First though I want to thank all who participated yesterday. Great stuff. I plan to follow up on the music/emotion theme tomorrow, and let you know what’s so moved me as well. But I thought we’d do something a little different today before going back to that stuff.
I do wish to say, astutzmann, that your brother is in our thoughts and prayers.
Okay. I’m getting hungry. What shall I have? Hmmmmm….. I’m feeling like a good gyro. Cucumber salad on the side. Watermelon. Ginger beer. Anybody want to join me? I’m buying today! Yes, you can buy me a Stella or a Pilsner Urquell. I may be a moron, but I’m not totally stupid!!!
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Do we have a doctor in the house? I have a guitar-related medical problem and I am in search of a solution.
About two years ago, I got me my first G&L bass guitar. I’m not a bass player, mind you (and I hardly qualify as a guitar player) but I know quality and on the recommendation of several G&L enthusiasts – most notably our friend ///Brock – I bid on and won a first-style SB-2 in rare Bahama Blue. It looks black, until you see it next to a black instrument. It is an incredible, woody, thumping tone machine. Love these MFD singles.
Anyhow, I started to teach myself a little bass, mostly by playing along with some of my favorite “Classic Rock” CDs. Lo and behold, after not too many hours of playing, I developed this!

Yep, right there on the business surface of my third finger, I developed there a round, raised painful sort of lesion, that sports a nasty-looking cratered middle. To make a long story short, I can no longer comfortably use my (third) finger to try to learn bass, and I’m wondering what the hell this is and whether it’s just something I’m going to have to live with for the rest of my life.
Should I go to a doctor and have the damn thing excised (it’s been there nearly two years without changing much if at all)? Do I need to develop an alternate technique if I am to continue to explore the low end? Should I go to a pick, and if so, should it be a hard plastic plectrum, or one of these softer felt-like spongy things? Anybody out there care to help me out here? Anyone have a similar experience?
I am also seeking your stories of either medical issues that you developed from playing, and/or stories about medical conditions you have experienced that made it difficult or impossible for you to play. How did you cope with your situation?
My final question for the day – G&L related – seems easier and more straightforward (to my feeble mind, at least). You have before you your very favorite G&L guitar or bass. What about it – if anything – would you change about it, and why?
That will do for today. Have a great Tuesday! - ed