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Hi folks,

Does anyone of you ever made a bent top armrest?

I know that neopolitan mandolin top are sawn and bent on a hot rod.

Any infos and picts are welcome.

regards,

Cédric Verglas

I was wondering about that also, I played one of Sheldon Schwartz bent top bevels and it feels real good, and to my eye it looks nicer than a bevel that is part of the binding.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
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What is the difference from a regular bevel?

Picture Please.

i had no idea prior, but i found this on Sheldon Schwartz's website. interesting.

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sweat the small stuff.

sorry about the small picture. heres the link.

http://www.schwartzguitars.com/oracle.htm

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sweat the small stuff.

I'm confused, . I thought the purpose of the armrest was to prevent the forearm from resting on the top and thus reducing the vibs of top?

I'm confused, . I thought the purpose of the armrest was to prevent the forearm from resting on the top and thus reducing the vibs of top?

Thanks guys!

I hav'nt deeply understoud your answer Chris but I will take time to train much more my english and open some dictionary to make your discours clearer!

Bob3: In fact, I don't want an armrest (your definition is good) but a bevel (bending a part of the top to have a better comfort for the right arm)

I've sent a mail to scwart guitar about his way to do it.

Cedric

Looks interesting. Let us know what you find out

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Looks to me as if there is likely an inserted extra wide shaped bevel lining added to the rim assembly in the arm rest area with the radial taper sanded in. Then the top is likely thinned in that area to aid forming over that shaped lining at glue up. To my eye this would be a simple bevel to pull off.

Some are designed to achieve exactly what you state. But typically bevels are designed simply to elevate the discomfort in the right arm where it meets the body caused by the typical 90 dgree angle between the rim and top.

Wouldn't that be pretty hard to synchronize the bend in the brace to the radius in the lining? I am just a bit confused on the execution.

I would assume the lower X would inlet into the shaped lining therefore be some what shorter on that that side. I don’t see that as being an issue. of course not seeing the bracing pattern all I can do is surmise

What ever Sheldon does under the top does not seem to effect the tone or volume of the guitar, I played J.B. Davis' Schwartz and it was a real cannon. He has obviously done some brace re arranging to pull this off. As to Chris' comment of loosing valuable top area I don't think it is that serious of a loss, as our arms deaden that area and if done properly the top should still retain its ability to vibrate though probably a little less than without the bevel.

I hope someone who has seen what is done to accomplish this or has done one will enlighten us on the methods.

Fred

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How about this one. Don't know how it's done... It's an Iberica, and that's about all I can find out about it.

Your right Michael,

It really is a piece of cake. The only slightly difficult part would be trying to fit rectangular banding into a compound rabbit...which is what most will attempt...and find that the banding wants to twist. The secret is to use square banding as a square can easily take a compound bend and leave a perpendicular to the rabbit edge. Just slightly round off the inner edge before gluing it into place. Then its scraper time.

Once you know were you wanna sculpt, shape, curve or bend a surface, brace it accordingly and go for it.

Nearly all of the "edges" on my builds are compound curves...there are no flat surfaces like parallel side ribs or backs or tops, the entire instrument is one organic free flowing surface, so I am dealing with this sort of stuff all the time. Fret board excluded. Now if I could only figure out how to get strings to hold a curve under tension...

Just think of it ...curved necks with curved strings. But me don't think it gonna happen


blessings
the
bend outta shape
Padma

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.

It is done:

1: the tools
2: cut the top half its thickness with fret saw (not to cut trough !!)
3: place some spruce under the future bevel
4: spay some water
5: put a hoted brass rod on the top
6: downward pressure with a wood bloc ( brass is very hot)
7: Done

It took 10 minutes

Geez guys, keep bending those plates and you're gonna end up with an archtop, for crying out loud!