#1344445 - 11/02/01 11:48 PM
Can't build up calluses on fingertips
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Casey56
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Registered: 11/01/01
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My father is 80 years old and has played the guitar throughout his life and quite regularly since he retired. For the past several months, his fingertips have become sore from the strings when he plays, and he seems to have lost the ability to form calluses. Is this a result of his age, or is there something that might help him? He has tried putting on "New Skin" and various types of gloves and bandages, but nothing has worked. A doctor suggested drinking cherry juice and/or taking a glucosamine chondroitin supplement, but they don't seem to help. A physical therapist said it may be due to a loss of collagen, but didn't know of a way to help that situation. What kind of specialist could he go to for help? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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#1344446 - 11/03/01 04:56 PM
Re: Can't build up calluses on fingertips
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Tedster
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Wow, I've never heard of that. I would suppose a dermatologist could help. At least he might be able to give some examples of nutrients that might be missing. But, I think calluses are part of the body's natural healing, similar perhaps to scar tissue (but I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV). Ask your family doctor to recommend a dermatologist who might be able to offer some advice...
Aside to that, I know that even though I have some pretty good calluses, my fingers will get sore if I'm exposed to a marathon session, or I play someone's acoustic strung with .013s or something. A lot of old timers do string their guitars pretty heavily. You might find out what guages he uses, and lighten them up a bit until (and if) his calluses reform.
_________________________
"Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine...(WAH WAH WAH WAHHH!)"
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#1344447 - 11/03/01 04:57 PM
Re: Can't build up calluses on fingertips
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Tedster
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Oh, and welcome to the board, Casey!
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#1344448 - 11/03/01 10:49 PM
Re: Can't build up calluses on fingertips
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zzzzz
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Registered: 04/04/01
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Loc: Johnstown,PA,UNITED STATES
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Try soaking your fingers in vinegar for about 10 minutes a day and keep it up for two weeks.It helped me out when my callouses weren't as hard as usual when I was between bands I hope this helps
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#1344449 - 11/03/01 11:08 PM
Re: Can't build up calluses on fingertips
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BobSanders
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Registered: 10/23/01
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Loc: East Coast USA
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Have him try a nylon string guitar. Very easy on the hands when you get used to the wider neck.
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#1344450 - 11/04/01 04:56 AM
Re: Can't build up calluses on fingertips
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d gauss
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i've heard that masturbation is a fun and easy way to build up your calluses... (of course i lost my penis in a brutal poker game years ago so i wouldn't know)
-d. gauss
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#1344451 - 11/04/01 12:28 PM
Re: Can't build up calluses on fingertips
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Tedster
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HAHAHA...dgauss...
Hey, I know...try rubbing some Viagra on the fingertips, see if that gets 'em hard...
Poor Lisa...has to put up with us. Hey Lisa, do you have brothers? And if so, are they as bad as we are?
_________________________
"Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine...(WAH WAH WAH WAHHH!)"
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#1344452 - 11/05/01 04:56 AM
Re: Can't build up calluses on fingertips
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stratman_dup1
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Registered: 02/09/01
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An interem fix you might suggest is super glue. Works great for me when I manage to tear a callus off, it does feel a bit unnatural but will keep him playing until a better solution is found.
Best of luck and welcome.
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#1344453 - 11/05/01 05:54 PM
Re: Can't build up calluses on fingertips
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rebonn
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Originally posted by Stratman:
An interem fix you might suggest is super glue. Works great for me when I manage to tear a callus off, it does feel a bit unnatural but will keep him playing until a better solution is found.
Best of luck and welcome.
I can see it now.
He's done glued his fingers together.
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#1344454 - 11/06/01 02:20 AM
Re: Can't build up calluses on fingertips
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Lisa
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Originally posted by Tedster:
[/QB] Poor Lisa...has to put up with us. Hey Lisa, do you have brothers? And if so, are they as bad as we are?[/QB]
No, I don't have any brothers, so you're all my surrogate brothers.
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#1344456 - 11/06/01 09:51 PM
Re: Can't build up calluses on fingertips
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dansouth
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This is a bass viewpoint, so multiply by 1.5 for the two extra strings, and it should apply to guitar. 
Victor Wooten came out to chat with the crowd after a Flecktones concert one evening. One guy asked to see his hands. Everyone was amazed that his fingers were REALLY SOFT. No calluses at all! Victor whacks the living crap out of his basses. Maybe calluses are overrated?
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#1344457 - 11/07/01 03:51 PM
Re: Can't build up calluses on fingertips
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Chip McDonald
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Originally posted by dansouth@yahoo.com:
Victor Wooten came out to chat with the crowd after a Flecktones concert one evening. One guy asked to see his hands. Everyone was amazed that his fingers were REALLY SOFT. No calluses at all! Victor whacks the living crap out of his basses. Maybe calluses are overrated?
Nah, he just doesn't bend strings a lot. Bending is what gives you calluses (you're pushing your epidermis around), or pulling off a lot on the unwound strings (when you hammer the string digs deeper on the thinner strings than the heavier wound strings).
Victor doesn't do a lot of either, so...
Stuff like this is what should be in guitar magazines. It's funny how many topics are broached here that I've never really seen in a guitar magazine before, even though it's obviously of interest to guitar players in general.
_________________________
www.chipmcdonald.com (tagline inlieu of having a representational page of downloadable music for the moment...) / "big ass windbag" - Bruce Swedien
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#1344458 - 11/07/01 06:30 PM
Re: Can't build up calluses on fingertips
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d gauss
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of course there's the reported stevie ray vaughan method of krazy gluing your fingertips to the fleshy part of your forearm and then ripping off some flesh to replace your calluses that have fallen off. warning! don't try this unless you are really messed up on coke and booze, sand or have a high threshold for pain.... ouch!
-d. gauss
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