SWEATY HANDS

[rumbler]

Hey all,

I have a problem ( well I always have) my hands sweat like hell when I play. Plain and simple they are always slipping off the strings no matter what I do, and when I play live and go nuts its even worse. I play as gritty a string as possible (sr2000s) so I can get a nice grip, I wipe my strings down with a dry rag non stop and I constantly wipe my hands on my pants (even if I am playing open notes i quickly wipe my fretting hand down).

I want to know of anything to help keep my hands dry. I tried baby powder which doesnt do much. Also this prevents me from getting callouses. I have no callous on any of my hands after like 4 years of playing. My fingers never even rip unless I intentionally do slides up and down the neck octave to octave as fast as possible. (i used to do this to build up callous but it never worked, my skin would just melt from the friction, but still no callous). I hear that denatured alchool is what upright guys use which is real harsh on the skin. If i was to rub that on my hands would it help keep the sweat down?

Any suggestions?

Andrew

[brandau]

I have the same problem. Really though I've just gotten used to it. A doctor once prescribed me drysol, which is basically heavy duty antiperspirant. I put in on at night while I slept and then my hands would stay dry for a day or so. I didn't like the idea of my pores being clogged up with aluminum, so I eventually I quite using it. It worked though. The doctor also said Botox injections into my hands every couple months would stop the sweating, but that seems a little extreme. I just started using stainless steel strings and pushed though it. Good luck!

[jschwalls]

I used to wear wristbands when i was playing bigger shows.... This would help alot to eliminate the sweat dripping down my arms and such... I would multi-stack them from my wrist up onto my hands a bit... this is the only relief i ever found... I think tried everything else... Even sprayed down with Right Guard, smelled nice but didn't stop the sweating... haha

[rumbler]

Hey boys,

thanks for the replies so far. I do not get sweat dripping down my arms, my sweat comes directly from my palms!!!

And theres no way I am doing botox or putting aluminum in me(aluminum causes alsyhmers)

Thanks so far, any other suggestions?

Andrew

[ryan(MAIDEN)]

i read that if you put rubbing alcohol on your fingertips it will stop them from sweating....

[rumbler]

any other ideas?

[CiRRuS~BaSS]

i have the same problem, but not as extreme. i just wipe off my hands when i can. ive heard that surgery can remove sweat glands in the hand for permanent effects but that will probably take you out of commission for awhile and do the same to your wallet for even longer.

[rumbler]

Cool, Alright guys thanks for the replies!


Andrew

[snyderz]

Try peeing on your hands 4-5 times a day. Let me know if it helps.

[nsmar4211]

What about getting a bag of the rosin stuff like bowlers/golfers use? Never tried it with my bass..... but used to use it bowling!

I have really sweaty hands too.......PITA. Slipped off the strings a few times on the right hand....on the left hand the sweat runs down to my wrist and stays off the tips and out of my way. I have found that the more I wipe my hands off, the worse they seem to get! Considering I live in Florida and it gets.....warm... sweat is an issue. Nothing like taking your bass off and having a bass shaped sweat mark on your stomach But to keep it off my strings..., I just have to suffer. Am thinking rubbing deodorant on my hands doesn't sound fun. I have found I end up altering how I attack the strings *knowing* I'm going to slip off of them easier, so I get fewer surprises .

[JAUQO III-X]

Check out bassist Etienne Mbapp and read why he were gloves when he plays.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_9jj9ib6rE

http://www.bassplayer.com/article/et...%A9/feb-03/580

http://www.etiennembappe.com/

[rumbler]

Thanks JAUQO!

I appreciate the responses. On second I guess I should try to get used to it since gloves make my hands feel even more sweaty


Andrew

[lowendgenerator]

I have a problem with this too. I can kill a fresh set of SS strings in under an hour. I'll have to look into the alcohol and urine thing. I've got plenty of both.

[lowphatbass]

This is going to sound strange, but is it a reaction to stress or mental pressure or is it purely a physical thing? Not trying to clown or anything, I have a friend that is a bit clammy most the time but when he gets nervous or excited he gets what we call "sweat stigmata"(thought you may appreciate terminology). I knew a guy who wore small wrist bands across across his palm on his picking hand(guitar player) because he would sweat into his electronics pretty bad but I don't know how that would work on your fretting hand...

Keep us posted..

[rumbler]

Hey lowphatbass

I sweat in my palms almost always. I think ever since I started playing for some odd reason. It gets worse when I play or get nervous. And summer time here is just AH!!!

I am waiting for someone with experience with denatured alcohol to chime in


Andrew

[lowphatbass]

Well, you're partially stoked at least because it's proly something that could diminish somewhat over time. When I've got a number of shows to in a row and I'm wanting to conserve strings and/or won't have a lot of time to change/break-in new ones I use 99% alcohol after each set and more aggressively after the gig. I don't sweat a ton from my hands but on a club gig where the other players bust a forehead sweat I can usually drench a shirt so a lot of sweat runs down on my hands. The alcohol definitely removes the oils from my hands which changes the "viscosity" of the sweat, viscosity being in reference to how my hands and fingers flow across the bass. While I don't think the alcohol will keep you from sweating, it may make it easier to deal with, you just have to try it. A few tips and tricks to using alcohol(especially 99%); make sure to keep an eye on you're fingerboard as alcohol can tend to dry things up; don't store an alcohol soaked rag anywhere near your bass or furniture. Only dab alcohol into one corner of you're towel and keep track of it, or, use a different towel for wiping the rest of your bass. Lastly, MicoFiber towels are linens from the Gods, use them only.

[jsingles]

Originally Posted by snyderz

Try peeing on your hands 4-5 times a day. Let me know if it helps.

+1

[rodl2005]

I get 'em too. & while it USUALLY aint a prob. re slipping off strings- it IS a BIG prob re killing a good set of new strings- make 'em sound dead in one or two shows.. So I now use -mainly - as long as I can get 'em - coated strings- EXP D'addario I've found to be best. Elixirs 2nd, then DR's. -gotta love the colored DR's tho! ;-)

Alkyhole Is good for toughening up fingertips etc, but I dunno re the reducing sweat issue there. try & see IMO. Let us know how U go!

[ThunderSix66]

Originally Posted by rumbler

Thanks JAUQO!

I appreciate the responses. On second I guess I should try to get used to it since gloves make my hands feel even more sweaty


Andrew

But they aren't just normal gloves, they're silk!

[Dudaronamous]

I saw Dr. Mehmet Oz on TV and a woman asked how to stop her feet from sweating (and smelling bad). He had her make a batch of dilute tea and soak her feet in it (at room temperature). She tried it and said it was a miracle cure-her feet stopped sweating and smelling. Something about the tannins in the tea and effect on sweat glands. I don't remember how often she soaked her feet, but seems like it would work for sweaty palms too. The aluminum chloride antiperspirant is very effective but you prefer to avoid aluminum. Good luck!