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Lost my callus, quickly need to fix it

#24
Qlanq said:
Or this:
https://www.staples.com/Cosco-Rubber-Finger-Pads-Large-12-pack/product_506162
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upload_2022-9-1_11-54-5.jpeg
 
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#27
Tincture of benzene will build your calouses back up quickly.

Hydrocolloid band aids to cover it while playing and also help to heal quickly. I literally just went through the same thing. Worked great and also stays on way, way better than regular band aids and medical tape.

All Health Advanced Fast Healing Hydrocolloid Gel Bandages, Fingers & Toes, 8 ct | 2X Faster Healing for First Aid Blisters or Wound Care https://a.co/d/is0kbu4

Super glue also works well, better than liquid bandages.
 
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#29
From an interview with Steve Harris of Iron Maiden:

Do you get much damage to the fingers themselves?

Yeah, the first couple of weeks I get blisters. Then they burst. They're really, really sore for a few days, then they go really hard, and that's it. They stay like that for the rest of the tour. The only bugbear is that when you play somewhere really, really hot and get really sweaty, your hands go soft, and that completely changes your sound. Your fingers tend to sort of sink into the strings, almost. And there's nothing you can do about that, it's the temperature of the place.

That's why I prefer to play in places that are a little bit colder. Also, that maintains your treble output, and the attack is more even, the fingers stay hard and solid. Very big difference: It's like someone put a muffler over your speakers. So, you just have to add more top-end to try and compensate, but there's not a lot you can do.

With the blisters, have you tried putting stuff on to harden them?

Yeah [dismissively], tried that. Doesn't work. I tried that Nu Skin stuff, when I've had a blister that's come open, when you're through to the skin underneath, that's really sore. But once you get out playing, get the adrenaline going, you tend to be alright anyway. It hurts a bit, but sometimes the pain—you just grit your teeth and get on with it. Weird.

Source: Interview: Steve Harris on Iron Maiden's Foundation | Bacon's Archive
 
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#30
I'd go with "MOLE SKIN" (found at any Walmart/CVS/Amazon, etc). The adhesive on them is pretty strong. Ya could stack those Mole skins on top of one another like the rip-away face-shields the race-car drivers use.
 
#31
I posted a thread like this a few weeks ago and a bunch of people told me I was "playing too hard" or that I needed to "switch to flats." So, keep in mind the forum you're on.

In my experience - super glue is more durable than NewSkin. One good application will last through a 3-set gig. It's a little thicker and hardier. But - it creates an artificial surface on your fingertips that you will be able to feel perceptibly and you'll even hear a frictional noise through the amp that sounds new to you. It can be a little offputting. I use IEMs, so it might be worse in that situation.

NewSkin you might have to reapply after each set and it won't provide as much protection even when on - but it does work and it's smoother on your skin as well.
 
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#33
conmasterx said:
So I had a pretty intense blister on my index finger from last week (very very long day in the studio), and although the blister had healed, the skin never reattatched itself and tonight it ended up coming off. I now have most of the raw skin exposed below it. I need a replacement quickly, as coming up will be my bands last rehersal before a pretty large gig and I've got about a week and a half to sort this problem out.

I've seen talks of using tape or superglue as a temporary fix, but I'm not sure on specifically which products I should be using. The only tape I have is packaging tape which has no chance of staying stuck on, and I have some superglue but its resin based and dries brittle.

I dont particularly care about the pain or discomfort, but I need something that'll prevent me from causing further damage whilst allowing me to play properly. Any suggestions are welcome, but specific product recommendations would help a lot
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Super Glue! It worked for Flea back in the day! ;)

Have you tried that liquid skin stuff they have for cuts?
 
#34
Smooth_bass88 said:
When my callouses soften or I experience an injury, I simply resort to playing with a pick. I make it a point to periodically practice using a pick and I make it a point to play at least a few songs when playing live using a pick. Good luck.
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If you have any ability at all with a pick, I second this. It got me through similar situations back when I still primarily played fingerstyle. If you want to maintain a finger-ish sound, I suggest these:

Steve Clayton USA | Phat-Tone Guitar Picks

MF/GC appears to have them in stock, and probably ships quickly enough if you’re in North America.

I’ve heard leather and felt picks also sound finger-ish, and other rubber picks might exist, but I have no experience with those.
 
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#36
take up the tuba! ha ha just kidding.
i kinda agree with what Steve Harris said, play through the pain for a day and they will come back extra hard. when i had a gig playing upright every night my fingers looked like steel bananas. change fingers or modify the angle a little bit when it gets too tender.
 
#38
Thumpin6string said:
No, I'd lose. How hard does one have to play to get calluses? I learned a long time ago to play with a light touch and let the amp do the work.
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It's not really possible to use your fingertips to pluck a stringed instrument repeatedly and with enough force to generate a robust note, do that constantly non-stop for a 2 to 4-hour period of time, and not cause some toughening of the skin on your fingertips. Maybe not calluses, but at minimum you'll have heightened nerve sensitivity (e.g. soreness) until you kill off those nerves.
 
#39
I nearly cut off the tip of my left index finger the day before I played my first gig.

Luckily my fingernail got in the way and stopped that from happening.

I should have gotten stitches, but I just wore a tightly wrapped band aid for that gig and I survived.

I was afraid I was going to bleed out that night. I wish I'd known about the superglue trick back then!
 
#40
Altitude said:
It's not really possible to use your fingertips to pluck a stringed instrument repeatedly and with enough force to generate a robust note, do that constantly non-stop for a 2 to 4-hour period of time, and not cause some toughening of the skin on your fingertips. Maybe not calluses, but at minimum you'll have heightened nerve sensitivity (e.g. soreness) until you kill off those nerves.
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Been doing it for 50 years with no problem. No calluses, no nerve pain and no other issues. Guess I'm SUPER BASSIST, the man with the iron hands.
 

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