sticky fingers (not the album) in the heat

[billybobzia]

so anyone have any suggestions for sticky fingers in the heat...yesterday we were playing a show and my fingers just felt sticky and didn't feel i played very well because of it...any suggestions??

[maestrovert]

Finger Ease lightly sprayed onto your fretting hand .....

[DJG105]

maybe a little bit of talcum powder rubbed into your hands before the set?

never tried it, but it may work, same effect as rubbing a little of the chalk on your guide fingers when playing pool.


but, you should watch out with unfinished fretboards(rosewood) though.

[Stickyfingers]

I use baby powder all the time. I am afflicted with sweaty hands, and especially when playing outside, feel the same way as you describe. I buy the powder in the small plastic bottle, and use it sparingly. It works great, and does not build up on the strings like some stuff does...........

[Jodiah]

I agree with the baby powder suggestion. I'm allergic to ebony and have to use it when I play my D-28 to keep the hand sweats under control. Good luck to you.

[billybobzia]

thanks, will give the baby powder a try...

[professor]

Finger Ease on the guitar, baby powder (Talcum) on the hand.

And you're good to go.

[woodman]

i'm a powder freak too (on my fingers, NOT the fretboard). i play outdoor gigs a good bit, and that's the only way i can conquer the clammy Dixie climate! it absorbs moisture and gives a smooth feel. i've heard it said that powder gets into your string windings and so forth, but i've never noticed any degradation. JMHO, YMMV, all that good stuff.

[petebradt]

I mostly just wash my hands, and dry them well. Every set if it's a multi set gig. If no soap and water are available, Purell works ok.

[Tim Armstrong]

Finger Ease absolutely saves my sanity every weekend (we play outdoors in Ocean City, Maryland, and sweat buckets!). I spray it on the fretboard and on the back of the neck. Otherwise, sticky fingers!

Cheers, Tim

[Johnny Caster]

Sticky fingers when your in heat?

[ddewerd]

baby powder for me, but not on my fingers, only my palm and the back of the neck

if I get it on my fingers and the fret board, it's just too slippery - I have a hard time bending as my finger tips don't "bite" into the string, they kind of just slide off

Cheers,
Doug

[trag-o-caster]

I read somewhere that Chet Atkins liked to avoid water at all costs - even showering with rubber gloves on so that his callouses wouldn't soften. I'm the polar opposite of that. Wash hands often. If I'm particularly sweaty/greasy feeling, I'll even wash them with that Comet/Ajax cleanser stuff. If that don't dry 'em out nothing will.

[The String King]

Thanks! Now I am craving an iced bun!

Try washing your hands thorougly and drying with a blow dryer (if possible) and then rub in some talcom powder.

[Johnny Caster]

Originally Posted by trag-o-caster

I read somewhere that Chet Atkins liked to avoid water at all costs - even showering with rubber gloves on so that his callouses wouldn't soften. I'm the polar opposite of that. Wash hands often. If I'm particularly sweaty/greasy feeling, I'll even wash them with that Comet/Ajax cleanser stuff. If that don't dry 'em out nothing will.

Is this true? Seriously, he never washed his hand?

[Johnny Caster]

Originally Posted by trag-o-caster

I read somewhere that Chet Atkins liked to avoid water at all costs - even showering with rubber gloves on so that his callouses wouldn't soften. I'm the polar opposite of that. Wash hands often. If I'm particularly sweaty/greasy feeling, I'll even wash them with that Comet/Ajax cleanser stuff. If that don't dry 'em out nothing will.

is this true? He never washed his hands?

[billybobzia]

it must be true, i read it on the internet...

[trag-o-caster]

Originally Posted by billybobzia

it must be true, i read it on the internet...

Actually I read that in an old guitar magazine years ago - I'm not sure which one.

I'm sure that he did wash his hands on occasions - just not in the shower, and not before a gig.

[billybobzia]

i hope you know i was just joking around....

[TG]

If your guitar has a maple fretboard then consider going over to the dark side and getting a guitar with a rosewood fretboard. A rosewood board absorbs and releases moisture as you play.
I can't gig with a maple board if it's hot since it gets either sticky or very slippery. But rosewood...or ebony...is fine.

[Pete Galati]

Originally Posted by TG

If your guitar has a maple fretboard then consider going over to the dark side and getting a guitar with a rosewood fretboard. A rosewood board absorbs and releases moisture as you play.
I can't gig with a maple board if it's hot since it gets either sticky or very slippery. But rosewood...or ebony...is fine.

I always found that I stick less to rosewood fingerboards. Which works much better for me for sliding from one area of the fingerboard to another.

I'm one of those people who tries to remember to wash my hands wih soap and water before picking up a guitar, because it gets rid of skin oil (and helps your strings last longer), but if it's hot enough that I sweat while playing, that only helps for a while.

Next time the AC is down, I might try that idea of washing with Comet.

I haven't owned any Fingerease for several years, but I used to use the stuff a lot. I've tried baby powder because I've seen people using that, and it didn't work very long, and seemed like it messed up the strings.

[Wild Rice Chris]

I'm with Pete and Pete. Handwashing works for me.

I used to stick to maple boards, but the way my dad is finishing fretboards, I don't have a problem with them anymore. Sold off all of my Fender guitars with maple fretboards (and rosewood for that matter, except my '78 tele).

Chris
http://RiceCustomGuitars.com