Luthier Tips du Jour - The Arm Bevel

Luthier and Instructor, Robert O'Brien, visits with Jeff Bamburg of Bamburg Guitars to discuss the arm bevel and how this cool feature is done while building a guitar.

[@OBrienGuitars]

Thanks. I am just trying to provide information to help folks and it is FREE! This info took me more than 15 years great expense to learn. I agree people could be a bit more grateful at times but I guess it is just the times we live in. Happy Building!

[@congerscott6064]

Wow, i had no idea there was so much involved in doing this, i was going to attempt to do this on my own lol ! But not now, im playing it the way it is, great job and great video and thanks for saving my guitar 🎶🎵👍.

[@Im2L8]

I'm just a player, not a Luthier, but it's very interesting to see how they are built. A hell of a lot of work goes into making a fine instrument, and I have nothing but respect for people who have the skills to do this. This was a great video. Very informative. Now I will have to watch the rest of your video's and see if I can learn something. :) You deserve a lot of praise for taking the time to share your information and skills with the rest of us for free. Can't believe anyone could possibly dislike this video. Oh well, most of us appreciate your extra effort to educate us. I would just ignore the others.

[@OBrienGuitars]

Thank you for the compliment. Glad you are enjoying my videos.

[@noiseintheoffice]

the dislikes are just trolls. This is a very low level of dislikes. World class work!

[@Ribby00]

I love the aesthetic of the arm bevel. Nicely done!

[@OBrienGuitars]

Thank you for the compliment. Yes, it was developed by Laskin and many others have added to its evolution including Kent Everett who just did a how to dvd on the subject. In the dvd he gives the complete history of the arm bevel

[@OBrienGuitars]

Thanks. For those interested, I am completing a DVD with Kent Everett that goes into great detail how he does the transitional arm bevel on his guitars. Lot's of good info you will not want to miss.

[@Goldfinga888]

Thank you for another excellent informative video.

[@nataku012]

Another amazing video! I swear each upload is like saturday morning cartoons for me!

[@razmossis]

That was absolutely amazing. Luthier level 50 right there

[@madgeniusmusic]

Very cool, I've spent YEARS wondering quite how that's done, cheers Robbie

[@OBrienGuitars]

Obrigado Antonio. Esse apoio é bem legal e um amigo meu, Kent Everett fez um dvd sobre o processo. Procure na apprentice publshing pontocom

[@OBrienGuitars]

You are correct that an arm bevel can affect tone if not done properly. Kent Everett of Everett Guitars has a soon to be released DVD on this topic that shows how to install an arm bevel in great detail!

[@populousmass]

I've been to this guys shop, and got to pick his brain for a few hours. He's obviously the real deal.

[@mrDoctorTomo]

Thanks. I will try to do this properly,using this video as guide and maybe develop my own tech.However if I don't try I suppose I'll never know!

[@Gavrikon]

Beautiful stuff. Way beyond me, though. I'm still on your side bending techniques! Much appreciated, in any case.

[@johnnieboi]

How can 3 people not like this vid?.......just awesome

[@timhooper8617]

Lovely work - way beyond my own skills. Really interesting to see that veneer being formed around a compound curve without steam or water/ammonia being used.

[@russellscott1151]

Thanks for sharing. Very helpful. Given the size of the block of wood used in the armrest I wonder how much it affects tone?

[@OBrienGuitars]

Spiral downcut bit with a porter cable style guide bushing

[@OBrienGuitars]

I assume you are talking about the rolling pin type sander. I think you can get those at Grizzly.

[@michaeljuddworkingforyou4340]

wonderful...... so much work, I only wish it were practical to add after the fact. As I very much like my Crafter but it does not have one, but I need one so will have to part with it.

[@mrDoctorTomo]

Excellent work sir!How the arm bevel effect on guitar sound?Particularly how it responds on bass?When we install the arm bevel, some material will be removed from the top of guitar.And block of wood will replace the soundboard. I think that this could be very crucial how will guitar respond on bass notes or? Sorry my English is poor.

[@wdcustomguitars5336]

Esse video acabou de me salvar Robbie. Obrigado

[@OBrienGuitars]

Que bom!! Não faça cagada!!

[@batterystapler]

I'd be pretty terrified using the power sander so close to the purfling! He may have done this a time or two. Beautiful and inspiring work.

[@rodparker4514]

Zach Grammon The roller is left 1/4 "from the top , but it shapes the side transition perfectly.

[@PaulDeChambeau]

Nice video. Do you have one showing how to add a bevel to a finished acoustic? Thanks.

[@OBrienGuitars]

Glad you liked the video. I don't know of anyone adding bevels to finished guitars.

[@Tehketeh]

What would you search for if you wanted to find a sander with the handle like that? That tool is VERY interesting to me :)

[@pops71]

Awesome video as usual. Seems like whenever I get in a bind building guitars I always ask WWOD, What Would O'Brien Do? Wasn't the arm bevel pretty much developed by Grit Laskin? I heard no mention of it in the video.

[@deBuchias]

Nice one stu x

[@TomKrall]

very nice

[@horseshoe124]

hi what finish was that wonderful job

[@windhill2011]

See below. I am informed that there is no MDF being used in this video. My apologies!

[@onpsxmember]

Hello there, I got a guitar with a huge angle to rest my arm on. It takes away from the soundboard but is very comfortable. If you've seen something like that before, do you have any idea how it is made? It was a pretty cheap guitar, sold under a spanish name "riccardo montez" but its made somewhere from an french import company. Still, i love to play that guitar. The lower back is also round to ease playing in a classical position.

[@MarktheAirsoftPrimate]

Wow....that's awesome

[@cantineroazul]

Exelente gracias

[@OBrienGuitars]

Grazie Mille.

[@IamtheActionman]

Awesome

[@karelenhenkie666]

I've been trying to get customers to try this for some time now because I really want to build it and don't really have the time and money to build another guitar for myself. (started my lutherie journey by building ten guitars for myself)

[@Vlogimo]

Whats that intro song? Its stuck in my ahead

[@noelrosa3521]

Thank Mr. OBrien I'm a huge fan of your videos. Where do the braces get anchored when you close the box? It wasn't shown. Don't the braces on the top usually rest against the sides of the guitar between the kerfing and the top? Is there kerfing on the bevel block inside that they rest on or are the braces left free under the top not anchored to anything? Thank you!

[@OBrienGuitars]

Braces are embedded into the block.

[@MrGuitarWhisperer]

Where can I get a sander like the one I see here?

[@cowdudeable]

I have always been concerned about the area directly under the nut on a guitar neck...how thin it is, how susceptible to breaking. I have seen it happen many times. I have a question...on my necks I rout a channel 1/4" wide to accommodate the truss rod. I always end this channel an inch or so before the nut area. Suppose I continued this channel clear past the nut area into the headstock, before I glue the headstock veneer on. I would put the truss rod in its accustomed place, and fill the remainder of the elongated slot which goes clear under the nut area with a 1/4" piece of aluminum or fiberglass which I would epoxy in place. Once I glue on the fingerboard on and the headstock veneer in place, you would never see the stiffener. Do you think this would make that area any stronger?

[@OBrienGuitars]

Not sure it would make it any stringer but it would create more work for you.

[@Xminor79]

Could you (would you) add an arm rest to an existing, finished, non-arm rest guitar?

[@DungeonDeprogrammer]

What sort of guide bushing and router bit are he using?

[@Bacteriod]

How much does adding one of these affect the overall quality of the sound of the instrument? Are you not essentially making the top smaller at the lower bout by adding the armrest? I would think the top would vibrate less with this set-up, unless you thickness it accordingly when you are preparing the top.

[@OBrienGuitars]

If done properly it works well tonally.

[@watso-007]

Can please tell what will be manufacturing cost in dollar of solid spruce top and rosewood back and side

[@OBrienGuitars]

Please contact me via my website and iw ill be happy to discuss my current pricing with you. www.obrienguitars.com

[@windhill2011]

So when does this one go out to the shooting range to be used for target practice? A day without bullets is like a day without sunshine........

[@adaviola1]

Adoraria ter uma viola feita por este Luthier com as seguintes características: Fundo em Jacarandá-da-baia; Tampo em Abeto com anéis mais separados; Braço de Cedro; Escala de Ébano, Tarraxas Rozini e Compensador de oitavas e cordas rebaixada no limite.

[@angus2531]

Really really nice ! What's the name of the fingerpicking song ?

[@OBrienGuitars]

sorry, I do not know the name. It was played by a guy in the shop while I was filming.

[@OBrienGuitars]

The material in the video is not MDF but mahogany.

[@cesaromarrodriguez3754]

as the song is called I play ?

[@Edymr40]

Good,good, Very good

[@truth-ig2um]

way cool.

[@cesaromarrodriguez3754]

plays guitar very well ¡¡

[@lloydpittonet]

Arm bevel nothing, that finish is amazing!

[@EthanSh1n]

Where can we find the flexible piece of plastic? I tried looking online and didn't have any luck..

[@OBrienGuitars]

Try the scrap bend of a local plastic supply store. You should be able to find something that works there.

[@OBrienGuitars]

OBrienGuitars scrap bin

[@horseshoe124]

i think there called a rolling pin sander, you can make 1 yourself theres a vid on here somewhere

[@brucelevine6517]

paul gray I swear buy it it gives sensitive control

[@weaver2109]

Looks like a light mahogany or cedar to me. MDF would be a horrible wood to use, as it would probably act as a sustain sponge. Plus, you would probably be able to smell it through the video when he was sanding it. :P

[@IonPirauKishiniovkii]

how much is cost one guitar like thise guitar?

[@OBrienGuitars]

It depends on the maker. Expect to spend several thousand dollars.

[@歐陽亂講講善]

good

[@dr_lulz]

Interesting ...but I prefer the Fylde method.

[@jimezplace]

Hi Robbie, I'm curious about the bevel. I'm wanting to try one but I haven't seen folks (so far) that use hardwood for the bevel. The ones I've seen use a veneer and I'd prefer to use a nice one piece version. What are the reasons I would not want to do that? Thanks... Jim

[@OBrienGuitars]

Weight might be a reason. With veneers you have many more possibilities with wood species options.

[@eduardwalhout1740]

VO sounds like Joe from Family Guy. 1:29

[@windhill2011]

I could never imagine putting MDF in a custom- built guitar- but what do I know?......

[@OBrienGuitars]

MDF is not used. Basswood, mahogany or cedar are the favorites

[@STRUMMERBOY1975]

The arm bevel is great.... but i would much prefer a Leg bevel.... because that is where all the weight is going. :)

[@patmatt9730]

It would slide off of your lap

[@stevedouglas1377]

Interesting from a woodworking perspective, though I think I'd make more use of spokeshaves and scrapers for the shaping. However, if you are leaning on the guitar hard enough to get uncomfortable you should work on that; it materially dampens the tone of the guitar.

[@OBrienGuitars]

Steve Douglas Check out Kent Everett's DVD on the arm bevel. He discusses this in detail.

[@starkaran8390]

On the Stodoys website, you buy access to thousands of projects once.

[@ramonburchell6366]

what up with some people putting know it all comments on videos like this trying to bag peoples techniques , iv noticed them a lot on guitar building/repair tutorials,,generally these know it alls don't know jack ,,my friend said they are probably of middle age & build spice racks in their shed which makes them think they are credible,,my reply was 'if they aren't, they probably have the mindset of a spice rack builder & probably go around craft markets & look at other spice rack builders & bag their junk that they build

[@Prosecute-fauci]

I'm with you. it's almost like there is a guild of men who hang out and regurgitate the same bullshit to each orher that they beard from another "know it all" years ago. I am a craftsman myself. I make handmade knives, which requires skill in both metallurgy/metal working, and wood working. yet I would never attempt to critique these fine craftsman in these videos. I guess the old saying is true, "haters gonna hate".

[@horseshoe124]

did look like mdf lol but could b mahogany

[@OBrienGuitars]

okay then, so maybe this is not for you. I would not use the instructions I provide here then.

[@rodparker4514]

Laskin arm rest bevel .

[@blackdogxx]

The music clobbers the talking at the start.

[@rodparker4514]

All the skill is in playing , not in the making .

[@rodparker4514]

All the skill is in playing not in the making .

[@ldvries]

Yeah, I didn't think it would be MDF. If I had to choose, I guess I would use the same kind of wood as for the kerfed linings. So you're probably right.

[@ldvries]

I'm very curious what kind of wood is used for the inside block. It almost looks like MDF...?