Grateful Dead Music Forum

Anyone use Finger Ease or Fast Fret or something similar? When I was playing a lot I used to use Finger Ease, I still have a can but haven't used it lately.

I always remember at the shows when the lights would go down, the band would come out and start the pre-game ritual. Plugging in, tuning up, finishing the cigarette, Bobby wrestling with the electronic ninjas, Big Steve handing out the setlists (no, wait, scratch that one- wrong band...), the crowd would be roaring. Jerry would always spray his strings down with what I assumed was Finger Ease.

Did it contribute (facilitate?) anything to Jerry's tone or style, or was it just part of the guitarist's toolbox?

Bobby still uses it (check out ten seconds in to this video):

I don't like it.

mk

IMO, nothing magical tone wise. It does interact with fingers and strings and many people like it.

For years I hated it til I was advised to spray it on a clothe then run that over strings, let dry a few seconds.

Now I like it

If you've got corrosive sweat or otherwise gum up strings finger ease will help. I'm lucky to not have those issues.

I actually found it to have the opposite effect - made it harder to play.

mk

I felt that I lost my "grip" on the strings when I used it. Not for me

I've used it randomly, but never on one of my guitars, only on buddies instruments. Some of them swear by it.

When I had the opportunity to pick Bob's guitar up I was really surprised how greased up it was. It was slimy and would slide through my grip if I wasn't squeezing tight enough. It was overdosed on finger Ease for sure.

For me it depends on humidity. Flatwounds can get sticky as I assume most strings do. A little squirt of Finger Ease is nice to have for those moments.

Dozin wrote:For me it depends on humidity.

+1

mk

I never leave home without it!

mkaufman wrote:

Dozin wrote:For me it depends on humidity.

+1

mk

+2

I find it helpful when you're doing a festival and the weather gets real hot and sticky, and you go to slide up to C and get stuck and hit Bb or B instead. When you overuse it, it starts out way too slippery for me and then later turns into paste.

Often I find just getting the first layer of sweat and grime off the neck and string with a slightly damp paper towl works just as well and more reliably.

I spray the stuff on the strings, back of the neck and my hand - then wipe it all down with a cloth. Keeps everything nice and smooth. For me, when there is too much humidity - it goes the wrong way...

back when dinosaurs roamed the earth i played a couple summers at Six Flags in Jackson NJ.

our stage was near a food court with a huge fountain and pine trees. stings would get sticky and i would use the FF the get rid of the gunk.

under normal conditions good strings and a clean instrument is enough.