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Topic: Should I quit licking my fingers? |
Bill Moore
From:
Manchester, Michigan
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 10:46 am |
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| For a long time, I've licked my pick fingers and thumb, to help keep the picks on tight. It works, and I never thought much about it. I've noticed several times recently that I've came down with a cold a few days after a gig. Seems like the cold will hit about Tuesday after a Saturday gig. My wife blames it on me licking my fingers after being in contact with germs at a gig. Anyone else observe something like this? The wife suggested using hand sanitizer just before I play. What do you think? |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 11:06 am
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Keep licking!  |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 11:13 am
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Bill, expecting your wife to be full of beans, I looked up the time from exposure to onset of symptoms of the cold.
Oops. Approximately 48 hours, so you'd start developing symptoms after you go to bed Monday night.
You could wash your hands before you lick them, as washing isn't as harsh as jellied Everclear (that's what hand sanitizer is) and is as effective.
I paint the insides of my picks with clear nail polish.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 11:53 am
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| Plumbers have a rule against it. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 12:01 pm
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Touching your hands to your mouth, nose, or eyes is one way for germs to enter your body. On your next gig, before you lick your fingers, think about that door knob you just turned to get into (and out of} the men's room. And think about the 50 other guys who just used that door knob. Think about the toilet handle you and the other 50 guys just pushed on. Think about the guitar cords you just handled, that may have been laying on the floor earlier. "Licking fingers" is a bad idea. 
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 12:05 pm
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You can lick yours but don't even think of licking mine.
_________________
Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 12:12 pm
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| what else have you been licking? |
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Edward Rhea
From:
Medford Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 12:53 pm
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I say keep licking them...keeps the bugars off your pics!
_________________
“TONESNOB†|
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John Peay
From:
Cumming, Georgia USA
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 1:41 pm
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| Spit on them instead, like I do! |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 1:52 pm
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Lick your picks but quit picking your nose!  |
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Lee Dassow
From:
Jefferson, Georgia USA
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 2:24 pm
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I do it before I put the picks on. Helps them stay
on. T.L.
_________________
2015 Mullen D-10 Royal Precision 9x8,-1990 BMI S-10 5x5-1972 Silver face Fender pro Reverb amp,-1965 Fender Super Reverb Amp,- 1966 Fender Showman Amp Two 15" JBL speakers,- 2006 65 Fender Twin Reverb reissue Amp,- 1982 Peavey Session 500 amp,-1978 Peavey Session 400,Goodrich Volume Pedals,John Pearse Steel Bars, |
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Bo Borland
From:
South Jersey -
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 2:38 pm
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| Before I lick em , I dip em in my cocktail.. works even better |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 3:44 pm
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Been doing it for years with no apparent problems.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 4:58 pm
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Yep I'm a long time licker 
_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases. |
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Bobby Boggs
From:
Upstate SC.
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 8:16 pm
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| I use hand sanitizer first. Keep it my pack seat. I'm a germ freak. Don't like shaking hands due all the things Doug mentioned. But licking my fingers works for keeping my picks on. Just wash up good first. |
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Richard Alderson
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 8:49 pm Picks
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Sounds like you need some Pro-Picks (and maybe a little Vitamin C), throw away those rock hard Nationals. I won't make any other suggestions.
_________________
Derby SD-10 5x6; GFI S-10 5x5; GFI S-10 5x5; Zum D-10 8x7; Zum D-10 9x9; Fender 400; Fender Rumble 200; Nashville 400; Telonics TCA-500. |
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Sandy Inglis
From:
Christchurch New Zealand
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 8:55 pm
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I notice that most men don't wash their hands after visiting the toilet, so I wash mine and have to use my little finger to open the doors to get back to the Bar.
I always lick my fingers, but am concerned about bugs. I might try hand sanitiser. I could always install a small finger bowl of water to go on my drink-holder attached to my steel, but I'm sure it'll get spilt.
I also notice that I get recurring colds from my Blues Harps and Chromatic. I would think that by now my immune system would be used to all these bugs!
_________________
01'Zumsteel D10 9+9; Sho Bud D10 SuperPro; 6 String Lap Steel (Homemade); Peavey Nashville 1000; Fender Deluxe 85;
1968 Gibson SG; Taylor 710 CE; Encore Tele Copy; Peterson Tuner; HIWATT T40 C 40W/20W Combo |
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Peter den Hartogh
From:
Cape Town, South Africa
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Posted 16 Oct 2014 11:22 pm
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| Get your annual flu injection. |
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Dan Beller-McKenna
From:
Durham, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 17 Oct 2014 2:01 am
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| This is all good food for thought. I often lick the index finger and thumb on my left hand to make them a little tacky and keep the bar from slipping around. Maybe I should start putting some hand sanitizer in my seat... |
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Pete Nicholls
From:
Macon, Georgia, USA
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Posted 17 Oct 2014 5:21 am
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Licking them often builds up your immune system!
_________________
Justice The Judge SD-10, 2007
Justice Pro Lite SD-10, 2011
Quilter Steelaire
Quilter Labs Tone Block 202 Head
Roland Cube 80-XL
American Stratocaster - Yamaha Bass Guitar
1 Fender Telecaster Nashville Edition
Ham Call: N4BHB |
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Erich Meisberger
From:
Vermont, USA
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Posted 17 Oct 2014 5:57 am
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| I just breathe on the picks before putting them on. |
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John Davis
From:
Cambridge, U.K.
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Posted 17 Oct 2014 7:24 am
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 My ol friend Bobby Bowman used to use hairspray have been meaning to try it myself but not got round to it yet.......  |
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Jack Aldrich
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 17 Oct 2014 7:39 am
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Back in 1978, Jeff Newman showed me how to shape my picks so they didn't fall off and didn't hurt. The idea is to have a maximum amount of pick touch a maximum amount of skin. It's hard to describe, but it has worked for me for 35 years or so. You can flip your hand, and the picks won't fall off, but you can easily remove them. It beats licking your fingers, using hairspray, glue, or whatever.
_________________
Jack Aldrich
Carter & ShoBud D10's
D8 & T8 Stringmaster
Rickenbacher B6
3 Resonator guitars
Asher Alan Akaka Special SN 6
Canopus D8 |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 17 Oct 2014 7:44 am
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Try this:
From the makers of Gorilla Snot.
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Jack Ritter
From:
Enid, Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 17 Oct 2014 7:50 am
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Been using a shot of hairspray on finger tips only, let it flash off nearly dry, and then put on the finger picks to where you wear them and get with it. Done this for years and works great for me! They stay on. Jack
_________________
Zum D10 8x5,rev pre-amp, TC M300, Split 12, n-112, IZZY, Hilton vp, Geo L, BJS Hughey, Live Steel |
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