Original Players Sleeve

[agee]

Can anyone tell me where these sleeves can be purchased

[NGiorgio]

Players Sleeve had a website where I ordered a couple a few years ago. The website disappeared quite a few months ago. I don't know where exactly, but they were located in California.

I first found out about the sleeve from an ad in Acoustic Guitar magazine. It may have had a physical address along with the web address. I will see if I can find it in my magazine collection. If so, I will post it here.

A pretty good alternative is to cut the toe off a good athletic sock, or a tube sock. Hem the bottom, which is the part that you just cut off and it won't unravel when you wash it.

[keith]

Nick, I do not know about you but the idea of wearing a sock on my arm seems way to bizarre. Seems to me that if a person has to wear a sock on their arm it is time to go to the Home Depot and get some lacquer (ok maybe the luthier supply house). I still think a thin layer of lacquer rather than french polish is the way to go....no socks, no bizarro guitar body bags...just good old flesh against good old wood/lacquer. I can understand why folks do it but the thought of someone like Sabicas or Nino Ricardo wearing a sock seems......like a nightmare.

[Sandra]

I made a little mickeymouse doodad out of packing foam, covered with chamois, tied the ends in such a way as to make the thing curve inwards. I use this over the edge of the guitar where my right arm rests.

This serves two purposes... There is no contact of bare flesh on the French polish, and (more importantly) it serves as a cushion for the arm so delicate nerves are not being pressed into a hard edge.

I have seen a few "arm rests" that attach that are curved, but they are generally also made of wood and hard.

My solution isn't exactly elegant, but it works. :)

If you are only interested in protecting the finish, then a piece of chamois draped over the edge of the guitar will work just fine. Its suede-like texture will not slide off like slicker materials.

[NGiorgio]

Keith,

When I lived in NY, I almost always played with a long sleeved shirt, sweater, sweatshirt etc. With exception during a few months during summer when I would play in a short sleeved shirt or a T- shirt. In those warmer conditions with short sleeves I sometimes used a cloth or chamois between the upper bout and my arm. They would usually slip around a bit which was annoying. Reason was that my skin would tend to stick to the guitar, regardless of the finish. Found the sticking to be uncomfortable and when I started spending more time in Florida, I needed a better solution. Hence the sock idea. Then I saw the "Players Sleeve" which was a combo of cotton (and some other fabric which I have forgotten) with spandex, so I bought one and it worked great, except after repeated washings, just like anything else, they tend to wear out. You don't feel it (the players sleeve or sock) any more than a shirt sleeve. Just feel more comfortable when I am not sticking to the body of the guitar. Now having one guitar with a french polished top, I am more inclined to use the "protection". Yes, I suppose it would look a bit odd when performing, and on the few occasions when I have an audience, I don't use the sleeve or the sock. I use them for practice only.

The sock idea has been around for a while, and is far from being my idea. These items work well if your skin tends to stick to your guitar and it becomes bothersome. Also, it is a good form of protection for the french polished guitar.

Your mileage may vary .................

[Jubilee Valence]

I don't wear nuthin'........unless like there's people around! That's probably why I belong "here":
:arrow: http://www.superclubs.com/brand_hedonism/ :shock:

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[jmp]

Try Ken Hanson's site...... www.accentonmusic.com
I recently purchased the sleeve from him. It's a worthwhile purchase.

[keith]

Nick: so these sleeves are like guitar condoms? I suspect it is a given that folks use a variety of colors but do some folks use ribbed sleeves? Do folks who have French polished guitars use French tickler sleeves? Are these "guitar condoms" sold only for pleasure or do they prevent the spread of diseases? I hear you though about hot humid weather and sticking. I have found talcum powder works well--especially for the neck of the guitar--for lacquer of course.

[NGiorgio]

jmp has located the Players Sleeve. That's the one agee asked about.

Keith,

I do not have any problem with the neck of the guitar, only with the sticking of my arm to the body of the guitar. When I purchased the Players Sleeve, they were only available in black. The now defunct website said something to the effect that more colors would be available soon. Don't know if that has happened.

Anyway, it's always safer when you use protection .............

[Guitar Slim]

Sheesh, the things people will pay money for!

Keith guitarists wear "arm condoms" :lol: while wearing short sleeves for two reasons: 1) to avoid getting sweat from our forearms all over our guitar and 2) to allow the aforementioned sweaty forearm to slide freely back and forth without sticking because of the aforementioned sweat.

Virtually every guitarists I've ever known has found an old sock with the toe cut out to be sufficient for practicing in private. Why you would pay money for anything else is beyond me. OK, if you're fastidious you can wash the old sock first :wink: . For performing in public, maybe you could use a dress sock. Or, I don't know, just wear long sleeves.

But remember, where French-polished guitars are concerned -- no glove no love!

[agee]

Many Thanks To all the replies to my question

Art