Adding a forearm contour to a guitar...

[sixesandsevens]

So I've got Hamer Artist that I really enjoy playing except for the way it cuts into my forearm. Aside from being a great guitar from a defunct manufacturer, there's nothing special about it (it's a solid black Artist Mahogany P90).

As far as I see it, there's these solutions:

1. Get used to it
2. Refinish it and add a forearm contour in the process
3. Raise or lower the strap until it no longer hurts (but I'm no longer comfortable playing it)
4. Sell it

Any other thoughts?

[hamerhead]

Wear a long-sleeved shirt.

Or play it 'til you wear the edge off:

My LP is waaaay better now. After 30-some years.

I think 'get used to it' or 'sell it' are the correct answers. An added contour and re-fin never seems to work out and will kill the value. P90 Artists are cool guitars. It may be nothing special, but somebody would want it uncut.

[atquinn]

If you haven't gotten used to it by now, your probably never will. Sell it. Option 2 is pure lunacy and option 3 doesn't seem like an option at all.

-

Austin

[Hbom]

Sell it now while Hamers are selling cheap.

Or butcher it, play it for a few months & give it away.

You decide.

[Ting Ho Dung]

Option 6.5: Buy a Strat.

[Feynman]

A lot of classical guitar dorks will use a padded sleeve while they practice to help forearm comfort and to protect the delicate shellac.

Others just cut up an old tube sock.

I vote sell it (because that's what I always do). I doubt you'll ever get to used to it, or feel that it is worth changing your playing style to accommodate one guitar.

[G Man]

Spend some time playing acoustic guitar, preferably a dread, then pick up the Artist and realize how comfy it really is.

[Thundersteel]

How about adding an armrest? These are from John Pearse, and can be had for around $30 on Musician's Friend, etc.

[hamerhead]

Duct tape some sandpaper to your arm. It'll work itself out.

[ptm1diver]

Sears Craftsman 3"x24" belt sander with 60 grit belt. Or you could substitute a more expensive sander.

[Steve Haynie]

1 and 4. Get used to it or sell it.

Do you only have a problem with the guitar sitting down, or do you have a problem standing up, too?

[sixesandsevens]

1 and 4. Get used to it or sell it.

Do you only have a problem with the guitar sitting down, or do you have a problem standing up, too?

It's mostly standing. If I raise the strap up high enough to ride under my right arm, it's not such a big deal, but if it's much lower, the edge starts to dig in a bit.

Thanks for all the ideas. I may check out those armrests or a padded sleeve. My Special isn't particularly contoured on the edge, but it doesn't seem to rub the same way as the Artist.

[Steve Haynie]

If you were considering a re-contour of the body then maybe this would work. Could you move the strap button off center just a little? Some others who have done that could offer some advice. It would be far less drastic than re-contouring the body. You would change the playing position of the guitar.

The worst thing would be an extra screw hole in the body, and that would possibly turn away future sales if you just get rid of the guitar. The cost is nothing. The alteration is easily repaired or covered up.

[silentman]

Wristband

[Caddie]

• Get a Daytona.
• If your Studio is a true Studio, no binding like the Studio Custom, you might be able to pull it off to a degree. Its unlikely you'll ever match the color. If its a maple top/mahogany body. you probably want to limit the depth you take off to the thickness of the top.
• I can't recall any non-bound Hamer that I have owned that did not have nicely rounded body edges.
• Binding is a different story, its a hard edge. IIRC PRS does a thing where they use a router to round off the edge of a top. The exposed edge of wood looks like binding. No it doesn't look like multi layer binding. But it looks good and it rounds off the hard edge.
• If you want a setneck Hamer with forearm relief you need to get an Eclipse.

Cheers!

caddie

How about adding an armrest? These are from John Pearse, and can be had for around $30 on Musician's Friend, etc.

And it doubles as a boomerang, mate. Now pass over that Foster's.

Cheer's

caddie

[Michael_B]

People have already shared why Option #2 is a bad/risky idea. But, it sure is an interesting idea.

Knowledge/progress is all about some guy throwing caution to the wind to try the seemingly ludicrous- failing, more often than not. If you can comfortably bear the cost of the risk and you're curious, then, sure, try it.

[sixesandsevens]

If you were considering a re-contour of the body then maybe this would work. Could you move the strap button off center just a little? Some others who have done that could offer some advice. It would be far less drastic than re-contouring the body. You would change the playing position of the guitar.

The worst thing would be an extra screw hole in the body, and that would possibly turn away future sales if you just get rid of the guitar. The cost is nothing. The alteration is easily repaired or covered up.

That's an interesting point Steve... My Special is an 80s model from back when the bottom strap button was offset towards the bass side of the guitar. I wonder if that's why the artist is less comfortable...

If you want a setneck Hamer with forearm relief you need to get an Eclipse.

Thanks for the reminder that the Eclipse has a forearm (and back?) contour!

My wraptail studio doesn't give me this pain (probably because the back contour offsets it) and my Special doesn't either.

Sadly, I love the neck on the Artist (vintage) more than the other two...

[Jason01]

silentman beat me to it, wristband.

[HAMERMAN]

Wristband

With matching headband!