Official Luthiers Forum!

I have seen arm rests in pictures only, and have never held a guitar with one attached. I assume they have a lip that attaches over the binding onto the side without touching the oscillating part of the top. This seems like a easy project as an add on or retrofit, but I thought I would ask the forum before I proceed in ignorance.

I have seen pics of the Pearse, which appear to have some kind of mastic that makes them rather permanent. I've seen the suction cup and clamp-on frame types, which look clunky and diminish aesthetics, IMHO. None of these seems to be the answer. Something as inelegant as Velcro seems like it would work. It would be invisible when the arm rest is attached. But the anchor pieces would be permanently attached to the instrument... And using Velcro on a classical guitar is almost a rather nauseating form of sacrilege.

For woods, I have some 0.5" furniture grade walnut that looks perfect. I think I could also fashion one out of a spare rosewood bridge blank I have too.

Ideas? How would you fine luthiers accomplish this ?

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If thee meddle with dragon kin, thou will become crunchy and good with ketchup.

Some of the arm rest like those in Smallman guitars are permanently attached on with glue.
These arm rest flushed with the bindings / sides.
To reinforce the arm rest, some use pins to embed the arm rest body into the lining beneath.

Other arm rest with a flange at the sides can be attached with various methods.
One way is velcro as you have suggested.
Another way is to use double sided tape. (Not exactly as elegant as you like)

The more elegant way perhaps is to use rare-earth magnets for the attachment.
However, during the build the magnet piece must be embedded in the lining/sides region and the corresponding magnet piece glue in the arm rest main body.
This way the arm rest may be detached (for whatever reasons).
The main arm rest body usually have felts underneath to protect the guitar's finish.
Most players will just leave it on anyway.

And lastly of course you can super glue it together. (permanent)

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Sen CL Goh
http://senguitar.blogspot.com

I build mine into the guitar permanently. It's obviously more invasive but I think it looks less "stuck on" as your comment about velcro implies. This is pretty straight forward when doing it on a new build but I recently had the pleasure of doing it on a pre-owned guitar. pretty scary but I think it turned out well.
If you are set on going temporary, I'd figure out a rare earth magnet solution as Sen mentioned.

I used magnets to hold my arm rest to the guitar body.



Two duodinium magnets are inlaid into the underside of the rest. And two magnets are glued inside the box. I did the rest first then taped it into position on the box. Some glue on each magnet and they literately jump into position inside.

very nicely done Mr Woolson !!!!

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"