Interesting you should mention baby powder in this context. I play Ashbory bass, which is an electric bass not much bigger than a mandolin (18" scale, amazingly enough). It uses silicon rubber strings, and sounds amazingly good, considering it is pretty much of a toy in many regards.
One curious aspect to the strange strings is that they are kind of sticky. I use a billiards product called "Slyde Rite" which is unscented talc in a little cloth pouch. It is vital for playing this instrument. But I've also shown up to play, holding a large baggie of corn starch (instead of the Slyde Rite). One pizza pub owner told me he didn't care how I spent my money, but hide it or I'd get busted.... I told him for what he payed me to play all I could afford was cornstarch. It was a good laugh. Maybe you hadda be there. Topher On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 6:51 AM, Mando Chef<[email protected]> wrote: > > I have what some call the golden touch.... My hands can rust chrome > and stainless steel with a blink of the eye. While at the mandolin > symposium 08, the Brazillian fellas used the nose before every song. > I kept wondering about a possible drug issue, not that i care about > that but it would have explained playing so damn fast and the nose > scratch but they explained they use the oil from there nose to get the > slides in. My hands are constantly sweaty but it seems to me the baby > powder, as in billiards that cone of chalk, would clump or become > wallpaper paste and enhance tackiness not smooth it out... I have > issues of a tacky substance on the neck of my mando from my hands as > it is and creating glue with the powder doesn't seem like a good Idea, > but if it works??? > > All interested in spicy food and the load of beer come on down... > Clyde we have some Rogue brewery stuff too so you can feel at home... > wish we could get some Deschutes Brewery stuff though, I miss my > Mirrorpond Pale Ale and Black Butte Porter, damnit! > > Adam > > On Aug 26, 8:33 pm, ljt <[email protected]> wrote: >> Thanks to the person who suggested nose oil to grease the strings and >> corn starch when its hot and hands are sweaty. I am checking out the >> concept of nose oil (cause it ain't hot here in Hobart right >> now) ...to see what happens, an experiment. Will lodge a report in a >> few days... >> >> <G> >> >> It seems there is a good discussion to be had about acidity and >> alkalinity in hand secretions..but we need a chemist and a dietitian >> at minimum for that. >> >> It might be that one needs to eat more fresh greens and/or have more >> best quality olive oil in our diet to keep those strings singing at >> maximum levels and our health in best shape too. >> ha >> ljt >> >> On Aug 26, 11:42 pm, ljt <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> >> > Got the dictionary out...I sees what you is getting at.... >> > linda >> >> > On Aug 26, 2:16 pm, mistertaterbug <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> > > No, that's "spooge". Not to be confused with "smooge" or "stooge"... >> >> > > Tbug >> >> > > On Aug 24, 8:48 pm, Linda <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> > > > I wonder from time to time about the connection between say hand >> > > > lotion, or other ungents put on the hands and how that in some cases >> > > > can effect string sound and string life. Even maybe certain kinds of >> > > > soap, used to wash hands could have residues that one might want to >> > > > avoid. >> >> > > > At the bluegrass workshop I attended a while back, I noticed the Tater >> > > > used a cloth to wipe off his hands and he kept it in his case for that >> > > > purpose. I asked about it and he said it was to deal with 'hand >> > > > smooge' . >> >> > > > So..another question is what exactly is hand smooge...and ..no jokes >> > > > please!!!!!! <G> >> >> > > > Are these really dumb questions or has anyone run across any kind of >> > > > info about this, or are there some opinions out there in Taterville? >> >> > > > dry cracked hands here >> > > > Linda > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
