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Do you guys swim?

Hi TBers,

I am just wandering, i have been avoiding swimming since i started playing bass, as swimming tends to soften my calluses. Do you guys have this issue? if so, any solution to it?

My gratitude in advanced for the advice.

Jun
 
I frequently get wet wrinkly fingers from my job. It does not seem to affect my playing. What does affect my playing is swinging a hammer. My right wrist is a wreck at the moment.
You shouldn't swing a hammer from your wrist to begin with. A hammer should be swung principally from the shoulder, with minor movement of the elbow. Try it, you'll like it.
 
You shouldn't swing a hammer from your wrist to begin with. A hammer should be swung principally from the shoulder, with minor movement of the elbow. Try it, you'll like it.

Yeah, but I spent all day doing a demo on a house. It wasn't like driving a nail into a board directly in front of me. I also carried a fridge, range and toilet out by myself with no dolly, and had band practice that night. Some things are just $#1++y no matter what you do.
 
turn up amp. play softer. enjoy life!

Yup. I've been playing for 20 years now. I have no callouses. Just slightly thicker pads on my fingertips.

As the great MCA (R.I.P.) once said, when it comes to quarries I'm known to swim.
 
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Yup. I've been playing for 20 years now. I have no callouses. Just slightly thicker pads on my fingertips.

As the great MCA (R.I.P.) once said, when it comes to quarries I'm known to swim.
+1, I haven't had callouses in over 45 years, the skin on my fingertips is just reinforced by nature I guess
 
I love swimming! I usually only swim for the amount of time it takes me to take a shower, dry off in the sun, swim some more, repeat all day almost every day possible in the summertime. No, I can't say it softens up my fingers
 
i don't take my bass swimming with me ...

i did take the puppy in to make sure he could swim ... can't take that for granted ..!!
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I do wonder about bass players who say they have callouses - I play in like 6 bands and don't have any AFAIK. I do play flats most of the time now but don't remember having any when I played roundwounds? I've mostly played heavy gauges too - a .120 "E" presently but on a short scale and downtuned to DGCF.
do you play with a pick? i only get them on my striking fingers on my right hand.

I used to play in a hard rock power trio with a busy drummer. If we took a week off rehearsal when we played the next time I would get blisters on my index and middle fingers that would turn to calluses.

I also play guitar, a few hours a day, and I have some calluses on the tips of my left hand fingers, but i never got them from bass.