Armrests

[S MS Picker]

Does anyone use armrests?Both my Taylors and my Martin,which Ms Katrina claimed,had the plastic John Pearse armguards.I was able to bend them,after applying heat from a heat gun(not to be confused with a hair dryer),so that the fit was pretty good. I have yet to find a guitar that the current armrests fit.I ya'll know of one,let me know.(armrest that is)
I really don't want to build one. I've become quite lazzzy in the last few years.
Thanks
Steve

[ebick]

I don't have any idea what you are talking about......an armrest for a guitar?

[S MS Picker]

I don't have any idea what you are talking about......an armrest for a guitar?

An attachment,fitted to the guitar,which prevents your pickin arm from contact w/the top.Strum your guitar and lightly place&remove your forearm from the top.You should be able to hear a noticeable wah-wah effect.
Steve

[taylor96]

He is talking about these

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

and yes I have them on all my guitars.. The first one I bought for something like XX.00 and instantly thought I had paid way too much. SO thereafter I just made my own out of fancy woods like cocobola, mahog, etc. Doesn take a lot of material so the cost is quite reasonable , if you have specality wood store near you..



edited for price

[michaelw]

hi Steve,
Carl, who is cjd-player here, uses armrests & hopefully he will 'chime in' here shortly
here's a link to a thread that has some pics of his guitars & armrests
http://www.unofficialtaylorguitarforum.com/index.php?topic=3.msg635#msg635

[cjd-player]

O.K. Michael, I'll take your cue. 

I started using armrests on my Grand Concerts.  I was skeptical after reading posts about them, but tried the test that folks recommend - play as you normally do, then play again making sure that your forearm does NOT touch the soundboard.   For some folks it makes no difference, but for me I noticed that my forearm was damping the guitar slightly.   This can be especially true on smaller-body guitars like the Grand Concerts.  So I tried a John Pearse armrest.  It keeps my forearm off of the guitar top so there is no damping.

I was not totally satisfied with the fit and finish of the purchased arm rest, so I cut it to a smaller size and shape and refinished it. In the process I also made the edge radius, where your arm touches it, larger and more comfortable.

I've since made more for other guitars.  I like the large edge radius so much that I put one on my Grand Auditorium as well, even though the "damping test" did not show that I needed it.

I'm a big fan, but I know they're not for everyone.  As I said, I really like the large edge radius, but the one downside is that the rest effectively makes the guitar about 1/4 inch deeper, so you either have to put your playing arm out farther, or tilt the guitar back toward you.

[Picken Pappy]

Can anyone tell me how an armrest is affixed to the guitar? Double face tape? Can it be removed without damaging the finish if you don't like it?

[cjd-player]

Yes Pappy, the armrest is attached with double-stick tape.  But not the whole armrest surface.  The rests consist of a flat plate that is about 1/8 inch thick.  Along the outer curved edge, there is a raised portion, a sort of "lip" that is about 1/4 inch wide and 1/8 inch high.  The surface of this lip has the tape.  It attaches along the outer edge of the guitar top where the kerfing is underneath the top.   So there is no damping of the top by the armrest.  The "plate" floats out over the guitar top without touching it.  In cross section a rest something looks like this:     __________________
                                             l______________       l
                                                                         l___ l
                                                                                 The tape goes on this bottom edge only. 

They can be removed by sliding dental floss underneath and work along the rest.  Not particularly easy, but there is no damage to Taylor's UV finish.

[S MS Picker]

Thanks Carl. I use naphtha(lighter fluid-no spark included))to remove the rests & the residue.It evaporates quickly and has never harmed a finish of any kind.Also great for cleaning "gunk" off electric saddles and bridges.Use a stiff toothbrush w/the lighter fluid & "Sha-zam" clean saddles that can be adjusted.
Steve
PS: I have some nice sapele',but no way to work it. My boss shut me down machining wood.

[S MS Picker]

Sapele' pics

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[S MS Picker]

Another

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