Hey Thumb Fretters - Check Out The Novel Schmidt Thumbevel

[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

[studio1nz]

seems like a smart idea. would like to see how it feels. might get a chisel out [emoji23]

[jim1960]

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

[Benjo]

Originally Posted by jim1960

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

Absolutely yes. I sold a Breedlove mainly because of how sharp the corner where neck and fret was. I need to fret the 6th string in some tunes (Kottke and Fahey in particular make extensive use of thumb fretting) and that Breedlove was downright painful in that regard. The Lowden I now play is better in that regard but those thumb bevels look like a great idea assuming they don't have any unwanted side effects.

It will be interesting to see if that catches on with fingerstyle players

[stormin1155]

I round the edges of my fingerboards.

[phcorrigan]

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

What a great-sounding guitar! Interesting design.

[lowrider]

Richie says;



''We don't need no stinkin thumb bevel!''

[ALBD]

If it really has no side effects and make thumb wrapping easier…..brilliant. I wonder how it effects slides on the low E?

[emtsteve]

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 returned an Alvarez parlor because the fretboard edge was sharp on the low E side and hurt my thumb when fretting an F, which I do on a couple songs. All of my other guitars are comfortable doing this but not on that one, so back it went.

[llew]

I don't really have a problem with a regular fretboard when I thumb wrap. But I can see where it could be beneficial to some?

[UncleJesse]

Originally Posted by stormin1155

I round the edges of my fingerboards.

What method do you use to do this?

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by UncleJesse

What method do you use to do this?

If you have a little woodworking experience, mask off the guitar body and sides of the neck (below the fingerboard) and carefully sand the edges of the fingerboard with progressively finer sponge sanding blocks (available at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. - I generally use 150-220-320 grit for a first pass, 220 and/or 320 for touch-up as necessary) - done it on many of my instruments and, if done correctly, it not only provides a rolled edge that gives the neck a nice "broken-in" feel, but neatly takes care of those pesky sprouted frets that seem to be all-too-common regardless of humidification...

[Bob Womack]

Might be more descriptive to call them "thumb-scallops." Yngwie Malmsteen would approve.

Bob

[Malcolm Kindnes]

Originally Posted by jim1960

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

It's never been a problem for me either. If the fretboard edge is very sharp I give it a gentle rub with fine sandpaper.

[Singlegato]

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