Brass Thimbles for Musical Washboards—and folks who sew
Dome and recessed thimbles
Brass is harder and denser than aluminum, but softer and less dense than steel. That's why brass generates a higher tone than aluminum, but lower tone than steel. Brass is the metal of choice for washboard musicians playing a vintage brass, zinc, or tin rubbing surface. Nickel-plated brass thimbles resist corrosion. Brass thimbles do not rust.
Brass Thimble History
Brass thimbles first appeared in Europe during the 16th century. Before that time, thimbles were made from iron. The introduction of lighter fabrics allowed intricate sewing techniques using smaller needles. And smaller needles created a demand for light-weight thimbles—made of brass.
Why Choose Brass Thimbles?
If you want thimbles that generate a lower tone than steel; won't gouge ruts as fast as hard steel will into a vintage brass, zinc, or tin rubbing surface; resist corrosion and do not rust, then these thimbles are for you.
Brass thimbles are best for these washboards:
How Many Thimbles do you Need?
The number of thimbles you need for each hand is a personal preference. Most players use 3 thimbles (index, middle and ring fingers). Others add a 4th thimble to their pinky. Many prefer just 2 thimbles (index and middle fingers). Some players use just one thimble (typically index or middle finger). However, many players use 4 thimbles on their fingers, plus a large 5th thimble (typically 18 mm to 20 mm) on their thumb for a "full-house" of 5 thimbles. You can achieve greater musical color with more thimbles than less. But the optimum number of thimbles depends on the musical genre, type of thimble (wood, plastic, metal, horn), your personal playing style, and ultimately—what works best for you.
What is Your Thimble Size?
Download FREE Paper Thimble Gauge
In a Rush? Find Thimble Size Instantly.
1. Measure finger circumference
2. Find thimble size
63/20 61/20 59.5/19 58/19 56.5/18 54/17 52/17 50/16 47/15 46/15 44/14 43/14 41/13 40/13 36/12 33/11
If your finger measures 50 mm, then thimble size is 16 mm (50/16).