I have to say that when I read it in one article I kinda thought that it was a little exaggerated.. but then I read one about Doyle Bramhall and he said the same of Stevie... then I read one on BB King and he had something to say about that too...

He would get deep ruts and cuts in his finger tips from the string gauge and his hands being as strong as they were. In the Bramhall interview he said something to the effect of him putting something in with the glue so he could play the next night... I wanna say sawdust but I'm not sure... but the glue thing is real.