Arm rest

[belbein]

Just back to my instruments after a long hiatus and the hard edges are tearing my arms up. But I can't find arm rests. Anybody know what I can find nice ones for 1. mandolin and 2. octave mandolin?

[Phil Goodson]

A google of 'mandolin arm rests' gives a list of choices.
I like the McClung type and use them on every mandolin.

[Valerie Jestice]

You could try a Soliver armrest. He made me a custom one, and I really like it!

[mee]

I use a McClung on my mandolin from Hill Country Stringworks.
Doug Edwards does an awesome job and also made my custom truss rod cover.

[Rdeane]

I add a vote for McClung from Hill Country Stringworks. The owner is a great guy to deal with. For the mandolin that I'm making now, I made my own arm rest and purchased the viola clamp hardware online.

[Bill McCall]

I have Soliver’s and Cumberland Acoustics. I prefer Soliver’s.

[DHopkins]

Spencer Oliver made two for me: one for one of my Breedloves and one for my Blevins octave. This is the one for the Breedlove:

[Charles E.]

Links, people, links.........

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/136085#136085

[DHopkins]

Sorry, Charley, my bad but you took care of it. (For a minute, there, I thought I was starting a tuna commercial.)

[Charles E.]

No worries Dave, heard it all my life.

[Marty Jacobson]

Make yer own, Brad! You're a handy fellow. You can make it however you want.
Or get one from Spencer (Soliver) - he's here in town and doesn't charge enough.

[Bill Kammerzell]

Just back to my instruments after a long hiatus and the hard edges are tearing my arms up. But I can't find arm rests. Anybody know what I can find nice ones for 1. mandolin and 2. octave mandolin?

Spenser Oliver makes Soliver Armrests. You can probably find some right here at the Cafe under Mandolin Accessories. Come to think of it he's in Georgia, maybe Atlanta. I've owned Spenser's, Cumberland Acoustic and McClung. I prefer Spenser's cause of the way they fit both the mandolin and my arm. He really doesn't charge enough as someone else said. NFI.

[Denny Gies]

I cut the bottom of a sock off and used the top part that goes on your leg. I slip it over my hand to my forearm............believe it or not it works, and it was cheap.

[belbein]

Make yer own, Brad! You're a handy fellow. You can make it however you want.

Marty: How the hell are you? It's been a long time. I have kind of been following from afar the development of the Jacobson brand--very impressive. It always makes me smile when I see someone list one of their instruments as a Jacobson.

Unfortunately, my bandsaw is down and I'm so busy I don't have time to fix it. I could use a hacksaw, I guess (no, not to fix the bandsaw, but to make the armrest)... but I'm just getting back to picking up my instruments up and I can either construct or I can play. I was looking for an easy way out!

Until you outed me for the lazy bum that I am ...

--B

[Marty Jacobson]

I am with you on "construct or play". I think you're making the right choice. Things are good here. The old shop was about ready to fall down, but we've moved out to Mableton. The new garage shop is a little less luxurious, but the new house has 4 bathrooms instead of 1. And air conditioning. And I wasn't disciplined enough with the space to make all that room a worthwhile allocation of creation. Less room to make mess in = less mess, haha. You know the drill. Come by sometime, beer's in the fridge.

[Dave Greenspoon]

Another +1 for Doug Edwards and his McClung arm rest. I had one on my Jethro Burns, and have one on my Eastman 515. Great product, great price, excellent service.

[Doug Brock]

I just got a gorgeous flamed maple McClung arm rest from Doug Edwards. Love it.

[Willem]

I have one of Soliver's armrests and have no complaints.

[tree]

If you are even remotely handy, you can make these yourself. No bandsaw necessary. A drill press is helpful, for accuracy, but is technically a luxury also.

[DHopkins]

If you are even remotely handy, you can make these yourself. No bandsaw necessary. A drill press is helpful, for accuracy, but is technically a luxury also.

For a really quality arm rest like others have described here, one probably has to be more than "remotely handy," lest they come up with a mediocre product. Guys like Spencer Oliver and the others have the equipment, sanding products and finishing materials, etc. to do it right. Furthermore, their prices are very competitive. By the time one purchased sandpaper, the clamp, wood, and finishing materials, etc. to make their own, I don't believe they could do it any cheaper.

[tree]

If I can do it, I believe most folks, at least those who are inclined to DIY projects, probably can. But it takes all kinds, honestly. Folks who are not inclined to toward woodworking projects may certainly conclude that it's easier to purchase their armrest from others. For those who already have woodworking stuff and maybe even a shop, it is way cheaper to build your own, as the only real cost is the viola chinrest hardware.

This is an easy, basic woodworking project. While it does take some modest effort to get it done accurately, it is not something that makes a visual statement when you're playing - it's always covered by your forearm.

[Br1ck]

I'd jump on the DIY bandwagon, but I've been retired for a while and have forgotten what working is like. When I showed a friend my newly minted mandolin, he said that was the kind of thing retired guys could do.

[Eric Platt]

I have both Soliver and McClung. Either one works great. Look at both and pick the wood you like best. Cumberland Acoustics are okay, but not as nice as the other two IMO.

[Louise NM]

I have both Soliver and McClung. Either one works great. Look at both and pick the wood you like best.

Exactly. I also have both. Very happy with all, both gentlemen were wonderful to do business with. You can't lose!

[Mandobart]

I've built a couple arm rests and modified several to fit deeper bodies on 'dolas, OM's and mandocellos. You can buy longer barrels:

35mm
40 mm

Or you can buy 1/8" brass rod and cut it long and thread it. I think its a 6-40 die that I use. For whatever reason (probably metric vs SAE) not all chinrest/arm rest hardware is compatible.