Agony and Ecstasy

[anotherfreak]

How's the wear n' tear with the stainless strings on nickel frets?

[mathman]

How's the wear n' tear with the stainless strings on nickel frets?

First worry is the wear and tear on the fingers!

[3of5]

Mathman. Make sure you use coated strings. As Haynie said, try the goofy color coated strings or the elixer strings. I certainly could be wrong, it may not be a nickel (got it right this time) allergy. But, if you use steel strings you will not have gained any information if your problem persists. I don't think the frets are really a problem because you don't touch them much and you certianly don't grind your fingers into them like you do with the strings. Good luck.

[mathman]

I bought a set of 9-42's for the proto and 10-46's for the xt standard in the coated steel strings this evening. Putting them on later. We'll see.

I am really thinking this could be the issue. My left hand has issues on all 5 fingers. I do wrap my thumb around for the low e string. My right hand has issues on thumb, and first two fingers. One small part of the fourth finger and nothing on the pinky. I pick very close to the strings holding the pick with thumb and a combination of the first two fingers. My right hand thumb and two fingers come in contact with the strings alot. I switched to nickel strings on bass about a year ago and nickel on my proto about 6 months ago. The problem has gotten worse during this time.

I'm hoping this is the problem. Hopefully, I'll know soon.

[specialk]

Best of luck to you figuring this out, Kirk!

[gorch]

The world would loose a great guitar player if you couldn't get hand on the problem.

[mathman]

I think I need some of Steve Stevens' boots.... getting deep in here.

After one night of playing steel coated strings and then playing again this morning. I have cautious optimism. They feel better today.

We'll see.

[Steve Haynie]

What kind of plating is on your bridge and tailpiece? How about your tuner buttons?

[mathman]

It's an original kahler that came with the 84 proto II. Not really sure what it is made of. Stock tuners also.

Since it has a locking nut. I use the tuners on the kahler. Don't think they are nickel but I'm not sure.

Anyone know?

[mathman]

Happy days and cautious optimism. My fingertips are healing and looking and feeling better. Some skin is still missing but it is no longer dry and the peeling has almost completely stopped.

[3of5]

Delighted to hear that.

[mathman]

Delighted to hear that.

from page two...

Looks to me like it could be contact dermatitis. You may have a nickle allergy. Many people, predominately women, are allergic to nickle. You can cheaply test this theory by changing to a coated string. Just changing to stainless steel strings may not be sufficient because many stainless alloys have nickle in them. Hope this helps.

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Thanks, but I'm not predominately woman....

I wonder if nickel allergies will become more common with men since more men are wearing jewelry now?

I appreciate you bringing this up in the thread very much. Thank you!

[django49]

One idea IF fret material is a concern. If you have access (and can stand the idea) I believe the USA Parkers all (or mostly) have the stainless frets. If you have not played one, you might be surprised.

[specialk]

Great to hear, mathman! Keep doing whatever it is you're doing.

[mathman]

Well, thought i'd update.

The problems remains. It Is very cyclical. The skin heals then gets hard, then cracks and peels. Very frustrating. I've completely stopped playing to see if that was the problem and i feel that the nickel strings are not the problem which is good. but my fingers shred the skin when i play for more than a minute or two. I still believe it is a contact issue but I am thinking it is related to the macbook pros.

This all seemed to start when my schools received over a hundred new macbook pros and one 15 inch was mine. (about the same time I switched to nickel strings.)

I set up every one of them over the course of a couple months and then used my new one all day and night.

Over the last few weeks i started using a keyboard and mouse rather than using the trackpad and an iPad at night rather than computer. I am seeing improvement. I am going to a new dermatologist tuesday hoping for some better results.

Wish me luck.

[rj2858]

Well the trip to the dermatologist seems like a good idea.

I know as men we tend to go to doctors as a last resort, (I went six weeks with a sore neck, before running into a chiropractor by chance, and accepting his offer of a free exam and x-ray, found out that the really minor car accident I was in, had caused a good case of whiplash), but toadrollers' disertation on gluten allergies really hit home, because I've heard people say that when they began a gluten free diet, their skin never looked better.

Good luck wit' it, I'll bet the Doc will find an easy answer.

edited to add - depending on whta the dermatologist finds, you may want to also find a good naturopath, as there are many remedies available that address the cause, and not just treat the symptom, other than those from "big pharma'.

[mathman]

Thanks, but i've been twice to a dermatoligist already and it hasn't helped. I tried to talk about possible reactions to strings or something but he dismissed it. I hope to have a better conversation with the new one.

[rj2858]

Well, if you don't get a better result, I'd try a naturopath.

One of my neighbors asked me about mine, when it came up in conversation once, went to see her to get tests done, and he found that he was lactose intollerant, and since since going on a gluten and dairy free diet, has gotten rid of whatever it was he originally was looking for an answer to, and in the process has gone from weighing around 270, to around 230 (he's about 6'3").He has recently told me that friends and family have been asking him why he looks so good suddenly.

.

[mathman]

Yea, that is probably my next step. I trying first that which insurance will cover then will try other ideas. I also plan to buy some Apple pectin ala Zen. I know it isn't exactly what he was talking about but eczema is listed as a type of auto-immune disease so hopefully flushing the system may help.

[rj2858]

Don't rule out insurance covering a Naturopath. Mine was covered, when I asked my general practitioner to refer me.

[mathman]

Hate to hear about you guys having problems!!!

I have never used this stuff but it may help when yall's finger tips are giving yall problems

http://rock-tips.com/

Just wanted to give a big hell yeah! Still having problems with this but I probably wouldn't be playing at all if not for this stuff. It's on the tips and I am rocking out right now with some new Amplitube Jimi Hendrix Marshall sims

[mathman]

Update: I am playing guitar without gloves using only skin or rocktips again for the first time in over a year.

I've been playing with gloves and rubber money counting fingertips covers for about a year while learning about eczema. In the course of my investigations I have starting increasing my intake of oils, such borage, flaxseed, vitamin E and increasing my intake of vitamin D both by natural methods and supplements. I've also improved my diet with more "live" foods and better oils such as coconut oils and started taking pro-biotics. I've found out my thyroid production is low and have increased my intake of iodine.

What led to these decisions is that for most of my life I was always outside surfing, skateboarding, or working on our farm. In the last 4-5 years I have not been outside as much as I stopped playing softball and was having my kids do more of the yard work. I also had really reduced my salt intake to deal with high-blood pressure. In researching eczema I've learned that it can be diet related rather than contact dermatitis. I first thought the problem was contact issues but nothing I did make a real difference. The doctors I saw all focused on steroidal creams that had side effects that were detrimental to the problem: thinning skin. Since changing my diet I have slowly and steadily healed and the cycling effects of hardening, peeling, cracking, then healing have nearly completely stopped. Vitamin D deficiency is a problem for many older adults because of lack of exposure to sunlight.

Cautious optimism in effect!

[specialk]

Great news, Kirk! I hope this works into a long term solution for you.