The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #15742 Message #142709
Posted By: Rick Fielding
30-Nov-99 - 01:29 PM
Thread Name: New Instrument. Hand Problems?
Subject: New Instrument. Hand Problems?
Last night at a Cafe here in Toronto, I was speaking to a friend of mine. He is a superlative writer and player, who for reasons known only to himself has kept an extremely low profile in music. He has just purchased a very glitzy and expensive new guitar, with a much different neck shape than the one he's used for almost 30 years. He talked about experiencing some finger pain. I've had a bit of that myself recently. I used a very thin necked Lowden as my working guitar for about 15 years and never had any problem. When I switched to "Woody" (my 1950 0-18) didn't notice much difference, other than the neck was fatter and I started using more Barre chords and fewer "thumb" chords. No problem though. Recently I've been in love with a 31 year old rosewood dreadnaught (of uncertain parentage, tho probably an early K. Yairi). I'm getting some definite finger pain, and now I'm wondering if others have found that switching instruments has caused grief. New muscles at work....that kind of thing. My friend and I have both gone from VERY thin necks to wider ones.
Any feedback appreciated. Thanks.
Rick