I have to post a big public shout-out and thank you to Glenn (Fer428) and his sons. Some background first...
Last year, my own son was involved in a motorcycle accident that shattered his right leg and right arm. Especially the wrist and some of the fingers. They are essentially held together with screws and metal. The leg was so badly damaged that it has left him with a life-time handicap to overcome. James is a good soul and a very strong individual with a million dollar personality. He was a N.Y.City firefighter that I'm deeply proud to say was honored by the NYFD to replace one of the fallen hero's from 9/11 at Engine 6 in Manhattan. He has everything it takes to overcome the obstacles he is now confronted with. He's also an avid guitar player. This where Glenn and his boys come into the story.
James has been unable to play since the accident because he can't hold a pick with the fingers in his right hand. It just hurts like hell when he plays for more than five minutes. I had been beating my brains out trying to think of a way to help him somehow so he can enjoy his guitars again. I got the idea to make him a glove for his injured hand with a slide attached to it. I told him that if he laid the guitar in his lap like a Hawaiian steel guitar, all he'd have to do is move his arm back and forth over the neck from the elbow. Thereby eliminating any need to 'grip' the slide, or to use his wrist, which is what causes him great pain when he plays. I had no idea how to approach creating the 'slide-glove.'
I know that Glenn's son is a luthier/guitar builder, so I contacted him and asked if his son could maybe help me with this project. Glenn took my raw idea and working with his sons, came up with a workable glove. They sent me a slide that has Velcro on one side along with extra Velcro strips which I will sew to the palm of a sports/gym glove so that I can attach the slide to the fingers of the glove. They basically took my raw idea and gave me a design and the parts I could use to make the glove.
From the bottom of my heart... thank you, Glenn, and thank you to both your boys for their time and help. My son is excited to try out his new toy. If it works and he's able to play again -without pain- it will be a little miracle. I have my buddy and drum brother, Glenn and his family to thank for that.
Sorry for long-winded story. Needed to be told. There are some really good and decent people who are members here and I'm honored to call them, my friends...
John
