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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/29/2009 4:56:16 PM
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I have bought many lessons from Happy over the years and he has pretty much always used finger picks. I myself don't really care for them and have been thinking about getting acrylic nails put on a couple of fingers. On the mini lesson out front "Masters Of War" that Happy teaches it seems to me that he has some very nice nails there. My question to happy is did you quit fingerpicks and get acrylic nails put on or did you grow a nice set of nails. Thanks.
Cobalt
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President For Life
Group: Administrators
Last Login: 11/4/2009 5:51:46 PM
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Very observant of you.
I have always preferred using my nails to picks, but I have the kind that break easily. When I perform I usually wear fingerpicks to give me volume and speed, but in quieter situations I don't use them.
A couple of months ago, after more than 40 year of playing, I decided to try acrylic nails. So, I went to the nice Vietnamese lady at the mall and got them done. From what I hear it's not the healthiest thing for your "real" nails, but I've been loving the strength and reliability of the acrylics and will probably keep using them for a while. When I play this weekend, though, I'm going to go for my tried-and-true Acri picks.
Musically yours,
Happy
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Happy Traum
Homespun Tapes
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Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/19/2009 3:38:15 PM
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| Before you go the acrilic route for your nails you might try polish. My nails don't hold up well by themselves to the steel strings, but I found a clear polish that works great. I shape my nails then clean them with polish remover. The last step is to apply a clear coat polish. I use a product call "Hard as Nails". It is very cheap and you can get it at any Walmart or Walgreens stores for about three bucks. A small bottle will last six months to a year. Give it a shot. You might discover an inexpensive cure for brittle nails.. Oh ya, I get funny questions and weird looks all the time. Get used to it..
Warren MayoSioux Falls, SD
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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/21/2009 7:55:01 AM
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Like Warren Mayo, I have used some sort of clear nail polish (a bottle my mother got as a present...). It said on the bottle it made your nails stronger, and it seemed to work.
But nowadays I just try to find a compromise: nails long enough to pick, but short enough so that they don't break. With some practice, you'll find your nails don't have to be all that long to get a good sound.
Something else: can you put on acrylic nails yourself? I remember seeing Harry Sacksioni, a great Dutch guitar player, break a nail during a concert. He just started to chat, tell some funny story, while at the same time glueing on a nail. I assume this was an acrylic nail like Happy's?
Tom
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 12:29:32 PM
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| I've used acrylic nails for years (i, m, a, only - just a good callus on p) and love them! One caution though - when trimming them back to proper length (they grow out with your nails) don't use a nail clipper or you will break them in ways you don't want. You can file them back. I use a little grinding wheel on a drill motor to take them down and then finish off with a file. Rick
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