# Blues fingerstyle player Amit Dattani adapts guitar after nerve condition

> Amit Dattani's custom guitar helps him continue playing despite a degenerative nerve condition
- Title: Blues fingerstyle player Amit Dattani adapts guitar after…
- Summary: Amit Dattani's custom guitar helps him continue playing despite a degenerative nerve condition Custom electric guitar enables Dattani to play despite nerve…
- Keywords: amit dattani, wrong kind of one, blues fingerstyle, degenerative nerve condition, custom guitar, hammett guitar co, astro strat, fingerpicking, thumbpick, electric guitar, Blues, fingerstyle
- Source: Guitar World — https://guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/amit-dattani-wrong-kind-of-one
- Published: 2026-09-28T09:48:43+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: amit dattani, wrong kind of one, blues fingerstyle, degenerative nerve condition, custom guitar, hammett guitar co, astro strat, fingerpicking, thumbpick, electric guitar
## Fingerstyle roots
Amit Dattani grew up listening to blues masters like Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy but was inspired by Blind Blake, Mississippi John Hurt and Elizabeth Cotten's fingerstyle techniques.

> Hearing them cover so many bases with their fingers blew my mind wide open
## Nerve condition diagnosis
In 2018, Dattani was diagnosed with a genetic degenerative nerve condition affecting his hands and feet, with a prognosis of two years of playing left.

> The prognosis was I'd have two years of playing left in me before the batteries in my hands ran out
## Custom electric guitar
Dattani collaborated with Hammett Guitar Co to create a custom Astro Strat with lower string tension and flatter angle for his picking hand.

> It has single-handedly helped me carry on playing
## Electric connection
Dattani recorded his album live with drummer Steph Sanders using a Tone King Imperial amp for a stripped-back, energetic sound.

> Stepping into the electric space as a fingerstyle acoustic player has been so fun
## Thumbpick technique
Dattani uses a tiny thumbpick blade that he files down to be an extension of his thumbnail for cleaner, more articulate playing.

> I file it right down so it's more like an extension to my thumbnail
## Album highlights
The album features a semi-improvised take on Just a Closer Walk With Thee and the title track Now I Can Play On, which celebrates his ability to continue playing.

> Now I Can Play On is an ode to my guitar and literally being able to play on
## Guitar journey
Dattani's custom Astro Strat, a hollowbody electric inspired by old Harmony Stratotones, has enabled him to play despite his nerve condition.

> It's a hollowbody electric fashioned after the old Harmony Stratotones
## Key takeaway

Custom electric guitar enables Dattani to play despite nerve condition limiting hand function