Are you bothered by the term "armpit guitar?"

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 15 Aug 2016 5:25 am

David Duncan wrote:It's funny that it makes me think of Frank Zappa's song about parts of your body favorite or otherwise.

"What's the ugliest part of your body...?
Some say your nose, some say your toes but I think it's your mind...."

Armpit guitar does have a sweaty connotation that doesn't flatter the instrument.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 15 Aug 2016 8:03 am

I might be bothered, if I knew what it was..

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 15 Aug 2016 8:06 am

I've never heard that term before,Am I bothered by it?I don't think so?

Rich Upright · Post by **Rich Upright** » 16 Aug 2016 7:40 pm

That doesn't bother me, but what really doitches me off is when people call my steel a "slide guitar" or "steel pedal". Or even worse--KEYBOARD!

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 17 Aug 2016 2:42 am

Bothers me only when the guitar stinks.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 17 Aug 2016 3:23 am

It doesn't bother me per se but it's inelegant and a term I'd never use.

Jeff Garden · Post by **Jeff Garden** » 17 Aug 2016 3:42 am

Never heard the term before...what next - "steel without pedals" becomes "crotch steel"???

Larry Carlson · Post by **Larry Carlson** » 17 Aug 2016 7:02 am

Finally we are putting our heads together and discussing problems that have altered world history and continue to affect us today.
It's nice when people can come together and bring a bit of sense to what is otherwise a chaotic and cruel world.
As for the term "armpit guitar", it's a lot less offensive than some of the other terms I have called mine on occasion....

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 17 Aug 2016 7:17 am

It doesn't bother me. It's a feeble attempt @ humor, but not offensive. I've had armpit guitarists describe my steel as an "oakie organ". Gotta just laugh it off.

Chris Sattler · Post by **Chris Sattler** » 18 Aug 2016 3:55 am

I've only seen it used here and I gotta say I don't care for it. Yeah, I'm with you on this one Mike.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 18 Aug 2016 5:16 am

no. its just a slangish thing. i like "underarm" guitar better...

Bill Sinclair · Post by **Bill Sinclair** » 18 Aug 2016 6:02 am

Nope. Not offended. Seems like a mildly humorous way of making a necessary distinction on this forum. As others have said, Standard, Underarm, or Straight guitar work as well. Sorry Mike, but "six string guitar" on this forum is usually referring to a lap steel, resonator or weissenborn. Sometimes the context is enough to tell. "I play both tele and steel" seems to cover an awful lot of you guys.

Don Drummer · Post by **Don Drummer** » 21 Aug 2016 7:18 pm

Ranger Doug calls the accordion the stomach steinway

Jim Robbins · Post by **Jim Robbins** » 28 Aug 2016 12:16 pm

To me, the term is a bit silly and not particularly accurate but it doesn't really bother me. For most of the world, that's what they mean when they say "guitar" & the instrument doesn't change if it is played held vertically against the player's body or sitting on the player's lap if the player happens to be Thumbs Carslile or Jeff Healy.

Other instruments are named or distinguished by reference to body parts and movement e.g. viola da gamba ("leg viol", played like a cello), viola da braccia (sp?; "arm viol" played the way some fiddlers play with the fiddle held against the forearm). And of course there's stand-up bass, mouth organ,kick drum and of course lap steel (which according to Wikipedia -- so it must be true -- is the name of the bottom neck of Junior Brown's guitar).

That said, I doubt that "armpit" guitar will catch on among the general public, most of whom do not even know what the "sit down and step on" guitar is.

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 29 Aug 2016 11:59 am

I don't like the term and it was probably started by a steel player (of which I am one to a certain degree) but the electric guitar is still my main instrument and I play steel mostly because I love it and would never associate a derogatory name with it such as "sit on your butt guitar"... I also hate the term "scratch plate" even more... it's a damn pick guard......JH in Va.

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 15 Sep 2021 10:51 pm

Ranger Doug calls the accordion the "stomach Steinway".

It is pronounced, "ARM-pit GIT-tar", right?

Jeremy Reeves · Post by **Jeremy Reeves** » 16 Sep 2021 3:37 am

Jim Fogarty wrote:It's my main axe, and no, it absolutely doesn't bother me in the least. Considering it's kind of the dominant, ubiquitous instrument in Western music for decades, I think it can stand a little joshing.....

this

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 16 Sep 2021 8:45 am

Good to know that such an esteemed and respected musician as Mike (RIP) shared the same peeve that I have.
viewtopic.php?t=368405&highlight=
â€œStomach Steinwayâ€ is cute. â€œArmpit Guitarâ€ is just icky and demeaning. Been playing guitar for 52 years and never heard or saw the term anywhere else but here on the Forum.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 16 Sep 2021 9:51 am

Fred,
You need to get out more!

Erv

Jim Fogle · Post by **Jim Fogle** » 16 Sep 2021 10:47 am

I never heard of the term, armpit guitar, before I read it in this forum.

I'm wondering if the term might be slang that is specific to a part of the the country. For example depending what part of the East Coast I'm in when I order a soft drink I may need to ask for a drink, soda, cola, pop or soda pop.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 16 Sep 2021 12:12 pm

I'm more offended about armpit odor. I need a shower.

Larry Carlson · Post by **Larry Carlson** » 16 Sep 2021 2:19 pm

Charlie McDonald wrote:I'm sure not going to say armpit bass.

Ah go ahead. Won't bother me.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 16 Sep 2021 2:44 pm

Erv Niehaus wrote:Fred,
You need to get out more!
Erv

I do get out, Erv, but not with right wrong crowd

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 17 Sep 2021 5:55 am

Jim Fogle wrote:I never heard of the term, armpit guitar, before I read it in this forum.

I'm wondering if the term might be slang that is specific to a part of the the country. For example depending what part of the East Coast I'm in when I order a soft drink I may need to ask for a drink, soda, cola, pop or soda pop.

When I was growing up in Boston, you would ask for a tonic, too.

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 17 Sep 2021 9:13 am

I am not "offended" by words... (Sticks and stones...etc)
However since we steel guitarists are playing a GUITAR in a different orientation (Flat instead of on it's side) we are often in need of a descriptive term to point out the other instruments that we are talking about.

"armpit" doesn't fully describe it, and I am more inclined to be specific: Tele, Strat, Les Paul, Martin D28, Gibson Hummingbird etc.

ARMPIT GUITAR is just an attempt at "being funny" or "teasing" the other guy. No real harm intended. However:
in this modern "WOKE" society it seems people get offended by words much more often than in the past.

AND TRUTH BE TOLD... we steel guitar players are the real "WEIRDOS" for playing the instrument incorrectly (Starting with the Hawaiian Style of Guitar-just a spanish guitar played on the lap) and then being electrified and made a solid body instrument of different size and shape but still called a "guitar"... I guess we should be able to play nice and respect the instrument from which ours evolved.

JMHO Dom