Has anyone ever gotten a metal splinter from guitar strings?
I know this sounds weird, but I sware I have gotten small tiny metal splinters in my fingers from playing. At least twice in the last six months.
I believe they are coming from a certain guitar. But I'm not positive.
How about you?
Any string splinters?

Last edited: Apr 12, 2020 22:06:40

Yikes - Never, ever had that happen. DR Pure Blues nickel rounds on everything except for two offsets, D'Addario flats on those.

Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)

The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005), 2025
The Hula Hounds (1996-2000)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)

DeathTide wrote:

Yikes x2! Never had that happen, but I have had these weird, I’ll call them “micro bruises” right on the tip of my fretting first finger. It’s a spot of crazy sensitivity that does actually feel like a splinter. It’s a sharp and deep pain. Luckily they always go away in a day. I think I’m pressing a little hard. Also - what I’m experiencing is mostly only painful on the low strings. I use DR strings.

I get those same exact "micro bruises", too. I only play flatwound strings. I'm thinking that is what he means, because they sure do feel like sharp stings.

_

Hi, I'm Gellert, guitarist for The Fintastics.

https://www.facebook.com/TheFintastics

I get these pains too, mostly the index and middle finger on my fretting hand. At first I thought it was a sliver or something too. It feels like sticking a needle in the tip of your finger. It started about 10 years ago for me when we were gigging and rehearsing a lot. Fortunately, I had good health insurance then. I've been to doctors and hand specialists and I've had tests and x-rays but no real helpful answers. It's interesting, modern medicine seems to be set up to deal with numbness or tingling...but not overly sensitive nerves. The best answer I've had is that the repeated pressure and impact (of fretting) has aggravated/bruised/damaged the nerves in the tips of my fingers. It does seem to be worse on my Jag, maybe the string tension of 12-56 flats? I've tried 11's, it might be a little easier on my fingers but the Jag hates it. It's not as bad on a Strat with 10's. I have been making little fingertip pads out of moleskin and then wrapping with a bandaid. It's a hassle, and does interfere with playing somewhat, but it does help and is definitely better than getting those stabbing pains.

Here is another update. Now it seems as though it is not nerve damage, but rather what is called a Glomus Tumor.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glomus_tumor

This makes more sense because it is only affecting one finger, and finger nerves are in pairs apparently. This is fantastic news if this is what it is because it is treatable!

I have also been doing desensitization exercises on the fingertip and that has been producing some results. Basically I dig on my fingernail where the sore place is until it hurts a little, then leave it alone. Then repeat as often as I think about it.

Sigh. I did get the galaxy guitars fingertip and it works but it is a bit of an adjustment. Also playing chords is weird. I just don’t think they were made for thick surf guitar strings! So I am back to playing awkwardly, dancing around the sensitive spot on that finger.

Daniel Deathtide

Glomus tumors can be treated by excision. Here is a report:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1888624/
Because it is in such a highly innervated part of the body perhaps something less aggressive and more focused than surgical excision might be tried first. The most focused method I've heard of is the Accuray Cyberknife (focused radiation). Maybe even small amounts of alcohol injection could work (for a dermatologist or hand surgeon to do, I'm not suggesting DIY).

Until you mentioned your experience I had heard of glomus tumors only in the carotid artery.

Have you thought of switching to lap guitar or steel guitar? Another possibility is the "You Rock" guitar, where strings are used only for picking and there are no strings on the frets. It looks like a toy but it is not, and it can drive a synthesizer.

Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com

DeathTide wrote:

It is not just guitar playing that is affected, so I would rather take care of it! To be continued...

I agree. Don’t accept a partial solution.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

I hear you. I live in what must be the absolute worst medical community in the United States. These doctors are such a joke! If you can still play, that is great. I reached a point where I couldn’t use my finger for anything. Luckily doing desensitization exercises has helped a lot, but I still feel something in there.

Daniel Deathtide