arm rests
 

Has anyone tried the John Pearse arm rests? Or any other arm rests?

I asked that question in the General forum for a wood guitars and was ridiculed and made to feel stupid for asking such a silly question. LOL Which didn't really matter in my decision, I finally decided against it considering that removing them appeared to be hit or miss on wood. Not worth the risk. I would think that would not be a risk on the CF guitars. I doubt that helps answer your question...

I have them still on a few Tak pro series that I play out with. I see no real difference using them. You just adapt to them I think but someone else might really love what they do. It would have to change your arm position slightly and may enhance tone and or volume acoustically a little bit but I doubt it would be anything I could hear. If they started to come off I would probably not bother putting them back on. Never tried on a carbon guitar but everything I own now days are Emeralds with all kind of contours/Bevels so no real place to adhere one too.

Of course other builders make more conventional designs that they would work with.

It sure would not hurt to try one.

JD;

I think it's often the case that those who cast ridicule simply do not understand the subject matter.

What got me going on the arm rests is that I've sold my last Emerald and have been playing a small Cordoba and suffering the sharp edges at my upper arm. And while searching out everything that has ever been written about the Savoy I saw a picture of one with a beautiful arm rest. Several people asked about the arm rest and several people turn out to have made their own. In looking on line I see a number of production units and I'm thinking of getting one for the Cordoba that I could later use for a Savoy (if I end up with one).

Hence my interest in hearing from anyone who has tried any of the production models.

I have one (ebony, slim) on my RainSong Concert OM. I like it. It rounds the corner somewhat, which is nice, because the corners are fairly sharp. It also stops damping from my arm.

I have another guitar with a bevel, which is more comfortable. But I'm definitely glad I got the armrest for the RainSong.

I've got one on my Ovation 12 string, my Altamira Sel-Mac copy, my Eastman arch top and my round neck resonator.

I've also put different brand and style (using viola style chinrest hardware) arm rests on all my mandolins, mandola, octave mandolin and mandocello. I've got Nechville style armrests on my banjolin and banjitar.

I like the way they better position my arm/hand, and they're more comfortable than resting on the edge of the instrument.

But I can't bring myself to put one on my Martin HD-28.

I have them on my Bourgeois 00 Country Boy and Guild GAD 30. It's more comfortable on my arm and it keeps my arm elevated off the sound board (to prevent deadening the sound). I've been playing this way now for quite a few years.

With all of these guitar gadgets, you never know until you try 'em. And sometimes, IMO, the little changes are like cross-training - you learn how to play with lots of little changes. Then, if you don't like it, change it back. Ultimately, the tone comes from you and your technique.

best,

Rick

PS - you also help to keep a small army of innovators employed. They are some really great and creative people, so heck, go for it! Get an armrest!

I have the Andreas Abel arm rest, use it some on my Lucky and have tried it on others. No marks ever and does ease the edge out.
https://www.stringsbymail.com/andrea...tar-11771.html
Not promoting the store, just looking trying to link to the product.

Now that's interesting !

I have one on one of my wood guitars. I put it on because I was starting to get visibly failing poly finish right at the point where my right forearm rests on the lower bout in playing position. It’s my “project guitar” (low purchase price and lots of mods, I have used that guitar to learn how to do set-ups, install pickups, etc.) so I wasn’t concerned about ever removing the armrest or impact on resale. The Pearse rest not only hides the existing finish damage but also prevents further damage (because it keeps my arm up off the finish on the lower bout). So it does what I meant it to do. Doesn’t seem to really affect tone one way or another.

I have one on my Taylor 12-string.

Seems to make more of a difference on a 12, which are heavier braced.

https://i.imgur.com/HTdLyk4.jpg

What was the basis of their accusation of silliness? Was it one of those, “this question has been asked . . . do a search” put downs? I can’t see what is silly about asking any question in a forum.

Not really a put down per se I guess, main comment I remember was that if they were needed, the pros would use them.
i am joking a little with my comment, sorry to mislead, I don't consider it a serious issue.
like I said...I do what I want being a grown man. :D This is, a good informative thread,

I have the John Pearse on two guitars that it came on when I picked them up used.

my BlackBird El Capitan and my Thompson T2. I also have the Abel that I use occasionally on my other guitars.

And I have several guitars with an armrest bevel built in.

I believe the OP has played a lot of instruments with the bevel. The bevel is the easiest and best for comfort.

The John Pearse is a second. When I first received the BlackBird the rest was in the wrong spot for me as I play modified classical style. Moving it to the right spot made a noticeable different in comfort.

As to tone, both my BlackBird and T2 are two of my best projecting guitars. The armrest probably contributes a bit. With the Abel it is a small but noticeable improvement to me in tone but it rarely is worth the effort to pull the Abel out and put it on. I will use it occasionally if I'm recording.

I tried one early on, on a Martin 00-28VS as I found the forearm edge sharp and uncomfortable. It was okay. It gave a more rounded edge but at the cost of adding thickness to the surface. I sold the guitar with it still on so I don't know if it was removed and how that went. I did not notice any improvement to the tone although in recent years I have found that raising my arm off a wood topped guitar does in fact improve the tone and sustain.

Then I went over to wood and CF guitars with bevels and really liked the comfort factor. But then I came full circle back to non-beveled guitars, both wood and CF. I don't notice the edge issue anymore because I either play with long sleeved sweatshirts or if I'm in a T-shirt I'll use a cutoff sock on my forearm because I don't like the feel of skin against a gloss finish guitar. It also helps keep that forearm 'smudge' from happening and provides a little added comfort from guitars with sharp-ish edges.

The RainSong is slightly rounded so that's not an issue.

I PURCHASED AN ARM REST BUT HAVE NOT INSTALLED IT. BEFORE INSTALLATION I WANT TO NOW HOW TO UN-INSTALL IF I DECIDE IT DOESN'T SERVE MY NEEDS--HAS ANYONE EXPERIENCED SUCH UNDOING? WILL A HAIR DRYER SOFTEN THE GLUE ENOUGH FOR EASY REMOVAL?

WELL? SOMEONE ON THIS FORUM MUST HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH ARM REST REMOVAL. UNLESS THE RESTS ARE SO GOOD THAT NO ONE REMOVES THEM??

Why are you shouting? It’s most out of character. Is it your evil twin? :D

Regardless of that, here’s a pertinent thread, with input from Wade Hampton Miller, who is probably the most knowledgeable person on the subject on the AGF.

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=332705

Well, David, I wasn't getting the answer to the question so I thought a shout out might do the trick--and it did.

Thank you for the information. Mr. Miller's experience and recommendations are stellar.

So I purchased a nice ebony arm rest and have it on the Savoy--I like it.

I appreciate the Wade thread on removal of an arm rest. But you have to wonder what finger pickers would do?

Hmm, a point I had not considered. A expired credit card and a pair of scissors might produce appropriate toolage.

But my credit cards aren't expired. And do I really want to get scissors near my linen?

Go 4 or 5 posts down from Wade in that thread and you will see my Guild D-4-12 that I removed an armrest from prior to selling it. I used fishing line. (apparently 6 pound test)

AZ;

Thank you. As a nylon stringer I have plenty of fishing line.

A bit late to the game, but I just ordered an Armadillo armrest. It's specifically for my Rainsong, which I enjoy the tone of, but the edge of the lower bout sure cuts into me.

It just uses suction cups, so I'm not worried about being able to take it off someday if I wanted to. I could also just pop it off and put it on another instrument if I felt like it too.

It may not look as nice as some of the others that are generally intended to be permanent installations, but it's relatively inexpensive ($40, including shipping, as of 7/28/21), and there's peace of mind knowing it's not going to require surgery to remove.

That Armadillo seems nice and non-intrusive. My Rainsong has a satin finish though. I wonder if those suction cups will hold on its surface.

@mountainmaster

My Rainsong's body also has a satin (or matte?) finish (Concert Hybrid series). Make fun of me as you wish, but I play it in a classical guitar position, and I use a Guitar Lift to keep it in the 45 degree position. The suction cups on the Guitar Lift have no issue with sticking to the back of my instrument, so I figure the suction cups of the Armadillo armrest would likely also have no issue. I'll report back once it arrives.

Well that was fast. I got my Armadillo Armrest in 2 business days.

I'm glad to report it's exactly as advertised. And the suction cups have no issue sticking to the side of my RainSong (which has a satin finish).

It does feel a bit weird to have my forearm pushed outwards a bit more than I'm accustomed to, but I think that comes with any attachable arm rest, and it doesn't seem to affect playing at all. I'm pretty sure I'll get used to it quickly.

It's not going to win prizes for prettying up your instrument, but it should probably win prizes for being an affordable accessory for students who practice a lot. Especially because it can be swapped from instrument to instrument painlessly.

Hope this helps someone down the road!

Thank you Bt, your exploration is interesting and helpful.

The Armadillo is not as pretty as my ebony rest, but if I had known of it sooner I would probably have ordered the Armadillo--the ability to easily transfer the rest from one guitar to another is appealing.

Thanks Bt. I am now seriously considering this for my Rainsong.

The other option I was looking at is the Andreas Abel armrest: https://abel-armauflage.com/en/

I am not sure though if that clamp will work with the beveled backside of a Rainsong.