| Author | Message | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 872 Registered: 9-2005 |
Hi gang! I want to share some very valuable information with everyone/anyone who cares. The information pertains to preventing nail breaks. Anyone who cares about this and has had problems with this should listen to what I have to say. As an electric bassist and classical guitarist, I've found nails are essential for good sound and technique. I've tried playing without 'em before, and find it frustrating and difficult -especially on classical guitar, but also on bass. Since discovering and using a product called "super COLLEGEN + (vitamin) C", nail breaks have become very rare. I've been using this product for years, and it's just AWESOME. I buy it at the local health food store; it costs $25 for a 250 tablet container. I have two tablets every morning on an emty stomach (per instructions) and this greatly reduces breaks. The product is produced by a company called NeoCell. You can check out their website: www.neocell.com/ and/or call them toll-free @ 800-346-2922. The recommended dose is 6 per day; but I take only 2 a day, which works fine, and the bottle last me several months. They also have smaller bottles, and also a liquid form -which my other half has been using, 'cause she doesn't like the (size of) the pills. NEXT, I've been using another product for several months which is ALSO incredibly effective... it's cheap, and it's AWESOME. It's called "onymyrrhe" (pronounced "on-e-mer"). I bought it from a company in California called "Fine Fretted Instruments". Their website is: www.finefretted.com This stuff is awesome. A little bottle costs about $25, and I was told it should last about two years. The tiniest drop completely covers my thumbnail and the 3 nails of my playing fingers (I play with all fingers except pinky). The stuff just completes the system... my nails love it. They soak it up, and it makes the nails incredibly hard and durable, almost invulnerable. The claim was that it not only eliminates breaks, but also chipping -and I've certainly found that to be the case. Two disclaimers: (1) that claim was directed at (classical) guitarists (obviously electric bass strings are harder and more chip-inducing); and (2) I'm ALSO using the collegen... I like it to much to give it up -so, since I haven't used the onyemyrre by itself, I'm not in a position to give a scientifically valid testemonial regarding the effects/benefits of JUST/ONLY using onyemyrre. That said, I can tell everyone that these two products are FANTASTIC, and work really great. Before using them, I frequently/periodically experience broken and/or chipped/split nails... and it was a MAJOR bummer. Since using the collegen, breaks became rare, and chips/splits greatly reduced -becoming infrequent. Since adding/using onyemyyre, I simply haven't had ANY breaks or chips, PERIOD. I can't remember the last time I've had a nail problem. This is GREAT. At least for me. One big and irritating problem that is a thing of the past. I strongly recommend BOTH of these great (and cheap) and highly effective products to anyone and everyone who has had nail problems. I tend to think they make an especially great combination because of their complimentary Yin/Yang nature... the collegen is ingested and assimilated internally, while the onyemyrre is applied externally. By the way, the onyemyrre is an extract/derivative of a tree (I think)... it's all-natural. Also, the collegen does NOT work right away... you have to use it for about 3 months before it works its way into the nails that will be "current" for you at that point. So if you try the collegen, keep that in mind. You won't get instant results, but will have to use it as directed (on an empty stomach) for about 2-3 months before you'll begin to notice results. Just to be clear here, I'm not in ANY way affiliated with either of these companies or their products... this isn't some sort of MLM pitch that is motivated by the riches and residuals I'll be raking in if anyone buys this stuff. I get my collegen from the health food store, so the folks at NeoCell wouldn't have a clue who I am, and I've only bought my one bottle of onyemyrre from the guy at FineFretted once, so I'm sure he's forgot my name by now. My only motivation is to share this valuable info with anyone who'll benefit from it. If it helps anyone else here -like it's helped me- then it was worth the time I spent making this post. Take care, all! Mark | ||
| kimberly
Intermediate Member Username: kimberly Post Number: 114 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hi Mark.  Very valuable information indeed, especially as I have rather long nails and breaking and splitting is a big deal. A thought of concern though. One of my 'big fears' is that I break a nail into the 'quick'. Could this be an issue? It seems nails that 'don't break' could conceivably cause greater damage when they do break and as I've experienced, it's only a matter of time til one does. On an aside, I find that my nail breakage most often occurs 'out in the world' rather than on stage. Is this the same or similar with you? Just curious. Nuff for now. ;) Best Regards, Kimberly (who's going to keep an eye on this thread) | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 874 Registered: 9-2005 |
Hi Kimberly. How's your Epic doing? I just got a new MK Signature Deluxe to keep my Europa company... it's awesome. I've also found most of my (prior/previous) nail breaks happen "out in the real world" more often then when I'm playing... although I've had that happen too. When nails are long, you end up smackin' 'em against something, and they break. As far as breaking 'em to "the quick"... I only had a problem like this once... one time years ago (before I was using collegen and onymyrrhe) I had a break and crack that went below the "white part" of the nail into the pink part. It was a real drag. I was careful to not mess it up any more, but I had to wait it out until it got out far enough that I could clip it off below the crack... it took several weeks of waiting. Of course, I think that the longer nails are, the more likely they are to break. Over the years, my stratedgy has evolved towards keeping them at the shortest length that works; for me, it's roughly 3/32nds of an inch of "white" to my nail ends. I file 'em down weekly with an emery board. I find this is perfectly adequate and optimal. In the past, I've grown 'em out as far as a quarter inch of "white"... but this doesn't work any better, they tend to start curling and "catching" the strings, and they're more prone to breaking... so I keep 'em at roughly this length, filing 'em down "religiously" (I hate that term -I'm not superstitious, honest!) once a week, and that works well. And since using the collegen, I've only rarely had breaks; since ALSO using the onymyrrhe, I haven't had ANY breaks, nor even any chips! I LOVE IT!!! If you've had problems with breaks (and/or chips)... try these things... you'll love 'em too!!! THEY WORK! | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1172 Registered: 10-2003 |
I've been fortunate that my nails don't seem to break very often (unlike my wife's, which break if you look them sideways). I clip mine down as far as I can 3 days before a gig. I don't use them on the strings directly, but if they're too short, then I get all kinds of nasty blisters on my fingers from the lack of support on the back (nail) side. Odd. Thanks for post. I'll tell my wife about it. John |
