Here is an exclusive guitar tip from the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan. Players like Stevie Ray bend strings, a lot. It is part of the particular style of music he played. Stevie Ray Vaughan used the largest gauge strings made, at least ones I am familiar with. Gauge size is .013″ to .056″, basically the same size as suspension bridge cable. I am a sissy, I use light gauge strings such as .009″ to .046″ gauge. Bending strings is quite common today, however there is a fairly serious problem that can occur from lots of guitar string bending that is not a guitar problem. It is more of a guitarists health problem.
The problem I want to address is cuts on your fingertips and or separation of the fingernail to the fingertip itself. I have had this problem occur, and more than enough guitar players who bend strings can testify to this problem.
What is the solution? Super Glue. Regardless of whether it is a cut or separation, a drop of super glue solves the problem. One small drop of glue on the cut or in the separation is plenty to let you finish your set or gig. Some players actually put a drop of glue under the nail before a long hi energy set/ gig starts. This is a mandatory tool to keep available, like in your gig bag or tool box.
Ironically super glue was invented and used in the medical field as ‘surgical cement’ for years before it became a house hold product.
Super glue in general can be found almost anywhere. Because guitar players are specialists, there is a company that sells a unique super glue just for guitar players. Stewart-MacDonald sells a specialized super glue for repairing fingertips and other suitable guitar parts. Keep a bottle handy, you will be glad to have it should it become necessary to fix a finger.
I don’t know for sure that Stevie Ray Vaughan was the first guitarist to figure out that super glue was great for this purpose, however, SRV is the only player I know of to have mentioned and discussed how he solved the issue.
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oh yeah, hey I have used superglue successfully on a nail busted below where I can cut it comfortably. It kept it from catching on junk until it could grow out enough to cut. Cool tip, although I think I heard that it is kinda poisonous for bloody cuts. Am I wrong?
Cool story–even here is Honduras!!
When we were talking to Ray Hennig in Austin, he was throughly amazed at what Stevie could get out of those 13 gauge strings! This one was news to me, but makes perfect sense!
I have looked for some information of this topic for the last several hours, Your blog is greatly treasured.