I have a friend who took guitar lessons from Albert Bellson many years ago. In a recent email exchange, my friend sent me the following information - I assume the 'narrow bar' he mentions is the nut:
"I just now remembered a tip from Mr. Bellson and immediately thought of you. I never learned the terms for the different parts of the construction of the guitar, however, there is the narrow bar near the tuning pegs end of the guitar that holds the strings in place on their way to the tuning pegs. Mr. Bellson put a large felt ukulele plectrum under the strings immediately after they passed over the bar, to hold the felt plectrum in place. He then saturated the felt with a light grade oil, like sewing machine oil. Before playing the instrument he wiped the rigid guitar pick back and forth over the felt to oil the tip of the pick. I imagine he must have done exactly the same with his mandolin-- his primary instrument. I imagine he would have learned this from his teacher the great Giuseppi Pettine."
"I presume the oiling of the pick is to enable it to glide more smoothly back and forth across the strings. He was so rapid with the plectrum that I'm guessing it would have generated heat. Also, as finger-sweat hastens the deterioration of the strings, I'd guess that the oil would extend the life of the strings, albeit at a different section of the strings."
I've never heard of this practice before. Is this known to any of you?
Jerry Martin
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