Do you guys swim?

[physics]

In addition to avoiding swimming, in order to preserve those calluses, I would also suggest refraining from other activities: like bathing, shaving etc.

A small price to pay in order to become a God of bass.

 

[catcauphonic]

I don't swim because it effects my ears.

I 'hear' ya. It's gotten to the point where I usually take 2 ibuprofen before swimming. Flying, too

 

[Fingerpickingood]

I can't swim very well, so I avoid it.

 

[bass151]

Ya know this can all be fun, but some of us have real issues with exposing our fingers to water/humidity and mosture and would like to have opinions on the subject as we have issues with the problem.

 

[RoadRanger]

do you play with a pick? i only get them on my striking fingers on my right hand.

I actually play "classical guitar" style with my nails - guess that's why I don't have/need calluses?

 

[Groove Doctor]

I 'hear' ya. It's gotten to the point where I usually take 2 ibuprofen before swimming. Flying, too

I take TWO Menthol-based cough lollies (eg. Vicks Vapodrops) on ascent & descent. Works amazingly well. It unclogs the Eustachian tube (between ear & throat).

For Swimmers Ear, I was recommended an anti-histamine by a pharmacist. But I've found irrigating it with a dropper containing very dilute clove oil (1-2 drops/100mL warm water @40°C) gives most rapid relief.

 

[kranahan]

I get water in my ears sometimes, like so deep it takes days to get it out. I think it has to do with your ear structure - I also have a hard time doing a somersault and staying straight while underwater.

I understand. I competitively swam for 15 years. My ears are just used to it I guess.

 

[lightninz]

I can swim. But not for long as I am pitifully out of shape. By the way, do any of you know what's the best swimming technique for metal?

What's is it?

Wow, thanks everyone for the info, true, nvr swam because I used to pluck hard and it hurts when my fingers tip softens, but now I do pluck significantly lighter now, hahaha, time to get my fat ass into a pool now, thanks guys

Jun

 

[ianuaditis]

I understand. I competitively swam for 15 years. My ears are just used to it I guess.

I went to swim camp for 10 years, and also swam competitively until the whole 'not being able to flip in a straight line underwater' became an insurmountable obstacle.

It looks like the topic resolved as of last night, but I realized I neglected to mention that no amount of immersion in water seems to damage my calluses. The only thing that softens them is if I don't play for a while. My advice is to swim away!

 

[jerry]

I live a hundred yards from the ocean, yeah I swim.

 

[Humbled]

I don't swim because it affects my ears.

Yeah, my ears can get funky with water. I keep Peroxide and one of those baby-snot sucking bulbs around just for the purpose of ear-cleaning.

A 50/50 mixture of Peroxide with warm water applied with the squirter in the shower keeps 'em cleaned right out.

 

[sharkbait130]

I've been a water rat since I was 5 years old. I played 6 and 12 string guitar in bands for years and had major callouses. Swimming never seemed to affect them much and i never had a problem because of it. I even had a back yard pool for about 10 years so I was in the water a lot. I've been playing mostly bass for the last 12 years and I play with a pretty light touch so the callouses have all pretty much disappeared. I had the old 12 string out while I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago and without the callouses , about an hour was all I could manage to play. No problem playing the bass for up to 8 hours in a day though. One of my bands did a couple of 2 gig days this year.

 

[hondo4life]

I went to swim camp for 10 years, and also swam competitively until the whole 'not being able to flip in a straight line underwater' became an insurmountable obstacle.

It looks like the topic resolved as of last night, but I realized I neglected to mention that no amount of immersion in water seems to damage my calluses. The only thing that softens them is if I don't play for a while. My advice is to swim away!

Haha, I hate the flip turn. I have never been able to do it straight, either. I end up in another lane or crashing into another swimmer. Who came up with that crap?

 

[ianuaditis]

Haha, I hate the flip turn. I have never been able to do it straight, either. I end up in another lane or crashing into another swimmer. Who came up with that crap?

my other big problem was every time I dove off the blocks my goggles would fly off. That or my speedo...

 

[5StringBlues]