Are you bothered by the term "armpit guitar?"

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 17 Sep 2021 9:56 am

Woke? BS
The term in question obviously says more about the person using it than it does the object itself.

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 17 Sep 2021 10:15 am

Fred said:

The term in question obviously says more about the person using it than it does the object itself.

I think it's more about the way the guitar is being played... not the person playing it. Everyone has armpits, but not all play standard guitar. Steel guitarists have armpits too.

The term "Armpit Guitar" is a guitar played with the players arm wrapped around the front of the guitar and his/her torso behind the instrument-effectively placing the upper bout of the guitar body directly under the armpit.
The word: ARMPIT is an adjective, describing the Noun: GUITAR.

Andy Vance · Post by **Andy Vance** » 17 Sep 2021 11:18 am

I think if you let it bother you, you could probably find a better use of your time/energy. It's a term that some use to describe an object. You don't like the term, don't use it. People use lots of terms to describe or call an object and the terms vary per culture, region, language, etc, etc and how "funny" someone may think their term is. No skin off my back if they call it an "armpit guitar".

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 17 Sep 2021 1:23 pm

Just play your "floor steel" and fuhgeddaboudit.

Nic Sanford · Post by **Nic Sanford** » 19 Sep 2021 7:08 pm

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 19 Sep 2021 8:48 pm

And besides that, ARMPIT is a noun. For the term in question, it is an attributive noun.

Karl Paulsen · Post by **Karl Paulsen** » 20 Sep 2021 4:09 am

Just read through the whole thread.

I figure there's many more pressing things in this world to be concerned about than semi-humorous instrument monikers.

When I think on it, "armpit guitar" seems like a weirdly appropriate term for when a pedal steel player picks up a tele to play a tune or two from their seat.

Full disclosure, as a near lifetime bassist I tried a few times never could learn to play the 6 string fretted guitar well, but I never mind hearing that I'm playing the "Doghouse" when I'm on upright bass.

If someone I was playing with did they didn't like the term I'd drop it, but what this thread has really accomplished is giving me something to tease my guitarist buddies with.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 20 Sep 2021 7:14 am

This does sound less spooky than the German equivalent which would be AchselhÃ¶hlen-Gitarre.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 20 Sep 2021 8:31 am

I'm bothered that the person who started this thread is no longer with us. And yet the thread lives on.

Brooks Montgomery · Post by **Brooks Montgomery** » 20 Sep 2021 10:10 am

â€œ AchselhÃ¶hlen-Gitarre.â€

My X-wife used to call me that.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 20 Sep 2021 10:17 am

Bill McCloskey wrote:I'm bothered that the person who started this thread is no longer with us. And yet the thread lives on.

It is a bit strange. I gave Mike a post mortem nod on the previous page after finding this while chuckling through responses to my thread on the same subject, 5 years later. Seems I have at least some good company on this annoying little peeve.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 20 Sep 2021 5:11 pm

Frank Freniere wrote:
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.

Pronounced "tahnic". When my mom visited my in-laws in Tennessee, the people in the grocery store just about went crazy trying to figure out what the hell she was talking about. "Finally someone blurted out, "Oh! Y'all lookin' for the Geritol?"

I'm bothered that the person who started this thread is no longer with us. And yet the thread lives on.

I didn't close this. Even though Mike's gone, I don't see why the threads he started can't live on, as does his music. I imagine there are lots of other threads out there that Mike, and many others who are no longer with us, started that aren't closed either. Is there some reason we should close the threads started by people who have passed on?

On the original thought Mike posted and the seeming frustration that anybody might take exception to the term 'armpit guitar' - I didn't actually say this phrase offended me. And nobody here is threatening anybody for using it. But when asked, I, as a lifelong guitar player, said I don't like it, and explained why. Y'all got a problem with that?

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 21 Sep 2021 4:05 am

Dave, my comment was about missing Mike, not about the thread.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 21 Sep 2021 5:13 am

I thought the term referred to the fact that the steel guitar was carried under one's arm pits.

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 21 Sep 2021 7:32 am

That guy looks like he might be a competent armpit lap slide player, but I read it's pretty easy because all you have to do is kindly slide and waller around a bit.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 21 Sep 2021 7:51 am

Bill McCloskey wrote:Dave, my comment was about missing Mike, not about the thread.

Gotcha. I read it as 'bothered' applying to both Mike being gone and the thread living on. I miss Mike too.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 26 Sep 2021 9:36 am

The term doesn't necessarily "bother" me, so much as seem just too cutesy, precious, and rather dumb. Another along the same lines would be "mother of toilet seat." How... quaint.

Bud Angelotti · Post by **Bud Angelotti** » 10 Oct 2021 8:42 am

Here you go. I hairy armpit guitar.

John Drury · Post by **John Drury** » 15 Feb 2022 7:39 am

Just now saw this, I really miss Mike not being around.

I'm with Mike on this one, I find it disgusting, totally unneccasary.

Another one that p!$$e$ me off is someone saying PUP when referring to a pickup. If one is that much into the brevity thing, why not drop another letter and just say PU?

Pix attached, a Pup, a Pup utilizing a PU, and an actual PU.

Rest easy Mike........

Allan Revich · Post by **Allan Revich** » 15 Feb 2022 8:59 am

I like the term “armpit guitar”. It’s a perfect way to humorously describe a Spanish guitar on a steel guitar forum. And it’s funny.

Anyway, it’s not nearly as harsh as “misery whistle”! Harmonica players need thicker skin than guitar players I guess.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 15 Feb 2022 5:34 pm

John Drury wrote:

...Nashville dogs
Play clean as country water
Nashville dogs
Play wild as mountain dew...

John Drury · Post by **John Drury** » 16 Feb 2022 4:13 pm

Jack Hanson wrote:
John Drury wrote:
...Nashville dogs
Play clean as country water
Nashville dogs
Play wild as mountain dew...

Check out armpit guitar George, he knows all the chords....

While my armpit guitar gently weeps....

Armpit guitars, cadillacs, and hillbilly music....

Armpit guitarzan....

LMAO!