Blisters - prevention, care, etc.

[Commie Jack]

Hey all,
I haven't seen a personal care thread in a while, and I've got some issues.

As bass players, we play a fairly physically demanding instrument. Digging in to the groove can leave your fingers in pretty rough shape. I have a confession to make: I have not picked up a bass for about 4 months. However, recently, a friend and I found some other cats to jam with, and we decided that I would do best on bass. So I picked up my bass again and we've been jamming out a few times a week lately (jazz/funk jam band).

This has left my plucking hand in shambles. I had almost no calluses left after my 4 month bass-cation and now I'm digging in harder than ever. I've got some pretty nasty blisters on the tips of my fingers.

So, I come to you with this: what are your favorite treatments for blisters and preventions of infections? I'm interested in hearing what bass players around the world do to take care of their most important assets: their hands.

For me, playing frequently is enough to keep limber and keep the calluses built up and comfy. Also, when I'm on a kick of playing lots of jams/shows/etc, I lay off the coffee and drink tea instead. I find that (maybe it's just a mental thing) coffee makes my joints a little stiffer.

That doesn't always happen though. I'm going to jam with the guys again tonight and I don't want the blisters I already have to get really nasty. I was thinking about putting some of that liquid band-aid stuff on my fingers to kind of create a protective shell, allowing the blisters to heal into some nice calluses without too much disturbance.

Go nuts.

[nicatterberry]

I pop them on the side so that the hole will not get bigger when playing. If it gets bad, I use superglue (head it's bad for you, but hey, it works).

[thelowsoundofbass]

Hey all,
I haven't seen a personal care thread in a while, and I've got some issues.

As bass players, we play a fairly physically demanding instrument. Digging in to the groove can leave your fingers in pretty rough shape. I have a confession to make: I have not picked up a bass for about 4 months. However, recently, a friend and I found some other cats to jam with, and we decided that I would do best on bass. So I picked up my bass again and we've been jamming out a few times a week lately (jazz/funk jam band).

This has left my plucking hand in shambles. I had almost no calluses left after my 4 month bass-cation and now I'm digging in harder than ever. I've got some pretty nasty blisters on the tips of my fingers.

So, I come to you with this: what are your favorite treatments for blisters and preventions of infections? I'm interested in hearing what bass players around the world do to take care of their most important assets: their hands.

For me, playing frequently is enough to keep limber and keep the calluses built up and comfy. Also, when I'm on a kick of playing lots of jams/shows/etc, I lay off the coffee and drink tea instead. I find that (maybe it's just a mental thing) coffee makes my joints a little stiffer.

That doesn't always happen though. I'm going to jam with the guys again tonight and I don't want the blisters I already have to get really nasty. I was thinking about putting some of that liquid band-aid stuff on my fingers to kind of create a protective shell, allowing the blisters to heal into some nice calluses without too much disturbance.

Go nuts.


have some superglue on ya

lowsound

[thelowsoundofbass]

I pop them on the side so that the hole will not get bigger when playing. If it gets bad, I use superglue (head it's bad for you, but hey, it works).

superglue was invented as a stich replacement

lowsound

[FunkMetalBass]

I pop them on the side so that the hole will not get bigger when playing. If it gets bad, I use superglue (head it's bad for you, but hey, it works).

I do the same thing, but I put a few layers of new-skin on top and then some superglue. The new-skin is better for your skin, and the superglue dries harder.

[Commie Jack]

I pop them on the side so that the hole will not get bigger when playing. If it gets bad, I use superglue (head it's bad for you, but hey, it works).


Yeah, I've heard superglue works well from many classical guitar players.

I may run out and get superglue and liquid band-aid, put one on my index finger and one of my middle finger and treat tonight's jam as an A/B test. If, so I'll promptly post results. :thumb: *engineering geek*

[FunkMetalBass]

Yeah, I've heard superglue works well from many classical guitar players.

I may run out and get superglue and liquid band-aid, put one on my index finger and one of my middle finger and treat tonight's jam as an A/B test. If, so I'll promptly post results. :thumb: *engineering geek*

I can tell you that new-skin takes about 3 layers to match the strength of super glue.

[nicatterberry]

superglue was invented as a stich replacement

lowsound


Yeah about 60 years ago. Things change.

[metal_bassist88]

i got some at the moment from my gig on the 1st and constant practicing. i just leaving mine. they have shrunk down from their first size and are less painful. if they are too bad though i just pop them.

[Kibuddy]

I usually just play around blisters, or bring a couple picks with me. I have no patience for superglue or bandaids.

[Ian]

Just use a pick until it heals. Playing through the pain or whatever may sound like the macho thing to do, but its not very smart.

[Chris K]

I've never had a blister from playing bass, and yet I work my hands hard enough.

[Son of Magni]

Prevention is the key. Your original post leads right into it. If you want to be a bass player, play bass every day. Problem solved...

[bleeding_fingers]

I had blisters for like a week. I bit them off, and it hurt like hell, so I put soft band-aids on my index and middle finger. Now they're just giant calluses.

[bassistuvdoom731]

Ive never gotten any blisters from playing bass, and the only callouse(that I can see) is the one above my thumb's knuckel (from DTing).