Official Luthiers Forum!

After contacting Grit Laskin and getting permission (whew!) I forged ahead. I am really not convinced that my way is the right way, pretty sure it is not the best way. But here goes. I am VERY open to constructive criticism. Tell me where I went wrong because this was not easy.

I did not want to paint the bevel area black and bind the rest in ebony as I have seen suggested. I decided to laminate the bevel area in Brazilian, bind the guitar in Brazilian and treat the whole thing as a whole, with purfling running under the binding and armrest and the same with the top.

So..
After putting gluing on the top I took the binding router and routed a small ledge at the bottom of the bevel to make room for purfling and to clearly and evenly define the lower edge


I had to cut the ends with a knife



I put purfling into that channel..no pics

Then I laid out the top purfling line using a compass indexed off the edge of the guitar.

After this I made a template out of plexiglass that conformed to that layout line and then used it as a cutting guide




After this I made a template out of plexiglass that conformed to that layout line and then used it as a cutting guide

After the top purfling line is cut out, using a knife and chisel, I cut out a piece of rosewood to fit the bevel. I had to make a pattern for this rosewood out of cardboard. The rosewood piece was cresent shaped because even though it was bent to go around the curve of the upper bout, it was slanted on a 45 degree bevel so that it had some of the properties of the shape of the top in that area...if that makes any sense. I did not take pics of this.

The rosewood was glued onto the bevel.   The bottom edge of the rosewood veneer was cut at a 45 degree angle to fit flush with the lower purfling.

After working with the top purfling channel I had room to glue in the top purfling which started with a teflon strip.


Then some shellfish to replace the teflon and a little shellac to show the area under discussion.
John Kinnaird38572.3811226852

John this work is totally amazing. I haven't wrapped my brain around it yet. Looks great.

Thanks Bruce
I fear my explanation was not very clear.

John

Well, results are what matter. It appears you have it down John. Let's see, you are a teacher by profession. I don't think I studied this hard enough yet, to understand it, please, no pop quizzes! Grin! Thanks for sharing.

John, however you did it, the arm rest turned out looking great. I just know that this is something that is way beyond my capability at this point. I'm going to have to study this awhile myself.

_________________
Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

John,

Really nice. I like how you laminated the bevel rather than paint it black. That combined with the purfling and the shell really give it a classy look. You nailed it.

John,

It looks like you did a great job executing your armrest. As a player, I've always seen the armrest as a seperate plate that sits above the soundboard and keeps your arm from contacting the soundboard and dampening it. Also, I think the beveled edge helps promote the wrong right arm/hand position for finger-picking and classical. Is the armrest for comfort or sound?

Cheers!

john

John,
I see nothing you did wrong on this armrest. I'm just curious, did you use the notes from Tony Karol that I posted? If you haven't seen them, go here and get them. Let me know if you used this exact method or if you used a different method. I'd like to document all methods of doing an arm rest because I'll be doing it on my next also. Thanks, and great job!
Tracy

Great job! Did you teach Steve or was it the other way around? You guys amaze me! Without Steves help I probably would not have made my first guitar. I know he must get tired of my questions but he is always patient and free with his advise.

I`m sure there must be a simpler way to apply an arm rest but your solution is so elegant it is worth giving it a try. With the rounded area under your arn it must make the instrument very comfortable to play. Expect more questions when I try it. I`d still like to see the new method you are using to attach necks and finger boards if you don`t mind sharing it.

John, I think that is the cleanest looking execution of the armrest design that I have seen so far. I usually don't like the way the binding turns out, and I really don't like the idea of painting them. Your's looks great!

Grit should be proud that someone is taking his idea to this level of execution!

_________________
Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Thanks guys. I appreciate your kind remarks

Tracy
   I think this was similar to what you have printed in Tony Karol's instructions. The one difference is the treatment of the bevel itself.   I did not want it painted and I did not make the inside bevel material out of rosewood. So the inside support was laminated mahog, and then the surface of the armrest was covered with a 3/32 veneer of Brazilian. That was the hard part. Also, in Karol's bevel, seems like the inside of the armrest was a different color than the binding that surrounded the top and bottom of the bevel. Anyway, that was one consideration. I think I just took Karol's instructions as a starting point, then tried to go with Rick Turner's idea to laminate the bevel, and then shook it hard with a jigger of apprehension and out it came. I'm glad its done.

Dale, Steve and I just sort of walked this path together. I have learned a lot from him and he has profited from some of my mistakes. I frequently make a "guess what bonehead thing I did this time" call so I guess he avoids making that mistake. I think he generally makes fewer mistakes than I do but that's because he's smarter. (at least that's what Mom always said)

Okay, the plexiglas template picture helped. I could only get half of that pic, even from the link to your site? So, now I can see you didn't resort to black magic, it's really just superior craftsmanship!

John

I can't say who's smarter, but you are both exceptional talented guitar makers, love your armrest it is beautiful.

Really nice job!

I had the same problem as Bruce with the picture on your webpage, tho. Could only see 1/2 of it...

Well, the 1/2 that didn't work was probably my fault.

Bro--that looks great. Has the customer seen it yet?

kbwSteve Kinnaird38573.547337963

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Ah thankee Bro and Russ and Bruce and all.
I don't know if the customer has seen this or not. I told him he had a project page so I suppose he had a look.