Wooden picks
Uiop99
uncommon material.
Currently I'm using a Dunlop 2.0 mm. I don't like picks that 'click'
when you attack the string (like the plastic stubbies). I pick softly. I
like to feel like I'm rubbing the strings rather than plucking them. I
generally prefer mellow to bright. I use 0.14 flatwound strings.
But then I'm also open to different sounds and feels.
So with this in mind what would you recommend?
Also what's the difference between all the types of wood?
george4908
The wood is lignum vitae, which is extremely hard. I was using it
pretty regularly for while, and it sounded somewhat brighter than the
Dunlop 205s I normally use, and but not quite as bright as the Stubby
2.0s I used before. They do wear down a bit faster than either. Not
cheap, but worth trying. What I like best, actually, was the way the
grip part of the pick is dipped in rubber to prevent slipping.
Joey Goldstein
If you want less "click" you'd be better off with standard Fender Extra
Heavy picks or Dunlop nylon (1mm or more) picks, IMO.
--
Joey Goldstein
<http://www.joeygoldstein.com>
<http://homepage.mac.com/josephgoldstein/AudioClips/audio.htm>
joegold AT primus DOT ca
van
I used to love the Black Clayton Jazz picks (1.99mm) because they gave
a very unplucky sound with no click, but then I started to get back
into chops and switched to Dunlop Jazz IIIs.
David J. Littleboy
"Joey Goldstein" <nos...@nowhere.net> wrote:
> If you want less "click" you'd be better off with standard Fender Extra
> Heavy picks or Dunlop nylon (1mm or more) picks, IMO.
Sheesh, it must be a blue moon; someone I respect recommending something I
actually use (Fender Extra Heavy picks).
However, the real reason I use them is that they're replaceable. I don't
have to rethink my picking just because I've lost my last D'Andrea Classic
1.21 mm (to name a pick I happen to have just one of).
--
David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan
Paul K
> Uiop99 wrote:
>> I'm thinking about ordering a couple of picks made of wood or other
>> uncommon material.
>>
>> Currently I'm using a Dunlop 2.0 mm. I don't like picks that 'click'
>> when you attack the string (like the plastic stubbies). I pick softly. I
>> like to feel like I'm rubbing the strings rather than plucking them. I
>> generally prefer mellow to bright. I use 0.14 flatwound strings.
>>
>> But then I'm also open to different sounds and feels.
>>
>> So with this in mind what would you recommend?
>>
>> Also what's the difference between all the types of wood?
>
> If you want less "click" you'd be better off with standard Fender Extra
> Heavy picks or Dunlop nylon (1mm or more) picks, IMO.
>
Last time the topics of picks came up here I ordered a whole bunch of
different ones to see if I'd been missing something. I had been playing the
small dunlop tortex (heavy, pointed tip) for years but I found the D'andrea
vintage pro plec a huge improvement in tone. Much less "click", warmer than
any pick I've ever used. Someone here linked to
http://www.bigcitystrings.com/proplec.htm which sells them for 60cents each:
I'd recommend people check these out if they are looking to try something
better than what the local music store offers.
They also sell all kinds of obscenely priced picks made out wierd stuff (bone,
horn, pearl) and something called Wegen picks that cost up to 25$. I'ts hard
to believe this isn't just hype, but I bet someone here can report on them.
Paul K.
--
http://www.youtube.com/TopologyPaul
http://www.soundclick.com/paulkirk
jseaberry
> Joey Goldstein wrote:
> > Uiop99 wrote:
> >> I'm thinking about ordering a couple of picks made of wood or other
> >> uncommon material.
>
> >> Currently I'm using a Dunlop 2.0 mm. I don't like picks that 'click'
> >> when you attack the string (like the plastic stubbies). I pick softly. I
> >> like to feel like I'm rubbing the strings rather than plucking them. I
> >> generally prefer mellow to bright. I use 0.14 flatwound strings.
>
> >> But then I'm also open to different sounds and feels.
>
> >> So with this in mind what would you recommend?
>
> >> Also what's the difference between all the types of wood?
>
> > If you want less "click" you'd be better off with standard Fender Extra
> > Heavy picks or Dunlop nylon (1mm or more) picks, IMO.
>
> Last time the topics of picks came up here I ordered a whole bunch of
> different ones to see if I'd been missing something. I had been playing the
> small dunlop tortex (heavy, pointed tip) for years but I found the D'andrea
> vintage pro plec a huge improvement in tone. Much less "click", warmer than
> I'd recommend people check these out if they are looking to try something
> better than what the local music store offers.
>
> They also sell all kinds of obscenely priced picks made out wierd stuff (bone,
> horn, pearl) and something called Wegen picks that cost up to 25$. I'ts hard
> to believe this isn't just hype, but I bet someone here can report on them.
>
> Paul K.
>
> --http://www.youtube.com/TopologyPaulhttp://www.soundclick.com/paulkirk
I splurged and bought a Wegen pick, and the sound is very nice and "un-
clicky", but the biggest difference I noticed is that because of the
way they are shaped and grooved, they seem to alleviate a LOT of
tension in your fingers and hand that you did not even know was there.
They are promoted as "the thing" for playing fast and all, but I think
it's probably because your hand seems to be more relaxed once you get
used to them.
Joe Finn
news:gu7f1j$juo$1...@news.motzarella.org...
The "surf pick" is one I really liked. It's available in about the same size
and shape as a Dunlop 3mm stubby. The attack characteristics are very nice.
...joe
--
Visit me on the web www.JoeFinn.net
Des Higgins
The gypsy jazz guitar fraternity swear by them (Wegen picks). They
like anything that you need two hands to pick up and that is at least
2 cm thick.
Keith Freeman
-Keith
Clips, Portable Changes, tips etc.: www.keithfreemantrio.nl
e-mail: info AT keithfreemantrio DOT nl
Des Higgins
> A few months ago I switched to a V-Pick and haven't looked back!
Which one?
They have about 40 kinds with different areas, thickness's and shapes.
Rick Stone
variations of his wooden ones and found Guiacum or Coconut to the be the
smoothest (the grain of ebony makes a noise as it slides over the string).
I started using them because I could get a really fat sound similar to
playing with the thumb (kind of somewhere between the thumb sound and a
plastic pick). There is a price to be paid for that as the pick DOESN'T
move across the string as fast as something line a Jazz III and it does
require more energy expended on the part of the right hand. But the sound
that I've gotten from these is closest to what I hear in my head.
I also like the shape. They are "dished" where the thumb sits and have a
long indentation on the other side for your index finger, so the sit VERY
comfortably in you hand and you RARELY drop them. I slide my pick across my
fingers and tuck it under my pinky when I do certain finger style work or
comp chords with the thumb, and slide it back to my thumb and index finger
when I'm ready to use it again. I can do this in about a beat and a half at
a moderate tempo with these picks and they never fall, plus the unique shape
insures that they ALWAYS are held in the right direction.
The thing with wooden picks is that EVERY single one (of the same wood and
from the same maker) is slightly different depending on what the grain is
doing. So even when you find the brand and the wood you like, you will
STILL have to fiddle around with EVERY one of them! I would keep a bunch of
sandpaper in my case, going from a standard light grit, all the way to 400,
600 and 800 grit (the kind they use for auto body work). ANY
inconsistencies in the surface WILL be audible, so you'll find yourself
buffing them out with the lightest sandpaper frequently. They will also
wear and change as you PLAY them, so this requires maintenance to keep them
sounding good. And of course, after a while you've worn them down past what
you can deal with and have to start the process over again with a new pick.
I tried the John Pearce knockoffs but didn't like them. They were a bit
thinner and the point sharper (I tried sanding and re-shaping them, but
there just wasn't enough wood at the tip to get it right). I just couldn't
get my sound from them.
More recently, I started using the Acrylic picks by Dugain. Same shape, but
MUCH more consistent and they don't wear down nearly as quickly (although I
can see that the 2 I've been using for the last year are showing a bit of
wear). I haven't tried sanding one yet and suspect that I'll need to use a
buffing wheel to really get the smoothness back if I start fooling around
with it.
Hope this helps.
There's a link to Dugain on my website. I know he's changing distributors,
so you may want to ask him where you can currently get these in the US.
Musically Yours,
Rick Stone
email: rick...@rickstone.com
website: http://www.rickstone.com
Visit me on MySpace at: http://www.myspace.com/rickstonemusic
Check out my Electronic Press-Kit online at:
http://www.sonicbids.com/rickstone
Check out my recordings at http://www.cdbaby.com/all/jazzand
Watch my videos on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/jazzand
"Uiop99" <uio...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:gu7f1j$juo$1...@news.motzarella.org...
Keith Freeman
> They have about 40 kinds with different areas, thickness's and shapes.
Medium Rounded.
Uiop99
>
> If you want less "click" you'd be better off with standard Fender Extra
> Heavy picks or Dunlop nylon (1mm or more) picks, IMO.
>
I'll keep my eyes open for the fender extra heavy picks.
The Dunlop nylon picks I used one for some time in the past, but then I
started leaning towards thicker picks, and 1mm is the thickest they
manufacture, afaik.
Uiop99
Thanks for this report.
I've ordered a Dugain Guaiacum pick, along with other, more mundane
picks that local shops don't sell.
>
> There's a link to Dugain on my website. I know he's changing distributors,
> so you may want to ask him where you can currently get these in the US.
>
I'm in Portugal, not in the US. I put my order with this German site:
http://www.plectronic.com/
If anyone knows of online shops that sell picks in/to Europe and have
*very* cheap shipping rates, so that it's worthwhile to only buy some
picks, please advise.
pmfan57
The dark purple 2.0mm Dunlop Delrin's are not clicky at all. I get a
very soft sound from those.
Des Higgins
Nice pick pick! I just bought a couple to try and the medium rounded
works great. I wil try it for a while.
Des
sheetsofsound
> > I'm thinking about ordering a couple of picks made of wood or other
> > uncommon material.
>
> > Currently I'm using a Dunlop 2.0 mm. I don't like picks that 'click'
> > when you attack the string (like the plastic stubbies). I pick softly. I
> > like to feel like I'm rubbing the strings rather than plucking them. I
> > generally prefer mellow to bright. I use 0.14 flatwound strings.
>
> > But then I'm also open to different sounds and feels.
>
> > So with this in mind what would you recommend?
>
> > Also what's the difference between all the types of wood?
>
> If you want less "click" you'd be better off with standard Fender Extra
> Heavy picks or Dunlop nylon (1mm or more) picks, IMO.
>
have less click than the heavies also