mandolin without an armrest.