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[Jus Lukin]

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Edited March 14, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[petebassist]

Light masking tape might do the trick, not wrapped round too many times so you keep the feeling for the strings.

[PaulThePlug]

Boots Spray Plaster...

 

[Downunderwonder]

Surgical spirit sounds similar to Meths which used to be the goto for blisters. 

[Killed_by_Death]

 

 

[Downunderwonder]

I wonder how many upright players in all of history took a pick to it.

[Beer of the Bass]

I used to have this problem from time to time, and never did find a completely satisfactory solution. People always talk about surgical spirit or other alcohol, but that's more of a preventative for firming up the skin a little - if you're already blistering it'll just smart and not do anything useful. Carefully applied micropore tape (wrapped right around to avoid the edges peeling) can work in the very short term, but you'll need to reapply between sets and it changes the feel and sound a little. Almost any other tape produces sticky residue at the edges and makes things feel unpleasant very quickly. And be wary of the idea of pricking the blisters and playing on through the pain - I did this at a party years ago, aided by drink, and the next day my hands were so bad that I had to take two weeks off double bass and do the gigs I had booked with electric bass and a pick...

The main thing for me is just to relax a little and not try and push too hard to project if your hands are already suffering. It's better to be a little low in the mix and playing with good feel than to be wincing and missing notes by the end of the set, IMO.  Running the hand under cold water and drying thoroughly between sets always seemed to help too.

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited March 14, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[ezbass]

9 hours ago, Killed_by_Death said:

 

 

Very much this. Get that pick out and dig in until your heart’s content.

 

Edited May 2, 2021 by ezbass

[ezbass]

4 hours ago, Downunderwonder said:

I wonder how many upright players in all of history took a pick to it.

They went all arco on its äss.

Edited May 2, 2021 by ezbass

[Beer of the Bass]

I think bass balalaika players use massive leather plectrums, but I have no idea where you'd find those.

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited March 14, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited March 14, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Beer of the Bass]

Glad it worked out! Harmonica is weird for volume - it's not crazy loud but sits in a frequency range that we pick up easily and where there's rarely much else going on. Especially the higher key diatonics!

Edited May 3, 2021 by Beer of the Bass

[Paddy Morris]

Superglue! Works every time. Recommended by my guitarist friend who is also a GP. Apparently its very commonly used in surgical procedures now.  Or at least an expensive medical version probably.  But I'm talking about Superglue from a corner shop.

Get it on your fingertips and let it set. You might want to do a couple of coats.

It affects your piz tone somewhat. Makes it slightly more clicky,  but you gain a bit in volume too.  You'll probably need to re-do it a few times, maybe between sets.

I played 24 hours of upright bass over a 3 day weekend, by being greedy and over-committing myself.  Superglue got me through it.

[Waddo Soqable]

Superglue is a great dodge 👍...wasn't it originally developed as a combat medic type thing for sticking wounds together ?

[Downunderwonder]

Superglue can be very toxic to susceptible individuals. Cyanoacrylate can send your immune system haywire. Before you you know what's going on you can be destroying your own gut and developing allergies that dog you for life. Not worth the risk if you ask me.

[Dad3353]

3 hours ago, Downunderwonder said:

Superglue can be very toxic to susceptible individuals. Cyanoacrylate can send your immune system haywire. Before you you know what's going on you can be destroying your own gut and developing allergies that dog you for life. Not worth the risk if you ask me.

It's especially nocive if breathed in. Use the stuff in a well-ventilated environment; preferably outdoors, and try very, very hard not to breath in the fumes. 

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited March 14, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[nicholascressotti]

Super glue