Well, tonight i was at a sporting goods store and saw these things laying around. And for 15 bucks at that too! They are advertised in guitar wolrd and all that junk alot, so i decided to give it a shot.

I picked up a "heavey guage" model and tried it out, had to give it alittle hard press, but still ok. light guage was toooooo easy, and med was not as easy, but still my pinky coudl press down more the half it down without a sweat.

I took it home and have been at it for awhile, it can REALLY tell you how much each finger can do, and witch ones need to be used more for a work out.

Good purchase, i would give it 4.5/5 just because to use your finger tips you need to hold it alittle differnt, but still a damn good workout/warmup object to have if your bored in the car/class.

Anyone else used/have one?

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do you think it helps guitar playing??? Im comtemplating buying on off ebay .. ($18US to Aus) .... hmmm get me into it yo!

It helps build strength and stamina for your fingers, and you need both for guitar playing. So yeah, it can only help you.

or give you carpal tunnel syndrome.....

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Just dont over do it!

What i have been doing is every few hours is take it out do 2 presses on each finger and then do "scale patterns" 1-2-4 or 1-3-4 a few times and put it away.

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I've been comtemplating getting one!
I think I may just give one an investment!

I need to shape up my 1-2-4-5's, because I'm an Eastern scale freak, and have Karl Sanders for a role model.

Thanks, dude.

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FYI man, there are only 4 finger spots not 5, so if your looking to do 1-2-4-5's, might not help tooooo much for the stretch. Thats something you would have to do on your guitar.

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why don't you just play guitar?

The great thing about that is, you get a little tune at the same time!


I have only heard bad things about people using those.

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I go to school, can t have my guitar in class.

Plus i cant bring my guitar on road trips either.

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He does have a point dude. But i do agree that if you dont leave the house all that often, then dont get one.

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My guitar teacher basically said when I got one of those that they are ok sometimes, but stick with using your guitar for building strength.

Exactly. Its usefull, yes, but playing guitar is alot better for your playing (if that wasnt obvious from the begining)

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i have a grip master and i totally agree, when i first got it i was like, "man this is sick, i can already feel my fingers unlocking and im building strength", but then i found out a few excercises which are a hell of a lot better and are a lot more effective (for me anyways). i think if you get one you will like it for a while and will take it everywhere (like i did), but then you will notice a level off in the amount of strength you build up and the only way you can get past that level off is to start using other guitar based strength building excercises.

i also think i may have developed mild carpal tunnel syndrome from it, my overall grip on my right hand is not the same as the left, the right hand feels somewhat weaker. i alson sometimes get a tingling sensation in the finders. i dont think its worth the hassel and you may accidently over work the hand and be fucked forever. i was pushing myself with the mentality of no pain no gain...what a fucking dumb idea, i dunno if this carpal thing is gonna go but my gripmaster definately is! i just hope it gets better, althought its hardly serious at the moment. if it gets worse, il check out a doctor

ever tried the powerball?
It's a cool gadget. I use it quite often and I must say that it does wonders on both of my hands. Good warmup tool too and besides it's much fun (not like that pos gripmaster)
Http://www.powerballs.com
Check out the video with the fucked up greek. Fking amazing

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Lol, that guy is nuts. But yeah, Powerball is cool to toy around with.

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omg! Sounds like he is jet at takeoff. I almost felt like calling and ambulance for him. SEZURE!!!

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Yep , past 10.000RPMs that thing makes a cool jet-like noise.

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Any chance you could share?

ive neva used one of those things, i didnt realli think it waz worth buyin 1 coz im at home alot and even if at skool and i feel like exersicin my left hand i just get like a piece of wood or sumfin hard and exercise on that....and im unable to view thay fukin powerball thing, its pissin me off, coz yas said he goes so fast!!

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I find it hard to picture, excercising your fingers on a plank of wood. Great spelling by the way

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lol, its not that hard to do, you just get a plank of wood that is about the same dimensions of a guitar neck and just draw frets on it or make frets if you want, it works well

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that shit doesnt help. dont get it, cuz it'll mess up ur hand.
i suggest practicing

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i think you summed it up perfectly, the people who try to get these things (me included) are lazy and are just trying to get fast as soon as possible and cant be bothered to put in the practice. trust me, if you put in the right practice during your spare time, you wont need these things at all!

Meh , i ordered one. MEdium tension. Just thinking, I practice about 2 hours a day and when im at school can just press down on it a bit make patterns and shit. I see no harm in that, and I won't over do it. For $20 not too bad.

by all means, try it out, but dont say we didnt warn you