Interesting twist on "tone in the hands"

[Bardolph]

All right, this is kind of a bizarre idea so just stick with me. Now let's assume that mankind had the kind of technology that would allow us to amputate a person's hands and put somebody else's hands on them and connect the nerves and everything. That way you could technically have somebody else's hands but they'd still be totally under your control. What do you think that would do to tone?

[Wrong Robot]

And I thought guitarists were tone obsessive

[XavierG]

Originally Posted by Eskimo

All right, this is kind of a bizarre idea so just stick with me. Now let's assume that mankind had the kind of technology that would allow us to amputate a person's hands and put somebody else's hands on them and connect the nerves and everything. That way you could technically have somebody else's hands but they'd still be totally under your control. What do you think that would do to tone?

It's not "all in the hands". It's all in the brain. The hands are merely a tool for executing technique, but that technique originates from la cabeza. They'll need to figure out a way to transplant the brain as well. Too much trouble, if you ask me.

[Bardolph]

Basically, the question is how much of a role do you think skin texture/finger size etc. have in tone?

[zongeek]

Originally Posted by XavierG

It's not "all in the hands". It's all in the brain. The hands are merely a tool for executing technique, but that technique originates from la cabeza. They'll need to figure out a way to transplant the brain as well. Too much trouble, if you ask me.

brain sugery ay? well ti just so happens i took a brain surgery class while attending accounting school...it was an elective.

can anyone saying paging dr. kavorkian?

[brianrost]

Wasn't there a Peter Lorre movie where he played a pianist who got transplanted hands from a murderer? I recall it didn't help his music career

[loobahood8b]

Originally Posted by Eskimo

Basically, the question is how much of a role do you think skin texture/finger size etc. have in tone?

i think the tone depends more on how the fingers are moving and applying pressure to the strings the actual texture of them probably wouldn't affect it much unless your fingers were made of rock, soft fingers might be good but u can get that by just peeling off your callousts

[peteroberts]

I think it's mostly in the brain, but the size, strength, etc of your hands definitely have something to do with it.

[XavierG]

Originally Posted by peteroberts

I think it's mostly in the brain, but the size, strength, etc of your hands definitely have something to do with it.

As does the equipment, and even the environment you are playing in.

[DougP]

Originally Posted by Eskimo

All right, this is kind of a bizarre idea so just stick with me. Now let's assume that mankind had the kind of technology that would allow us to amputate a person's hands and put somebody else's hands on them and connect the nerves and everything. That way you could technically have somebody else's hands but they'd still be totally under your control. What do you think that would do to tone?

I got first dibs on Joe Satriani's hands!

[Fuzzbass]

Originally Posted by Eskimo

Basically, the question is how much of a role do you think skin texture/finger size etc. have in tone?

It can have a huge effect. My fingertips, even when toughened, are rather flabby and fleshy, which has frustrated me over the years because I've usually preferred a strong attack. Some bassists have very slim bony fingertips and can almost get a pick-like attack when playing fingerstyle. To get a stronger attack with my fleshy fingers, I used a modified version of Entwistle's "typewriter" technique: I didn't angle my fingers like he did, but I hit the strings hard enough so that they slapped the end of the fretboard.

Now that I'm mostly playing old-school blues, C&W, and rock, the rounder sound that comes from my fleshy fingers is an advantage, so I'm not hitting the strings as hard for those styles.

[Matthew Bryson]

Originally Posted by Eskimo

Basically, the question is how much of a role do you think skin texture/finger size etc. have in tone?

My opinion: What strap you use probably has more of an impact on your tone.

[Whafrodamus]

Originally Posted by peteroberts

I think it's mostly in the brain, but the size, strength, etc of your hands definitely have something to do with it.

It's not the size that matters, it's how you use it...ermm.. them.

[Matt Till]

I'd vomit right now if I wanted to.

[invisiman]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

I'd vomit right now if I wanted to.

Um....yay?

[Don't_Fret]

Hand replacement surgery? Um...ow

[BenderR]

This is one of those hardware vs software issues. IMHO the mind is the biggest factor because it provides real time control of the hands and controls many (although not all) of the factors in creating the sound. If I pick up a different instrument I am able to recreate my normal sound after just a few minutes of adaptation. If someone had different hands I think that the mind would find a way to create your normal sound too (after a few years of intense psycho-therapy necessitated by the trauma of a hand transplant).

[Corwin81]

Dibs on Pat Dahlheimer's brain

[stephanie]

Originally Posted by Corwin81

Dibs on Pat Dahlheimer's brain

<-- Pat

[Ozzyman]

Originally Posted by BenderR

If I pick up a different instrument I am able to recreate my normal sound after just a few minutes of adaptation.

I have a saxophone that you could try out. :P
It's almost all mind. The mind didctates the speed of the attack and the angle and depth.