Maintaining calluses has been a major challenge over the years. String control is proportional to the time spent on the fretboard, and this nifty little gadget helps extend the fingers "playing" time. The Ruff Rider is not meant to replicate a fretboard. Rather, it provides a wound string-texture (and resistance), in a very compact package, to allow the fingers to continue to work against “string resistance,” (thereby maintaining callus), even when working with your regular guitar is impractical. For this, it excels! It’s very unobtrusive, and you can use it just about anywhere; commuting, work, bathroom, bed… The simulated strings really help the fingers maintain callus, and the gripping action also helps develop greater grip-strength. Overall, it’s a terrific little item. Only wish I had it when I first began playing…

I teach guitar and I offer this to students to help build their calluses. Pro's: Good Idea, its simple, quality plastic, small, textered to simulate strings. Cons: for one it shouldn't be $6.00 also the "strings" are way to closed together, I took one and filed down ever other string which made the spacing exactly like a real guitar. Other than that I have no complaints. For those of you who are thinking about buying it it works but only if you use it often.

I take this to work with me or whenever I'm not playing. Just started playing guitar and wanted to be able to practice longer without pain. I dig my fingertips into it and then simulate slides. I've got to where I can make it squeak on slides. One problem I was having was barre chords. I couldn't do more than a couple before my hand got tired. So what I did was turn this thing so that I ran my index finger lengthwise and pushed down as hard as I could for as long as I could while pushing my thumb up just as hard. I never thought I was going to play a Bm but in two weeks I had it going.

Only negative was I thought it could have been little wider.

I first saw and tried this at the NAMM convention a few years back. After playing guitar for 39 years, I needed something that would help my callouses remain in good shape when it gets so busy actual guitar sessions are impossible. The added benefit is that the muscle health in my hands has improved with the use of the callouse builder. This has help me with some arthritis pain. Lightly working the item while driving or on the phone is easy and effective.

It is so simple it would be hard to improve on!!

This was a great gadget for working your fingers. Really works. AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!