Any guitar players here?

Forums › Off topic › Any guitar players here?

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#34021 15-May-2009 14:28

I have been playing for 8 or 9 years. Currently have a solid top Cort and a sexy-as black J-Bass copy.

Anyhoo... over the last 4 or 5 months, I have been playing guitar a LOT more than usual, especially my acoustic.

I have found that as the callouses on my fingertips get bigger and bigger, that two things have happened:

My touch typing is a little less precise on my left hand.

My touch pad on my laptops is much harder to use with calloused fingertips (often doesnt register a firm movement, whereas my right hand touchpad gestures can be as light as I want).

Obviously not much I can do about it, but just wondering if anyone else had the same (or related) issues?

nate

6473 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 458

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#215044 15-May-2009 14:32

Buy a guitar with nylon strings, put on your slippers, go have a hot chocolate and stop complaining you hugemongous girls blouse.

gehenna

8667 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3883

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#215047 15-May-2009 14:35

There are a couple of things you can do actually. I know that there is a special oil you can rub into your finger tips to reduce the callous size while retaining the strength of the skin pad - sorry I don't recall the name of the stuff.

Or, you could put lighter gauge strings on the guitar. I've been playing for about 20 years, but for the last 5 years or so I've hardly picked up any of my guitars (Takamine acoustic, and BC Rich NJ Series Warlock). So when I first picked up my acoustic a few months ago I found it really hard to play with the heavy gauge strings. I replaced them with a lighter gauge and its much easier to play while also reducing the impact on your fingertips.

Of course this means if you're inclined to play someone elses guitar, and they have heavy strings, you'll end up with sore fingers again. But if you only play your own one it's a good option for keeping your fingers in decent shape.

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#215048 15-May-2009 14:36

@nate pffft go find a KFC outlet to fulfil your desires.

:o)

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#215056 15-May-2009 14:48

gehenna: There are a couple of things you can do actually.

I normally only play my own guitars, but I like a heavier gauge string as they tend to break less when I am pretending to be Dave Grohl.

I often tune down half a step or so, and that helps somewhat.

I had a cutaway cedar EGS-430SC Tak but I ended up selling it as I wasn't playing it enough. Kinda wish I didn't now that I am playing more!

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14116 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4579

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#215068 15-May-2009 15:18

Get a straw hat, dungarees and a rocking chair and go sit on someones porch with a banjo.

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

skyplonk

460 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 56

Trusted

#215074 15-May-2009 15:28

Hey Tony,

Yeah, I know how you feel. I play in a Auckland covers band and even since dropping guitar and picking up bass I still have the callouses on my fingers, but they are alot better now since I found a product called "fast fret". It is like a light oil for the strings. Makes slides, pulls, and hammers so much easer. It also helps stop the stings from getting dirty and going rusty.

Gotta love the music. Got a '79 P Bass, a Mex Jazz Bass, and a Eric Clapton Artist Series Strat.... yummy....

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#215078 15-May-2009 15:48

Fast fret is great stuff, used to use it all the time, but havent for a wee while. Should go get some more. Great for keeping especially the first 3 or 4 frets looking good over time too...

I'd love to play in a band one day!

BurningBeard

1030 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 100

Trusted

#215156 15-May-2009 22:29

I avoid touch-pads so there's no issue.

Callouses are just a part of it.

My gear:
LTD EC-400

Jackson JJ2 Scott Ian model

Peavey 5150 Series II

Have toured & recorded with a couple of bands in the past, most recently, ChCh's Tainted. (I drummed in my first band, but guitar is my main focus... and vocals)

My very metal Doctor Who theme

BurningBeard

1030 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 100

Trusted

#216570 21-May-2009 10:19

tonyhughes: I have been playing for 8 or 9 years. Currently have a solid top Cort and a sexy-as black J-Bass copy.

Anyhoo... over the last 4 or 5 months, I have been playing guitar a LOT more than usual, especially my acoustic.

I have found that as the callouses on my fingertips get bigger and bigger, that two things have happened:

My touch typing is a little less precise on my left hand.

My touch pad on my laptops is much harder to use with calloused fingertips (often doesnt register a firm movement, whereas my right hand touchpad gestures can be as light as I want).

Obviously not much I can do about it, but just wondering if anyone else had the same (or related) issues?

I can't say I've had any computer trouble as a result of my callouses, but then again I tend to play with the very tips of my fingers rather than the pads of my fingers.

I've found acousic guitars are generally harder on the fingers, as the action is often higher and you have to push harder. I'd suggest lowering the action on the guiar (the distance between the string and fredboard) and/or using a lighter guage of strings. If you're not savvy enough to do it, a good music shop should be able to help. Be careful not to go too low though, or you'll end up with unwanted rattles. I've never done it myself on an acoustic so can't offer any advice on that.

My very metal Doctor Who theme

CYaBro

4708 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1182

ID Verified

Trusted

#216583 21-May-2009 10:59

I used to play guitar and had an acoustic until it got stolen from my old work place :(
Can't afford to replace it, don't want a cheap nasty one.
I had it at work so I could play at lunch time.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#216594 21-May-2009 11:30

I paid a Luthier named Neville (surname unknown) in Nelson years ago to set up a cruddy old Fender DG3 for me, and he did a great job, and got the action real low, and a new custom shaped saddle.

I might do it with the Cort actually, for the small investment, it made my below average guitar nicer and more enjoyable & playable.

I loved how well my Tak was set up from the factory. But once you dip below that $800 or so mark, you start to lose out on attention to detail in a lot areas.

I want a Maton... with gold hardware...

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

BurningBeard

1030 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 100

Trusted

#216966 22-May-2009 13:32

I only just today heard of using stick-on quilters thimbles - they're made of silicone apparently and aren't too intrusive on your playing.

My very metal Doctor Who theme