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Post by arthurp on Dec 3, 2014 10:06:14 GMT
I would want to second brianr2 and recommend a glass file. They are ridiculously expensive to someone like me, who scoffs at my wife's kit and potions, but actually the results seem better and smoother and the file has lasted forever (2 years anyway) and shows no sign of giving up the ghost. I came across the idea on a classical guitar website somewhere. i tend to keep my nails relatively short, and use a combination of flesh and nail, mostly flesh. I read somewhere that both Tarrega and Sorr were "flesh only" men. Sorr was positively rude about using nails. I notice that on this site, there are, quite rightly, often very complimentary comments about the tone that Phil Taylor gets. Interesting to see on this thread, as he shares his secrets, that he is a "flesh" man too. I realise of course that the stuff we play will dictate our approach. Another thing I've noticed that to works for me is this idea of shaping the nails on an angle, as michaelwatts suggests. Again, I first read this in an instruction book I have, Scott Tennants "Pumping Nylon". I don't know that it alters the tone, but then I am a novice, but I believe it has protected my nails, and I don't get as many disasters. Finally, I noticed in Tescos the other month that they had an offer on a Vaseline hand cream that claimed to strengthen nails by up to 50%. I bought some and I must say it seems to have made the nails more pliable, or resilient in some way. I agree with creamburmese that flexibility is a key factor here. Plus it comes in a rather fetching pink tube . Anyway, that's my "fivepenn'orth" for what it's worth.
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Post by andyhowell on Dec 3, 2014 15:55:43 GMT
I've never used harder or acrylics just a combination of nail and flesh. I do find that if the nail gets too long it not only makes the sound a little thinner but it feels uncomfortable as well!
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Andy P
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Post by Andy P on Dec 4, 2014 16:38:21 GMT
Thanks guys, I'm going to get hold of a glass file. It's nail and flesh for me too. Might be worth regularly applying surgical spirit to the ends of the figures to harden the skin up. Pumping Nylon?? Hmm....I can imagine what my friends might say if I told them I was reading that one
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Post by creamburmese on Dec 4, 2014 19:31:32 GMT
Haha. . I can guarantee there's nothing sissy about that book... more like medieval torture for modern guitarists. I currently have the assignment to practice Odair's favorite drill from Pumping Nylon - I can't tell if I"m doing it wrong, but it's certainly doing something - my entire hand feels like it wants to drop off after a couple of minutes....
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007
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Post by 007 on Dec 4, 2014 19:33:45 GMT
When you say that glass nail files are expensive does that mean more than a pound.
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Post by michaelwatts on Dec 8, 2014 20:53:33 GMT
Here's the video alig mentioned Happy to answer any questions you might have1
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007
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Post by 007 on Dec 8, 2014 21:25:29 GMT
Bloody hell I had to buy a new glass file today eight pounds 50p better play like John Williams for that sort of money I have started to use a hand cream which I think makes a difference but you have to remember to put it on everyday Boots do an occasional 2 43 offer www.neutrogena.com/product/hand+cream.do?sortby=ourPicks
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Post by slasher on Dec 10, 2014 12:02:21 GMT
I used to have lots of problems with broken/split nails. For a while I had them coated at a nail bar which worked well but you have to keep going back. When they eventually come off your real nails underneath are shot. A benefit (the benefit?) of old age is that my nails seem to last much longer now. If an edge gets chipped or ragged I smooth down and coat with Sally Hansen Hard As Nails which seems to work for me. I use my thumbnail to pick. I have used a thumbpick in the past but tend to produce an unbalanced sound with too much bass
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Dec 10, 2014 12:16:04 GMT
Glad to see 'Pumping Nylon' getting some mentions here, as I've just ordered it along with new strings (was going to say 'nylons' but thought better of it!). I used to be a nail biter until I started playing acoustic, and have been able to keep my nails at a decent playing level for around 7 years just using cheap emery boards. Occasionally a nail will break by accident, and occasionally I'll stupidly try to 'trim' a nail with my teeth, almost always resulting in about 1/4" coming off Might have a look at these posh glass files, though, as I sometimes find the tone I'm getting (noticeably when playing banjo) is too 'tinny' or 'scratchy', which is probably rough edges...
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Dec 10, 2014 12:21:51 GMT
Found this one on Amazon, but I'm not sure...
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leoroberts
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Post by leoroberts on Dec 10, 2014 12:22:50 GMT
scotch will want one to go with his guitar
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missclarktree
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Post by missclarktree on Dec 10, 2014 18:42:53 GMT
Bloody hell I had to buy a new glass file today eight pounds 50p better play like John Williams for that sort of money You should have got it from a pound shop.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Dec 10, 2014 21:13:31 GMT
Bloody hell I had to buy a new glass file today eight pounds 50p better play like John Williams for that sort of money You should have got it from a pound shop. How much do they cost from there?
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Post by scripsit on Dec 11, 2014 8:36:51 GMT
I'm with those who use a glass nail file. I've been using the same one for about five years now, so the initial expense is worth it.
Be careful of the glass files from cheapy shops and eBay: I got a set of these first and discovered that the rough stuff was glued on to the glass, and not with waterproof glue.
I use a thumbpick, so only have to file three nails (I cut the others short with a normal clipper), and then use one of those four sided cardboard jobbies to smooth the surface as Michael suggests in his video.
I file mine much shorter than classical guitarists, and find that it is usually only about once a year that a normal life accident causes a break in one of the active nails. When I wore them long, I often had disasters. Car doors and drink (not simultaneously) are the main offenders.
Kym
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stringdriventhing
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Post by stringdriventhing on Dec 11, 2014 11:50:00 GMT
I bit my nails until I was about 42, so I have a lot of problems growing them. My thumbnail, ring finger and middle finger are ok, but there's something about the way I hold a pick when strumming that causes my index finger nail to wear down or break. It's usually gone by the time I finish a gig I've never got into using thumbpicks or fingerpicks, so I guess I end up with an uneven sound - nails on some of the strings and flesh on whatever string I pick with me index. I've got a horrible callus on the tip of my index from doing this for years. Might look into a false nail for my index finger at some point. And I might get one of those glass thingies and try to look after them a bit better in future!
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