Removing the ridge from the Y button

**Scabies** · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 72

As you all know there is a ridge on the Y button which is intended to let you know where your fingers are positioned by feel. My problem is that my three middle fingers are blistered and in pain from sliding over this ridge. I've been playing with bandaids on the tips of my fingers, but they roll off as my fingers slide and stick to the keys. I'm sure i'm not the only one, and i'd guess that eventually i'd develop callouses, but I was considering just sanding the ridge off completely.

Since this is not really reversible I thought i'd check here to see if anyone else has tried it or come up with another solution. I see the value in knowing my finger position by feel, and am hesitant to just go for it only to find out I made things 10x more difficult.

**Parna** · Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 169 Location: Sweden

this looks like a hardware question!

here's a tip for you... check the hardware section if anybody have the same problem

**Scabies** · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 72

sorry i'm new here :/

i'll check over there, thanks. If any mods are around i'd appreciate moving this thread over.

**mr.goodbytes** · Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Posts: 19

I got sick of that damn ridge after about five minutes. So I grabbed the nearest set of nail clippers and used the file to carefully file down the ridge. I did it little by little in between songs to see if I had to go any further. In the end I took it completely off. The scratches are not very noticeable from a distance but it is nothing a bit of good sandpaper won't fix

.
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**Cliff** · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 3002 Location: Springfield, IL

You could just switch it to the top or bottom button position, if you don't want the hassle of sanding or damaging the buttons, but then there's the hassle of opening the guitar.
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**alexonfire** · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:34 am Post subject:

i did this to my guitar, and i highly recommend it. i just used a nail file. you dont have to be all the careful. after a couple days of playing, and button will be smoothed from using it, and it will feel just like all the other buttons. after you play more, you'll just know where your hand is, so you wont need the ridge there anyway. and after a while, your fingertips will go back to normal.
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**warlock7735** · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:29 pm Post subject:

I just used a key to whittle down the bump. It's still there, and I can feel it, but it does nothing to irritate me now because it's much less pronounced.

**EvilHerb** · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 93 Location: Vegas

Dude
Dont ruin your guitar .

Get this stuff . I use it to continue playing my "real" guitar when my fingers dry and crack .

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**warlock7735** · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:32 pm Post subject:

GH controllers are made to be expertly customized.

**BriGuy** · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 1894 Location: Boston

I can't stand that damn ridge and I've removed it from all three of my guitars. I consider it training wheels for new players. Much like training wheels, it actually teaches you the wrong way to play from the start and if you continue relying on it, you are doing yourself a disservice. The best way to sense where your fingers are is from muscle memory. Feeling around for a ridge takes precious milliseconds away for a game that relies on precise timing.
If you are confortable doing it, take the guitar appart, remove the button for better access and prevention of collateral damage. File the stupid ridge off and finish with fine sandpaper (look for soft, spongy sandpaper) this makes it really smooth.
While the guitar is apart, consider adding the cardboard backing to the buttons and cleaning the buttons and sleeve area and add some lithium grease to lube them up.
It will save your fingers from some serious bruising and fatigue. And best of all you will be playing like a big boy now. Congradulations!
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**Scabies** · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 72

Well I ended up shaving it off with a razor and it's much better, I played a few hours last night and my fingers feel fine.

**lukecantplay** · Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 835 Location: Salad, Saxet

I used a nail file to rub the ridge off, then a nail buffer to make it smooth.

i found that the main problem for me was the frets between the buttons and sanded them off. it feels a thousand times better (I used 250 sandpaper for all you interrogating nerds)

**blindrob** · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 13

i removed mine as well

**siouxper** · Joined: 17 Sep 2006 Posts: 411

I will probably do this is a while, my fingers don't have blisters or anything yet so I can wait.
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**badreligionfreak** · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:27 pm Post subject:

i'd say try to sand it off