Hey Thumb Fretters - Check Out The Novel Schmidt Thumbevel

[ras1500]

"Oh this is cool! Huge help for someone like me…weird left thumb!"

I have a short left thumb too...courtesy of my table saw. I can still thumb wrap when necessary, which is not very often.

[MakingMusic]

I don't seem to have much problem reaching over the fretboard with my thumb but even so, this is a pretty ingenious idea. I like it. Plus, doesn't hurt that his guitar sounds amazing, too!

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by Dan Boggs

First the Laskin Armrest, then the Manzer Wedge. Two brilliant design innovations by Canadian luthiers. Here's a third: The Schmidt Thumbevel.

Schmidt's novel Thumbevel seems like a perfect custom mod for folks that love to break the rules and fret on the south side with their thumb. Why did it take so long for someone to come up with this?

What do you Strum & Thumbers think of the Thumbevel?

Roger Schmidt is the founder of Brickhouse Guitars and the foundational force behind Stonebridge Guitars (now Furch) in North America.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzY38k1UPDY

Hi Dan
I have average sized hands but my total span is a bit small, so wrapping my thumb above the 3rd-4th fret is my limit on acoustics. I can wrap them on my electrics.

All my acoustics have at least 1¾" nut and all my electrics have 1¹¹⁄₁₆".

Interesting to see someone accommodate that aspect of playability.

And it's a minor point, but I don't consider using the thumb 'breaking the rules'.

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by jim1960

Does the normal unbeveled edge make wrapping the thumb uncomfortable for some? It's never been an issue for me.

I can see where those bevels on the fretboard would be helpful to me. It does hurt my thumb to wrap it around the fretboard to play on F# on the low E string when playing a D chord, for example. I don't have particularly large hands or long fingers.

- Glenn

[KevinH]

A great idea. When I was younger I never had a problem with thumb fretting but it's not nearly as easy now. Looks like that would help.

[tbeltrans]

This new idea seems to have been inspired by scalloped fretboards, which have been around for quite some time:

https://www.grossepointemusicacademy...alloped-frets/

Tony

[jaymarsch]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

I can see where those bevels on the fretboard would be helpful to me. It does hurt my thumb to wrap it around the fretboard to play on F# on the low E string when playing a D chord, for example. I don't have particularly large hands or long fingers.



- Glenn

Yes, for me as well, Glenn.

Best,
Jayne

[s2y]

I wish I could try one. I have very small hands and have basically given up on thumb chords.

[RLetson]

Looks like a labor-intensive (and thus expensive) way to solve a problem more easily addressed by attending to the neck/fingerboard profile. Though I suppose it's possible to automate production via CNC and offer this kind of feature on a factory guitar.

[tommieboy]

Originally Posted by jim1960

Does the normal unbeveled edge make wrapping the thumb uncomfortable for some? It's never been an issue for me.

Yes, a sharp transition is an issue for me. I prefer a softer transition; nothing crazy though.

Originally Posted by stormin1155

I round the edges of my fingerboards.

Rounding the edges after the fact doesn't always work out for the best. If you are already close to falling off the edge, rounding the edges can exasperate the condition. That was the show stopper for me on one of my current guitars.

Tommy

[Guitars44me]

I sent this video to John Kinnaird and he likes the idea. It may well happen on my next JK Custom, which is in progress now! See link in my signature below…

I have small hands and am old and beat up too. My 35 years of full time drumming certainly took a toll on my hands and wrists. Not to mention my ears and liver! Hahahahaha

That was before my switch to solo acoustic/one man band…

Recent carpal tunnel surgery on my left/fretting hand has resulted in me being able to barre again, at least some of the time.

But I have never been able to thumb fret much on a neck wide enough to play cleanly. Well, that is my goal, and it is good to have goals!

Thanks for the cool inspiration

Paul

[Robin, Wales]

I would love to be able to thumb fret the 6th string. But I am hit with a triple whammy when playing guitar:

I have fairly small hands.

My thumb joints don't bend beyond 40-45 deg. So my left thumb just won't bend enough to touch the 6th string. If I twist my wrist to get my thumb on the 6th then my fingers can't reach the other strings!

And the top phalanx of my left index finger was amputated in an accident so I can't barre cleanly.

It has meant that I have had to develop my own playing style using short chords and string muting or missing. But I get by just fine creating my own style of backing arrangements to songs.

[UncleJesse]

Originally Posted by Singlegato

Oh this is cool! Huge help for someone like me…weird left thumb!

A girlfriend of mine had one of these. She called it a murderer's thumb.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachydactyly_type_D

[Deft Tungsman]

Like Robin, the geometry of my thumb makes it impossible for me to use this technique. I’ve tried many times over the years to find an angle that would enable me to do it, but it’s no use. Too bad, it throws open lots of possibilities that aren’t available otherwise. Boo hoo.

[Singlegato]

Originally Posted by UncleJesse

A girlfriend of mine had one of these. She called it a murderer's thumb.

Hahaha! Murderer’s thumb! I love it!