I have recently started seeing "bass playing gloves" for the neck hand. Has anyone had any experience with these? Are they silly? Amazing? Thoughts?
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Bass playing glove...what's the deal?
- Thread starter BrixMilner
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- glove gloves michael jackson
IME even the best glove is going to mess with the feel, big time.
I've had issues with metal/skin allergies & eczema in the past & used gloves as a last, last, temporary resort.
What I saw on Amazon just now looked kind of cheesy. If I were having hand issues, before trying those, I would try working on my calluses, different stings (lighter / stainless / coated) & cortisone cream (temporarily).
If I wasn't having any hand or skin issues I wouldn't give those gloves a second look.
I've had issues with metal/skin allergies & eczema in the past & used gloves as a last, last, temporary resort.
What I saw on Amazon just now looked kind of cheesy. If I were having hand issues, before trying those, I would try working on my calluses, different stings (lighter / stainless / coated) & cortisone cream (temporarily).
If I wasn't having any hand or skin issues I wouldn't give those gloves a second look.
Geri O
Endorsing Artist, Mike Lull Guitars and Basses
Search for Scott’s Bass Lessons and “why I wear a glove on my left hand”. It’s a very real and legitimate nerve ending issue that the glove helps alleviate when he’s playing.
That’s the short version. And I don’t think Scott’s glove is just any glove.
That’s the short version. And I don’t think Scott’s glove is just any glove.
I’m in glove for the first time
I wonder if the product the OP is seeing is due to people seeing Scott's glove and not knowing it's for a medical reason. They just think it's some magic voodoo that makes your playing better somehow. I can't think why anyone who didn't have Scott's particular neurological situation would wear a glove. Other than for fashion, I guess, or a cold-weather outdoor gig.
That's my guess.
Some enterprising soul spotted Scott's 1.15 million subscribers, 30 cent gloves from Ali-Ex and the chance to make a killing
I developed a sweating problem a few years ago. I tried the musician’s glove to help deal with it. I’ve used them on my left hand for 4-5 years now.
I get consistent feel…no “sticking” during flair ups. Best thing is my strings (I like ‘em bright and clean) last many months instead of weeks. The slight compression helps with the severe arthritis in my hands as well.
I use them when playing bass at church and gigs. I don’t at home or when playing guitar.
l will likely use these gloves the rest of my life. They last me a long time, so I probably have enough too last that long.
I get consistent feel…no “sticking” during flair ups. Best thing is my strings (I like ‘em bright and clean) last many months instead of weeks. The slight compression helps with the severe arthritis in my hands as well.
I use them when playing bass at church and gigs. I don’t at home or when playing guitar.
l will likely use these gloves the rest of my life. They last me a long time, so I probably have enough too last that long.
Scott Devine has focal dystonia and that's why he wears gloves on either the right or the left hands or even both at times. That doesn't add or change how he plays, it just makes it easier for him to play since the gloves are acting has a barrier between the tip of the fingers and the nerves and therefore dont send badly interpreted signals to the brain from the hands nervous system.
Another one amazing bass player with the same issue is Victor Wooten but he doesn't use gloves, might at a different level in is case, not sure...
Another one amazing bass player with the same issue is Victor Wooten but he doesn't use gloves, might at a different level in is case, not sure...
My thoughts exactly. People see Scott wearing a glove and think it's just a cool thing they can emulate.
I ordered a pair of gloves for the occasional outdoor gig with a bit lower than desired temperatures. Especially those shows where the sun goes down. Here in New England in late September into October, it can go from 60 to 40 degrees quite quickly. Add in some wind and mist, those cold hands start to impede my performance. I lose a lot of dexterity, speed, and articulation when my digits get a bit too cold. The glove on my left hand (fretting) I hardly notice. The glove on my right, it took a little bit of practice, but is much more manageable than a frigid, white-knuckled set of plucking fingers.
That's just you. Unlike you I wear gloves now about 50% of the time because I like them and they HELP with neck mobility, articulation and tone.
I got interested in gloves, of course based on seeing Scott Devine. But in my experimentation I found some real advantages. Sliding up and down the neck is easy as the friction is reduced on both the strings and back of the neck. The feel on the strings is different, granted, but I quickly became adapted to spacing on the left hand. The glove on the left hand warms up the sound slightly, but not so much that it changes the overall tone. A glove on the right warms up the tone even more. Because the material is more slippery than skin, it allows you to dig the plucking fingers in more if needed and increases the dynamic range. But because it doesn't have the grippiness of bare fingers, the articulation is a little softer.
Gloves aren't just for folks like Scott Devine who use them (one) for medical purposes (focal dystonia) but for the reasons stated above. Just ask Etienne Mbappe.
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To each their own, but silicone spray also reduces drag and isn’t visible. I think part of the decision here is image. And nothing wrong with that. It’s show biz.
