Do you use a thinner pick when you play old ovals than on your more modern mandolins?
Do you use a thinner pick when you play old ovals than on your more modern mandolins?
Silverangel A
Arches F style kit
1913 Gibson A-1
I don't own any modern mandolins. That said, my most common mandolin pick is a Fender extra heavy in celluloid. If I want a brighter sound, I use a Dunlop Delrin 1.14. If I want it brighter yet, occasionally I'll use a Dunlop Delrin .96, but sometimes it might inhibit my technique because it's thinner.
Picks are individual to the player. One man's meat may be another's poison. And a pick that sounds good on one mandolin may not sound as good on another.
Go to your friendly neighborhood music store and buy $5 - $10 worth of different picks and see what suits you and your instruments.
Simple answer to this question is to try out as many as you can until you find one you like, that's how most players do it.
Dave H
Eastman 615 mandola
2011 Weber Bitteroot A5
2012 Weber Bitteroot F5
Eastman MD 915V
Gibson F9
2016 Capek ' Bob ' standard scale tenor banjo
Ibanez Artist 5 string
2001 Paul Shippey oval hole
I tend to use a thinner pick on a more lightly strung mandolin, which my old oval is not. I have my last set of Sam Bush monels on my snakehead and play it with a 1.4 mm pick. My Poe flattop runs J62's, however, and as a result, I drop down to a 1.2 mm and sometimes even a 1.0 mm Wegen.
1924 Gibson A Snakehead
2005 National RM-1
2007 Hester A5
2009 Passernig A5
2015 Black A2-z
2010 Black GBOM
2017 Poe Scout
2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
2018 Vessel TM5
2019 Hogan F5
I actually used a slightly heavier pick when I had my '27 A-jr - it seemed to sound best with a 1.0mm pick so I used a 1.0mm Weber celluloid pick that I had laying around, or a Blue Chip TPR40. When I got my MTO I went back to using a Blue Chip TPR35 (.88mm).
2018 Girouard Concert oval A
2015 JP "Whitechapel" tenor banjo
2018 Frank Tate tenor guitar
1969 Martin 00-18
my Youtube channel
My snake likes a thin but stiff pick with a point. it have a john pearse that sounds great with it -- it didn't particularly like the blue chip jazz pick -- which my Eastman likes. the mandolin itself will tell you what it likes -- so just try different picks and see what sound you like.
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1920 Lyon & Healy bowlback
1923 Gibson A-1 snakehead
1952 Strad-o-lin
1983 Giannini ABSM1 bandolim
2009 Giannini GBSM3 bandolim
2011 Eastman MD305
I often use a Blue Chip TAD-1R 40. My mentor uses either Dunlop or Herco heavy nylon picks on his 1909 A. Another friend uses Tortex .88 on his A-2.
Am not totally satisfied with my Blue Chip on either oval or my octave mandolin. So still searching. Problem is, it's the pick that cuts through the best at a show.
Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Flatiron 1N, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
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I tend to use either a Golden Gate or a Dawg on my A-5. I've found oval holes like the rounded edge less. I've used a Wegen BG 140 on vintage Gibsons to good effect. (Depends on your playing, of course....)
So far it seems to like a 1.2 Wegen dipper. I use 1.8s on my other mandolins.
Silverangel A
Arches F style kit
1913 Gibson A-1
I use a Bluechip TP 50 on my 1920 A-2
Jammin' south of the river
'20 Gibson A-2
Stromberg-Voisinet Tenor Guitar
Penny Whistle
My albums: http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/album.php?u=7616
The heaviest pick I use is a 1mm Wegen, the old Gibson doesn't seem to care, and sounds good with most any pick. I usually use a Dunlop Pro pick at .76, but I mostly use the rounded corner and not the point.
THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!
I have a hundred or so picks accumulated over the decades.When time hangs heavy upon me, I'll grab one of the mandolins and try to pick the pick that brings out the best. Every mando is different, and of course so is every player.
Pick the pick that sounds and plays best for you. Enjoy the process.
Be thankful that you're not looking for a violin bow.
TPR 45 or 50 on my 1921 Gibson A-4. But I like these picks for guitar and my Pava F5 as well.
Wegen 2mm guage works great on all mandolins including old Gibsons. I used it to great effect on a 1915 F4.
I've been in and dropped serious coin in some of the SF Bay areas finest violin shops. I know of which you speak. When it's suggested that you spend 1/3 the cost of the $12,000 cello you just bought your daughter, it's a sobering experience. Went through it again with viola.
Silverangel A
Arches F style kit
1913 Gibson A-1
I use a Dunlop 1.5 mm. It's got tiny raised dots on the broad side to improve grip. Must work because I've had it for four years. I picked it up while visiting the guitjo player from Old Crow, a friend of a friend. He goes through at least one every gig, even though they seem barely used to me. His table was littered with them. Should have grabbed a handful, a lifetime supply.
The spare in my case is a Dunlop 2mm. never use it, but it's there if I ever need it. I like a stiff pick with a bit of flex, and that's a bit too stiff. But it's a really pretty shade of purple.
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!
I can't help but think of Bill Monroe and his comment that he uses whatever pick is around. Wonder what he would think about spending $35 on a Bluechip. Whatever...I do like the 3 I own.
Jammin' south of the river
'20 Gibson A-2
Stromberg-Voisinet Tenor Guitar
Penny Whistle
My albums: http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/album.php?u=7616
346 triangle , in what Fender calls heavy, though I got some with CF Martin's imprint on it , too ,
Or Herco's thumb/flatpick..
Strings, 10-36 P Bronze.. on a Pre Truss rod Gibson A.
My BC is with the CF Mix.
..
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
While I usually like a heavier pick for most mandolins, my '22 or the past teens ovals that I have had don't seem to care and sound good with about any pick. Some sound better because of the material of the pick, not how heavy it is. I use a .71 on my A2 and it sounds great. I have used a heavier pick on occasion, but it really doesn't give me much better sound, the Gibson is warm and deep with most picks and since mine is not a tubby sounding mandolin, it just sounds great with most any pick.
THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!
Fender extra heavies for the last 40 years or so on most everything and also one of those made out of a material that can't be mentioned. It sounds the best on my '22 A-2.
Hughes F-5 #1
Hughes A model #1
1922 Gibson A-2
1958 Gibson A-5
My 1917 A-4 does need a different pick than my other mandolins. This one sounds great on mine and balances the strings:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pickboy-Vin...ss!06066!US!-1
Mark Levesque and Judy Handler
International and Classical Music
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http://www.youtube.com/user/acousticblend
The New American Mandolin Ensemble on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4L...uROoOXFj6GVSg/
I think picks are more the picker than the instruments. I use a 1.5 or heavier, mostly heavier, but when my dad played my mandolin he would not use my pick, he used a very thin one. He got a good sound that I couldn't get with a thin pick.
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