Deger VS Fagerstrom and "Insensitivity"!
Bob Buchanan
Has anybody else out there found the Deger "insensitive". I am of
course referring to the finger sensors/"holes". The couple that I
have tried seemed to be finicky, particularly in the lower hand. I
have been told "hand cream" is the solution, but the thought of
"lathering-up" every time I want to practice with slimy hand cream to
be a bit annoying. Is this the SOP (standard operating procedure) for
the Deger?!?
What about the Fagerstrom? Has anyone out there found the Fagerstom
any better in this regard (i.e. more sensitive and not requiring "hand
cream")? Is the Fagerstrom a more reliable practice instrument?
I'd really appreciate hearing people's experiences and thoughts!
Thanks so much!!
Bob
Ben Ethridge
naturally moist hands (which I don't). Don't know about the Fagerstrom.
The reason I bought the Deger in the first place:
"Everyone loves a pipers pipes except his family,
Who hears the bloody tunes he plays a thousand times a day."
Respectfully,
Ben
"Bob Buchanan" <bb5...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Mike Duell
doesn't take a lot to do the trick.
Mike
bb5...@hotmail.com (Bob Buchanan) wrote in message news:<f30eaa59.01073...@posting.google.com>...
Bob Buchanan
thoughts/insights.
It sounds like pretty much everyone needs to use hand cream to make
their Deger work (now doesn't that sound suggestive...sorry). But
seriously, doesn't this get a wee bit inconvenient and messy?!? Don't
you find it frustrating to be playing a tune, hitting the sensor flush
but to no affect bkz your cream has worn off...so you must stop,
re-lather and begin again?!?
Can't Manfred make these sensors more sensitive?
Is the Fagerstrom as problematic? Is the Fagerstrom a better practice
instrument?
Thanks again to all!
Bob
Roger Bryan Sutton
moist.
As a consequence, notes get "sweated upon", and they tend to stick in
the "on" position.
As embarrassing as it seems, I've resorted to using antiperspirant on my
fingers.
It works for the Deger pipes AND I stay fresh all day!
The only way I can play the things for long periods of time without a
drying out period is on
an airplane. The air must be fairly dry at 30,000ft.
Liza MacCleod
Yes I too have this same problem. It IS frustrating because there
doesn't seem to be consistency. I mean I can pick up the Deger and
start playing just fine and then a few minutes in I realize I am
pressing the sensor a little harder and then nothing...the sensor is
"dead" and I have to pull out the cream.
It would seem like there'd have to be a better way. My friend has a
Fagerstrom and she never complains of such problems. On the other
hand, she doesn't "enjoy" the sound of her instrument as I do the
Deger. Like with much of life I guess there's compromise.
Liza
Ken MacKenzie
>Yes I too have this same problem. It IS frustrating because there
>doesn't seem to be consistency. I mean I can pick up the Deger and
>start playing just fine and then a few minutes in I realize I am
>pressing the sensor a little harder and then nothing...the sensor is
>"dead" and I have to pull out the cream.
In my case, there seems to be a storage factor at work. I find if I
leave the Deger lying on some lacquered surfaces, when I play it the
next day, the contacts on the low hand seem to "stick" and I need to
rub them with a damp cloth. After a bit of experimenting, I have found
a few places where I shouldn't leave it or I'll have problems. OTOH,
if I put a newpaper under it, everthing works fine. If I put a glossy
magazine under it, *sometimes* I'll experience "sticking" notes.
Depends on the magazine. After all this, I assume that I have a mild
form of corrosion going on from outgassing of the finish involved that
reacts badly with my own chemistry.
While I am certainly not qualified to make scientific observattions
here, I dealt with corrosion of electrical components as a regular
part of my trade for many years and as soon as some new miracle
anti-corrosion material came along, another insidious form of the same
problem popped up. The oldest and truest axiom in the field is that
"Rust Never Sleeps."
Another thing that seems to help in my case is to use Dove hand soap.
After trying to figure out why I had trouble on days where I had done
all the things that would normally work, I realized that when I had a
problem, I had washed my hands with my wife's preferred soap instead
of my own. Now, that I've figured out all the tricks, No more trouble.
BTW, any one want to buy a Deger? Let me know in Sept. after I get
back from The Land of The Haggis.
Ken
Brian Spilsbury
wet hands (water) and rubbing it around gives enough contact that I can
practice for hours with my Deger....much longer than I ever could when using
something like vaseline (down Bill). It doesn't seem to clog up the chanter,
either.
-
Best Regards,
Brian Spilsbury, Sales Representative
Coldwell Banker Neumann Real Estate
Guelph 519-821-3600
********************************************
If you are SERIOUS about moving,
You need to call me NOW
"Liza MacCleod" <lza...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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Liza MacCleod
> Instead of hand lotion, I started using Glycerin.
Sounds interesting. When you say "Glycerin" what do you mean exactly
and where would one find it?
Thanks Brian!
Liza
Brian Spilsbury
Glycerine is an alcohol product you can get at any pharmacy or most full
line food stores in the personal care product section. It is dirt cheap
too...$1-2 CAN for 100 mls that will last most of a lifetime at the rate of
1 drop/practice session.
Being water soluble it is easy to clean off the PC if it gets too sticky
over time.
Brian
"Liza MacCleod" <lza...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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Hayword
...
LOL! That's a *great* idea! I too suffer from 'clamy' hands quite often,
esp. in the warm and muggy NC summers (which actually haven't been too bad
this year). I can break into a sweat just sitting around thinking. I've got
to try that trick. Any particluar 'flavor' of antiperspirant seem to work
better than another? I'm an Arrid XX gel man myself. (sorry if that's too
much info for some of you!)
I have had similar problems with the Fagerstrom, even using its
'sensitivity' settings buttons. But usually its problem is being too
sensitive with my sweaty hands. I wonder if the Deger's insensitivity
problems come from having its contacts slightly sunk in and then made
concave, instead of flat across like the Fagerstrom. Anyone care to try
'filling in' the depressions? It would make them feel less hole-like, but
might improve response for those with drier hands.
'word
Roger Bryan Sutton
Frankly, I wouldn't
call my hands "clammy".. but... whatever..
Any antipersirant seems to work well. I don't need no fancy European
smell-um on me... oh wait.. Europeans don't use
antiperspirant/deodorant.. I forgot...
I "talked" to Manfred Deger about this perspiration problem.
Apparently, the switches are
set at the factory (his house) to respond to very very small changes in
resistance. A thin
film of moisture is enough to trigger these switches. Anything that
removes this moisture seems to
fix the problem.. whether it be antiperspirant, a small fan blowing on
your fingers, or the dry air in
an airplane..
See ya'll later..
Bryan
---
--
R. Bryan Sutton
Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305
MrRobotTow
>Frankly, I wouldn't
>call my hands "clammy".. but... whatever..>
Would "worn raw from excessive masturbation" be more accurate for a southern
boy?
>Any antipersirant seems to work well. I don't need no fancy European
>smell-um on me... oh wait.. Europeans don't use
>antiperspirant/deodorant.. >
Your french then? Go shave your armpits boy...
Thats why frenchies love american men so much, because we don't smell like
livestock (well, SOME of us don't, know what I mean there Lainie?)
>I forgot...
>I "talked" to Manfred Deger about this perspiration problem.
Nobody named "Manfred" could possibly understand what you were saying anyway.
Bill
I'm old enough to know better, but young enough to think I just might get away
with it.
http://hometown.aol.com/mrrobottow/
Rick Crews
> concave, instead of flat across like the Fagerstrom. Anyone care to try
> 'filling in' the depressions? It would make them feel less hole-like, but
> might improve response for those with drier hands.
>
> 'word
Hayword,
Interesting you should mention the concave sensors. I find the
problem of contact sensitivity really only a bottom hand issue.
Andthe fingers most affected are the B-C-D fingers...the fingers whose
2nd metacarpals/digits are used. The skin in this area is tighter and
I agree I think the indented sensors allow for less surface contact.
Dry skin does not only affect moisture in hands it affects the
"suppleness" as well. I find that when these particular sensors are
acting up...if I use the fingertips instead, the note almost always
works.
Rick