After seeing success with their handmade, wooden armrests for banjo players with nickel allergies, the Banjolit company has introduced a version of Dr. Arm for mandolin.
Armrests for mandolin have become quite popular of late, patterned almost exactly on the sort of chin rests that violinists have used for centuries. The size and shape are different based on the particulars of how they are employed, but they attach with similar brackets to the side of the instrument, and for the same reasons: to preserve the delicate finish from the oils in your skin, and allow for greater comfort when playing.
Many mandolinists complain of discomfort in their forearm from laying it across the 90° angle where the top meets the side. Dr Arm solves this issue by giving the forearm a curved and radiused surface on which to rest. And since it sits just above the top, the entire vibrating surface is unobstructed when you strike a string.
These new mandolin armrests are offered in plain maple, stained maple, and mahogany for $59 each. With the woodworking completed in the Slovak Republic, the units are assembled and shipped from Knoxville, TN. High quality, instrument grade woods are used in keeping with the beauty and pride of ownership associated with modern mandolin building.
You can see how they are made, assembled, and installed in this brief video…
…and in use in this one from Czech mandolinist, Ondra Kozák.
If your Czech is rusty, subtitles are available on YouTube.
More details on Dr Arm, and all the other Banjolit products, can be found online.
