[mattwatt]

Because I dont use nails for fingerpicking, i'm wondering how long it'll take to get a calluses on my fingertips. I just want a sharper sound, my fingertips are so soft the sound is just bleh

Tommy Emmanuel only uses his tips too, and he sounds great But ive only ever heard him say that "eventually" a calluses formed But that could mean 5 years

I usally play about an hour each day and have been everyday for the last 8 months, but my right fingertips are still soft..... would it help to stab my fingertips with a needle to toughen them up?

[strangerdanger]

No need to use needles. One hour a day is not enough to toughen them up in such a short span of time.

Get used to the pain, keep playing... and one day they'll come right.

I'm currently adjusting to using my fingernails. It gives me a much sharper sound (good considering I play fingerpicking only and a lot of Tommy's stuff) though I find it hardest to get used to using my thumbnail. I'm so used to using my thumb to get different sounds (sharp twangs to soft thuds) that when I try and do this again with the pad of my thumb my nail gets in the way and I get stuck on the note.

Next up for me is learning to fingerpick with a thumbpick, I figure it will make runs a lot easier as my tremolo picking is non-existent.

[rasav]

Have you thought of maybe switching to a high content bronze phosper string 80/20's or the like (you'll get a much brighter sound.)
Try down tuning to D standard you'll get more oomph and volume
The Shaolin thrust their hands into pots of hot sand for hours on end to develop the hand of death. (Not a reccomendation, just a side note!)

[strangerdanger]

The Shaolin thrust their hands into pots of hot sand for hours on end to develop the hand of death. (Not a reccomendation, just a side note!)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good advice!

[SmoothD]

Have you thought of maybe switching to a high content bronze phosper string 80/20's or the like (you'll get a much brighter sound.)
Try down tuning to D standard you'll get more oomph and volume
The Shaolin thrust their hands into pots of hot sand for hours on end to develop the hand of death. (Not a reccomendation, just a side note!)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's quite a coincidence because that's what I call my hand that frets the guitar!
The hand of death is coming to a guitar near you, hide them, hide them all or he will play them and create a most heinous sound!

Seriously, the advice about changing strings is very well placed! I recently put Elixir Lights on my guitar and even with the hand of death, it sounds so much better!