Anyone remove their watch before playing?

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 12 May 2014 12:03 am

I generally remove my wrist watch when playing my pedal steels as it prevents it from getting the watch band scratched and scraped on the C6 strings. Anyone else do this?

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 12 May 2014 1:58 am

I too cannot play in a watch. I have seen many wear one and play with no problems but it just does not work for me.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 12 May 2014 7:05 am

I usually remove my watch also. I just don't like the feel of it on my bar hand.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 12 May 2014 7:34 am

Yup! Played a steel show a year ago, and forgot to take off my watch. When I switched necks, the watch caught on the C6th 10th string, and I dropped my bar on the floor!

(Yeah, I normally take it off.)

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 12 May 2014 8:06 am

The watch doesn't give me too much trouble but the cowboy shirt cuff snaps get caught in the strings every time. I always have to remember to roll my sleeves up.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 12 May 2014 8:12 am

The watch was never a problem for me as I don't think I rest my left arm on my C6th neck (never thought to really examine that). I don't wear a watch at all any more anyway. With my worsening eye site, the display on my Cell phone is much larger and easier to read. The problem I have is with long sleeve western shirts. If I don't roll up the sleeves on my right arm, the snaps get caught on the C6th strings.

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 12 May 2014 8:32 am

What Richard said...I also went to a single neck which helped me with the snagging.

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 12 May 2014 8:44 am

I remove also. Not for playing issues.

It just looks bad when you check your watch during a gig. It was a bad habit of mine.

This was the cure.

h

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 12 May 2014 8:51 am

Howard Parker wrote:I remove also. Not for playing issues.

It just looks bad when you check your watch during a gig. It was a bad habit of mine.

This was the cure.
h

I put my watch between the necks, and can take a sly look at the time without making it obvious.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 12 May 2014 9:18 am

long ago i found that i had to give up wearing any wrist stuff..watch, bracelet, etc.. and also rings. they all seemed to get in the way somehow.

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 12 May 2014 9:46 am

No, but after watching "Mr. Bean" I take it off when I stuff the turkey.

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 12 May 2014 9:55 am

Ken Byng wrote: I put my watch between the necks, and can take a sly look at the time without making it obvious.

Sometimes it's best not to know

h

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 12 May 2014 10:25 am

Never even thought of taking my watch off, don't see how it could get in the way. I do see how some of these heavy watches may slow down your bar hand though.

Peter Freiberger · Post by **Peter Freiberger** » 12 May 2014 12:11 pm

We refer to watch-checking on lame gigs as "The Musician's Salute".

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 12 May 2014 12:17 pm

Peter Freiberger wrote:We refer to watch-checking on lame gigs as "The Musician's Salute".

Oh my!

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 12 May 2014 12:44 pm

I take off my watch but not for the reasons listed above.

Most people seem to wear their watch on the wrist that is not their dominant hand, and I'm no different except that I wear my watch on my right wrist but I'm left handed. I do everything left handed except for playing fretted stringed instruments, be it guitar, steel guitar, mandolin etc., which I do right handed, or in other words my picking hand is my right hand. And having a watch on my right wrist while playing just wouldn't cut it.

I asked Del McCoury when he was here last summer if he was a lefty that played right handed, because he wears his watch on his right hand, or picking/strumming hand. He said the he is indeed a righty. I found that unusual, to be comfortable to wear a watch on your picking hand while playing, along with wearing a watch on your dominant hand to begin with.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 12 May 2014 12:45 pm

duplicate post

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 12 May 2014 3:15 pm

Ken - how are you going to keep time ?????

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 12 May 2014 5:00 pm

Watch? Don't youze guys have cell phones? Whaddaya need a watch for?

I personally won't wear any type of jewelry on my arms or fingers when playing. It just gets in the way - especially for guitar, but it feels like an encumbrance to me when doing anything active.

John Peay · Post by **John Peay** » 12 May 2014 6:03 pm

I'm in Dave's camp as far as not wearing a watch...but I have snagged a string a few rare times with the wedding band on my left hand while pulling the bar back across the strings.

I suppose the irony of removing my wedding ring when I play steel is just too much....

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 12 May 2014 6:47 pm

I don't like wearings rings on my right hand but don't know where y'all put your arm that a watch would bother you.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 12 May 2014 8:49 pm

Never had my watch get snagged in anything before - just leave it where it belongs on my left wrist !

Allan Thompson · Post by **Allan Thompson** » 12 May 2014 11:08 pm

WATCH, you guys have a watch !!!!! ( must be getting too many gigs )

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 12 May 2014 11:51 pm

Allan Thompson wrote:WATCH, you guys have a watch !!!!! ( must be getting too many gigs )

It's about time you got rid that old sundial Allan!!

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 13 May 2014 4:17 am

Ken, not surprised you take that gold diamond encrusted Rolex off, the sheer weight of it would be tiring on a long gig, not to mention the risk of the diamonds scratching the guitars finish.

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Anyone remove their watch before playing?

Anyone remove their watch before playing?

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