A Callous Thread

[stetto]

I used to think there is no such thing as too much callous on my fingertips...I now question that philosophy.

When I played bass professionally, I played that dammed instrument for hours every day-rehearsals, performances, practice...The callouses were impressive and I had to really be playing like a maniac to wear them down...Nowadays, many, many years later, I have even heavier callouses than in those days, but after they get so thick they start to come apart in thick chunks, making my fingertips uneven and difficult for fretting, or worse, they get thick and brittle and will crack and bleed...

Anyone with a similar problem found a cure? I've tried the lotions, even cuticle softener, but they make the callous soft and the skin comes off against the strings...I wonder if regularly removing a layer or two with a loofa sponge or emery board might help...

At least it ain't like the girl with a boil on her taint... (told ya it was a callous thread!!)

Eric

 

[Jouni]

quit alltogether playing for a year or so and they will vanish?

Some reople sand them down with those abrasive spatulas found from pharmacy for feet...

 

[rayc]

Ouch!
I nibble away at mine with a pair of nail clippers so that they don't get too big to manage.

 

[jpw23]

Ouch!
I nibble away at mine with a pair of nail clippers so that they don't get too big to manage.

use an emory board to keep em in check....just file em down a bit!

 

[laststartoshine]

i know SRV used to play until his fell off. then he'd use elmers glue, and slap em back on


ow.

 

[Zaphod B]

Buy a hand cleaner like Fast Orange (contians pumice particles) or a pumice stone and keep your calluses honed down so that they dont come apart on you.

When I was in high school, back in the Cretaceous period, I was a gymnast and I had callouses peel off the palm of my hand. Ouch, double-ouch.

 

[ez_willis]

i know SRV used to play until his fell off. then he'd use elmers glue, and slap em back on


ow.

Super glue. True story.

 

[notbradsohner]

I have the same problem while rock climbing. File them down.

 

[azraelswings]

I dont get thick callouses anymore, but when I did I'd file them to smooth them out if they were starting to tear and peel. Helped keep them from tearing off.

 

[Jouni]

Only place I see a thickening developed is my pinky, from bassplaying... But i've noticed that my fingertips are more sensitive to cold now... could be growing old though.. and a pack of North States a day.

My bigtoes however got callouses aprox 7-8mm thick from wearing steelcaps at work...and play. No probs though except sore once when I cut them smaller with scissors.

 

[stetto]

Thanks guys, I have lots of good advice here...My callouses wouldn't be so much of a problem except that they grow outwards from my fingertips, making the tips even fatter...Tried Zaphod's pumice stone idea, so far so good (I need the callouses, but never had problems like these).

Eric

 

[nukeitout]

I've never played that much, but I've noticed that when my hands crack and bleed it's because I've been dehydrated... If I try to drink more water it usually gets better in a couple days. You could also try some fast fret or something similar on your bass to minimize friction on your fingers. I don't think putting lotion on your callouses is good before playing, but maybe after or like 20 minutes or more before...

Bah who am I kidding, I've never had problems with my callouses. Sometimes They'll shred a little if I get too excited with my 12 string acoustic, but that's about it.

Damn, it would suck balls to lose the callous on your palm...

 

[Zaphod B]

Damn, it would suck balls to lose the callous on your palm...

Damned right, especially when you've got to get back on the equipment.

 

[Zaphod B]

An Old Man's Guide to Hand Care:

Since we're on the subject, here's what I've learned over the years.

When I was younger I used to like to have completely dry, oil-free hands, especially when playing guitar. Through the years the dry condition took its toll and made me really pay attention to keeping my hands healthy and free of cracks, etc.

1. Use a good skin lotion. Twice a day will work, once in the morning and once before you go to bed. Use an oil-based lotion, even though they are greasier - they don't wash off so easily during normal hand-washing.

2. Keep your callouses under control - the subject of this whole thread. Occasionally use a pumice stone or a hand cleaner containing pumice (Fast Orange, GOJO) over your entire hand to remove built-up dry skin and excess callouses.

3. Trim any wayward cuticles or other small loose skin areas with a nail cutter or trimming scissors - don't pull 'em off, as this only causes pain and increases the risk of infection.

4. Avoid exposure to gasoline, oil, or other chemicals, especially the ones that tend to remove your skin oils. Use latex or vinyl gloves when you use this type of stuff.

5. If you do get oil or grease all over your hands, don't use a solvent to get it off - use a cleaner like Simple Green or Fast Orange. Solvents just make your skin very angry.

Anyway - that's my $0.02!

 

[stetto]

I've never played that much, but I've noticed that when my hands crack and bleed it's because I've been dehydrated... If I try to drink more water it usually gets better in a couple days....

Yep...Yep...This is happening in the dead of winter...The humidifiers aren't keeping up (we have TWO)...Good thinkin' nuke!

oh, and Zaphod; "You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Zaphod B again.

Eric

 

[32-20-Blues]

Yep...Yep...This is happening in the dead of winter...The humidifiers aren't keeping up (we have TWO)...Good thinkin' nuke!

oh, and Zaphod; "You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Zaphod B again.

Eric

I keep a glove filled with petroleum jelly on my right hand at all times. But that's just for the ladies really.

 

[gibson59neck]

I used to think there is no such thing as too much callous on my fingertips...I now question that philosophy.

When I played bass professionally, I played that dammed instrument for hours every day-rehearsals, performances, practice...The callouses were impressive and I had to really be playing like a maniac to wear them down...Nowadays, many, many years later, I have even heavier callouses than in those days, but after they get so thick they start to come apart in thick chunks, making my fingertips uneven and difficult for fretting, or worse, they get thick and brittle and will crack and bleed...

Anyone with a similar problem found a cure? I've tried the lotions, even cuticle softener, but they make the callous soft and the skin comes off against the strings...I wonder if regularly removing a layer or two with a loofa sponge or emery board might help...

At least it ain't like the girl with a boil on her taint... (told ya it was a callous thread!!)

Eric

what a fucking weird affliction. Where are you freaks from anyway? The world is coming to an end, and here we sit reading about how your callouses are getting too big and painful. Dammit. Someone run me the fuck over already...