Arm Rest/Bevel

[Jeff Perkins]

I've seen a huge trend in acoustic guitar building of incorporating a arm bevel. I'm curious how to do it. At the bottom is a pic of a guitar by Kathy Wingert, with a bevel like I'm talking about. If any of you guys are doing this, I'd like some info on how you're doing it and what the process is. The binding bit is one of the jobs I'm curious about, around the bevel itself. How are you cutting that channel, ect? 

[Mark McLean]

I believe Kevin Ryan was one of the popularizers of this idea - but I don't know if his were the first. 

I saw a video tutorial from Chris Paulick on how he was trying to do these.  Here is a link.  I haven't looked at all of it as it is pretty long and I wasn't intending to try it myself.  I am not sure if it helps answer your question.  

I don't have any personal experience of building like this or playing one.  Personally, I don't really like the look - a bit fussy? - and I don't feel the need for it. 

http://www.anzlf.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3200&p=38870#p38870

cheers

Mark

[Paul Verticchio]

Mark,

"I don't have any personal experience of building like this or playing one.  Personally, I don't really like the look - a bit fussy? - and I don't feel the need for it."

I agree that the aesthetics take some getting used to.  The "need" on the other hand, I believe, is valid.  To a touring artist or a weekend warrior playing 4 hour gigs, it's the difference between agony & comfort.  I personally believe that it will also cut down on repetitive motion problems as the player gets older.

I scrape a gently rounded profile in the binding in that area on my personal instruments.  I've experienced a significant increase in comfort just by breaking the sharp angle on the binding.  I haven't played an instrument with such a bevel but it looks so inviting.  I'll have to hit "the big city" soon and seek some out.

Bob Taylor is now offering these arm bevels as standard equipment on select models, so it evidently can be done in a production environment.

Jeff, maybe you can visit a Taylor dealer & check out how they do it.  Don't forget your flashlight, inspection mirror and a note pad.

Can you keep us posted on your findings?

Best of luck,

Paul

[Tim Frank]

Below is an article on guitar design that talks about this type of armrest, or you can google William "Grit" Laskin. He is credited with this innovation. 

http://www.acousticguitar.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=27501&...

Also, below is a link to Harrison guitars where you can find some photos of him building a guitar that has the armrest.

http://www.harrisonguitars.com/Workshop/workshopindex.html

[Thomas James]

I think I saw an article(s) in the G.A.L. publications. Try searching the abstracts section of their site: http://www.luth.org