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Axis 30th Anniversary

Blisters

dlloyd

dlloyd

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 16, 2004
Messages
1,733
Location
Scotland
After several months of playing on flatwounds, only at home., I restrung my bass with a new set of Power Slinkies yesterday and went off to rehearse with a new band.

My calluses had, I suppose, pretty much faded away into girly-softness and I now have several large blisters on the fingertips of both hands, two being 3/4" long. No big deal, they don't hurt much and I can play on top of them... but having played gigs in the past with blisters and having to patch up the raw skin with superglue in the break, I'd rather they healed without bursting.

Any tips on getting rid of them quickly?
 
Generally, I find you can notice a blister as it's developing. So once it starts developing, keep playing, just make sure you're being gentle. If you keep that up then it'll do a better and quicker job of callusing(sp?) up because it's still in use. Just be careful not to burst em open. Hope that helps.
 
Samingo said:
Generally, I find you can notice a blister as it's developing. So once it starts developing, keep playing, just make sure you're being gentle. If you keep that up then it'll do a better and quicker job of callusing(sp?) up because it's still in use. Just be careful not to burst em open. Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

I agree with Samingo on that one. Well, partly.
The way it works with me: I never got any blisters from playing the electric bass. (There's one exeption to that statement. When I started - wrongfully - trying to pop the G-string with my right index finger I developed a small water blister).
What I do is the following. I have my action very low, and play very gently.

But then I started playing upright bass. Talking about blisters? Hell yeah ! Talking about playing over the blisters? Forget it !

My advice: play gently all the time (it will allow more dynamics in your playing).

Take Care

JVA
 
Whatever you do don't try putting anything on your fingers, ive found it doesn't work.... at all.
 
I had that problem a lot when playing roundwounds in a pop-punk band. Never got blisters on my fret hand, just on my right hand index & middle finger(s). This would happen whenever we'd take a month or so off and I wouldn't play much, if at all.

I used to take a sewing needle, or the thinnest needle I could find and make a small hole as close to the edge of the blister as I could get and drain it out. I'd let it rest a day or so (when possible) and then resume playing, albeit more gently.

Usually the skin would dry out and shrink back up, forming a semi-callous, and would suffice. Playing hard right after you drain it though usually screws it up, as the skin slides around and stretches out and then eventually comes off.

No problem playing 3 1 hour sets with flatwounds, though!
 
dlloyd said:
Any tips on getting rid of them quickly?
Click to expand...

Pop the blister, drain, carefully remove dead skin,
keep dry and provide plenty of air exposure - don't
use bandages. Most importantly, keep clean so it
don't get infected.

Until it heals, use a PICK :eek:
. . also a preventative measure ;)
 
Back when I played rounds we have an original song that takes lots of sliding fast.

Lick your finger on the rests. Nothing will fix blisters that need to be calouses.

Best advice is go back to flats as Bovine said.


Now pray tell why did you go back to rounds?

The only choice I see is keep hacking the rounds even with the blisters. Let them do what they do and play on.

Sorta like a 5 hour gig with an twelve pound bass slung. Ya know?


tk
 
I played a long Xmas gig a few years back after going insane and stringing my beloved black sapphire Bongo with DR Fat Beams.

Afterwards, the only solution was to get slap effin drunk.
 
If your playing rounds you should get really drunk before the gig IMHO. It won't hurt none at all.


tk
 
paz117 said:
Whatever you do don't try putting anything on your fingers, ive found it doesn't work.... at all.
Click to expand...
pfft...be a man,pop it open and take the plunge into the world of metho...
 
The blisters on my right hand fingers have pretty much gone, but there's still an angry looking one on my left hand ring finger... definitely from sliding.

I don't really do the "playing gently" thing.

I'm thinking I'll go back to the flats, but I need something a bit brighter than the La Bellas I had on there... Rotosound Monels?
 
dlloyd said:
I don't really do the "playing gently" thing.
Click to expand...

I've been working real hard lately on lightening up my my touch. It seems I can actually play faster and more complicated stuff the lighter my touch is. It feels like the tone is usually truer and I can get more dynamics when I do honk on it. :cool:
 
I usually ease off the playing for a day or so and let them harden - then just go back to it. Sometimes it works sometimes not - but at least they are not as bad as using gut strings on a double bass - use to shred my finger regular......
 
Along with my EB strings I also use TI superalloys. I find them very smooth and kind on the fingertips for a roundwound.

I never got blisters before though, you must be throttling that bass :)

I second the benefits of a lighter touch in general.
 
alansan said:
Along with my EB strings I also use TI superalloys. I find them very smooth and kind on the fingertips for a roundwound.

I never got blisters before though, you must be throttling that bass :)

I second the benefits of a lighter touch in general.
Click to expand...
Oh yeah TI Superalloys are great ..... and they encourage the lighter touch too. :D
 
If you choose to pop the blister, remember to STERILIZE the needle first-or a nasty infection may result; that'll keep you off the bass for a few days. Use a lighter and hold the needle in the flame for a few seconds and you're good to go. :)
 
oldbluebassman said:
Don't wear your fingers out Dave, let the amp do the work.
Click to expand...

I've been letting a pick do the work for the last couple of days. Haven't used one for years... I might use one more often in the future.
 
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