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Had to stop using Flats last night.. bummer

wyleeboxer

wyleeboxer

Apr 28, 2005
2,243
1,556
Orange County, CA
#1
Half way thru our 2nd set last night (playing Sade “Paradise”) the humidity outside must have started going up because my fingers were just sticking to my strings. I live and play near the ocean in Southern California and have been playing this same set of GHS Precision 40-95 light gauge flats since October, so they are well broken in. Love the tone but just can’t take the random stickiness anymore, especially as we get closes to warmer weather.
I have another gig tonight and tomorrow too, so this morning I put a near new set of Dunlop bright nickel’s which are my favorite rounds. Just hope my fingers can acclimate to rounds asap? ;)
 
#3
I always keep a stick of this stuff in my upright bag.

Rub a little on your fingers. Lasts about 30 minutes.

Arm & Hammer makes a similar product for runners (inner thighs).


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#8
wyleeboxer said:
It’s at night near the ocean, weather just seem to change to kind of like playing in a misty fog?
Click to expand...

The marine layer has been on this week.

I came from living near and along the Southern Shore of Lake Michigan for most of 35 years before moving out here. It's not quite Deep South or the Gulf Coast level humidity but there's plenty dampness and humidity compared to here.
 
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#12
I used to play reggae/ska shows in central California and if you play in hot and muggy clubs, your flats will get sticky. For those questioning the OP's claim, I also lived in the Caribbean where it is always hot and muggy. Humid climate or not, every packed club gets humid in the summer. California or Florida, same thing.
Eventually, I realized that playing rounds in clubs was preferable. Not only because of the stickiness issue but also because you want a bit more high mids if you play in a club with bad acoustic. I keep the flats for studio work.
 
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#15
wyleeboxer said:
Half way thru our 2nd set last night (playing Sade “Paradise”) the humidity outside must have started going up because my fingers were just sticking to my strings. I live and play near the ocean in Southern California and have been playing this same set of GHS Precision 40-95 light gauge flats since October, so they are well broken in. Love the tone but just can’t take the random stickiness anymore, especially as we get closes to warmer weather.
I have another gig tonight and tomorrow too, so this morning I put a near new set of Dunlop bright nickel’s which are my favorite rounds. Just hope my fingers can acclimate to rounds asap? ;)
Click to expand...
Would antiperspirant on your fingers work? I've done that.
michael_t said:
I experienced the same stickiness in high humidity with La Bella flats. It seems the smoother the finish on them, the stickier they get when humid or played with sweaty fingers.

Thankfully, I don't use flats anymore. ;)
Click to expand...
Would antiperspirant on your fingers work? I've done that.
 
#16
wyleeboxer said:
Half way thru our 2nd set last night (playing Sade “Paradise”) the humidity outside must have started going up because my fingers were just sticking to my strings. I live and play near the ocean in Southern California and have been playing this same set of GHS Precision 40-95 light gauge flats since October, so they are well broken in. Love the tone but just can’t take the random stickiness anymore, especially as we get closes to warmer weather.
I have another gig tonight and tomorrow too, so this morning I put a near new set of Dunlop bright nickel’s which are my favorite rounds. Just hope my fingers can acclimate to rounds asap? ;)
Click to expand...

i certainly see where that would be annoying. It’s been years since I’ve used flats, but when I did for those situations, I always kept a clean towel in my gig bag or case and just wiped down (more like a quick polish if I had time ) as needed. It seemed to do the trick. I still keep a towel for the back of the neck that can get equally as stickey. Virginia where I lived for 23 years had pretty high heat and very high humidity as well.
 
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#17
Frenchy-Lefty said:
I used to play reggae/ska shows in central California and if you play in hot and muggy clubs, your flats will get sticky. For those questioning the OP's claim, I also lived in the Caribbean where it is always hot and muggy. Humid climate or not, every packed club gets humid in the summer. California or Florida, same thing.
Eventually, I realized that playing rounds in clubs was preferable. Not only because of the stickiness issue but also because you want a bit more high mids if you play in a club with bad acoustic. I keep the flats for studio work.
Click to expand...
I think a lot has to do with the crowd in the club and me sweating as well. Usually there’s no time in between songs to wipe down me and the strings either.. It’s just becoming a real hit or miss when my fingers decide to stick. It can take the fun out of playing and more importantly it effects my performance with the rest of my band mates too. I’m back on rounds for now.
 
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