George Benson's Secret Weapon

[Easy2grasp]

Some of you know that I won an online auction and now am the curator of George Benson's 1998 Mortoro Starling (II Storno). I was wondering about this razor bump treatment jar i found in the case pocket. I presume that George probably did not use this guitar for performances very often, and thus would not be concerned about shaving irritations visible on his head or neck. That leads me to believe that the reason this was with the guitar is this is his secret weapon for speed and articulation. I haven't had time to try it yet. I am trying to decide if it is applied to the fretboard as a conditioner or if he rubbed it on his fingers to reduce friction. The salve has a waxy consistency and I think I just might be on to something even if it doesn't quite match my skin tones.

Does anyone else use a special fretboard conditioner or some kind of hand treatment? My teacher once told me he occasionally has used WD40 on his hands if they feel like they could use something. But I don't care for the smell. The razor bump treatment doesn't smell too bad, though, just a little medicinal. Not sure I want to experiment on the Mortoro, though. Maybe I should borrow someone else's guitar or drop by Sam Ash.

[docbop]

George needed the double strength guess its from all that great playing.

[Easy2grasp]

So if George is a right handed player, I would expect him to pick up the jar with his right hand. That means he discovered the secret weapon by accident when he had residue of it on his left hand one day. It is sort of a Spiderman story/theory, but you have to agree George Benson could be a great Hollywood action hero, keeping bad music at bay with his incredible chops.

[princeplanet]

Hmm, interesting.... but how can we know for sure that he used it on his hands or even on his guitar? And, can you be sure no one else put it there?
I'm gonna get me a can o' that whoop ass so I can sound just like George!

[EGad]

I believe the stuff in the jar has no relationship to the guitar. It is a personal grooming product for folliculitis from shaving, a condition which affects primarily African-American males. This might be akin to throwing your toothbrush in the case so you can brush your teeth before the gig.

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[docbop]

This might be akin to throwing your toothbrush in the case so you can brush your teeth before the gig.

Don't use the toothbrush in my guitar case it's been cleaning fret gunk for years as well as bridges and nuts.

[EGad]

Don't use the toothbrush in my guitar case it's been cleaning fret gunk for years as well as bridges and nuts.

Saw that one coming. Hahaha

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[Donnie]

I use flax seed oil on the fret board before putting on fresh strings, but nothing on my fingers. I was sitting in on a gig once and the lady playing bass, asked me to play her bass while she played guitar and sang on a tune. Little did I know she always sprayed a LARGE amount of "finger ease" on the neck during set up, plus she used that pink stuff some people use when they are rapidly going through paper files. It's a good thing that bass wasn't one of those Steinberger "headless" bass's, the head stock was the only thing that kept my left hand from sliding off the neck!

[Greentone]

+1 Egad

If you looked in Johnny Smith's case pocket you'd have found a small revolver. He never used it as a slide. It was to get to the parking lot and his car in rougher venues.

[neatomic]

I use flax seed oil on the fret board before putting on fresh strings, but nothing on my fingers.

yeah flax seed oil is linseed...fine arts supplies!.. any food grade flax will nourish the fretboard, and if used sparingly and allowed to dry thoroughly will leave no sticky residue...



the other good food grade polymerizing oil is- walnut....

with time they form a protective coating on top of the wood rather than just being soaked in

what the old master violin makers (and painters!) used..they had no synthetics

cheers

[neatomic]

+1 Egad

If you looked in Johnny Smith's case pocket you'd have found a small revolver. He never used it as a slide. It was to get to the parking lot and his car in rougher venues.

hah..exactly..johnny s had a nice guy "smooth" guitar style image, but he was "wisened"..wwII vet, pilot, club playin musician in nyc, business owner, designer, lost his wife early on, hard drinkin, hung with django, les paul..etc etc

what made him great

cheers

[Sam Sherry]

I believe the stuff in the jar has no relationship to the guitar. It is a personal grooming product for folliculitis from shaving, a condition which affects primarily African-American males.

"Occam's Razor" at work there.

Pun intended.

If you looked in Johnny Smith's case pocket you'd have found a small revolver. He never used it as a slide. It was to get to the parking lot and his car in rougher venues.

In which JS says, "I got yer Occam's Razor right over here."

Just picture how that would work for me. There I am, surrounded by hoodlums, calmly placing my case on the dusty lot, unfastening the six Gibson case-latches, lifting the guitar, opening the pocket and brangin' the heat.

Something's wrong with that picture. I just can't put my finger on what . . .

[john_a]

Don't use the toothbrush in my guitar case ....

I've been using an electric toothbrush, but might be looking for an acoustic !
<insert toothy grin here>
John

[LtKojak]

I was wondering about this razor bump treatment jar i found in the case pocket. I presume that George probably did not use this guitar for performances very often, and thus would not be concerned about shaving irritations visible on his head or neck. That leads me to believe that the reason this was with the guitar is this is his secret weapon for speed and articulation

Fervid imagination, haven't we...?

[EGad]

I've been using an electric toothbrush, but might be looking for an acoustic !
<insert toothy grin here>
John

Very funny! Acoustic Toothbrush - sounds like a band from the 60s. Hahaha

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[Doctor Jeff]

Don't use the toothbrush in my guitar case it's been cleaning fret gunk for years as well as bridges and nuts.

If you've been cleaning your nuts with it, I definitely won't put it anywhere near my mouth. Don't fret...



Re' Benson, he is such a cool guy, and very colorful in his interviews. He was talking about giving a clinic in South Africa, and some local guitarist was showing off and cleaning Benson's clock so to speak, so George laughed and said, "I had to break out my special sauce and show him who was boss."

That's it. You got George's special sauce.

[EGad]

If you've been cleaning your nuts with it, I definitely won't put it anywhere near my mouth.

I'm glad someone finally went there. I didn't do it because I thought I should preserve the dignity of the forum but now that this door has been opened, I feel a new sense of freedom. Hahaha

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[whiskey02]

I believe the stuff in the jar has no relationship to the guitar. It is a personal grooming product for folliculitis from shaving, a condition which affects primarily African-American males. This might be akin to throwing your toothbrush in the case so you can brush your teeth before the gig.

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Yeah, I've read something about black guys having more skin issues from shaving. I have noticed in stores that next to the hair care products for African Americans there will be several shaving products for "bumps, ingrown hairs" etc. I would use it, just not on my guitar.

[feet]

seems an odd thing to carry around in a guitar case, unless it had a practical application, and not just there to prevent bumps and burn. i doubt he'd want it on his hands just before, during or after playing and it seems unlikely he was touching up his face in between songs. maybe it made the pick easier to hold on to?