Pick Choice on Electric Mandolin vs Acoustic

[mandrian]

Hi,

I was wondering on the experience of those out there of those who play both types of mandolin.

I pretty much settled on Wegen 1.5 mm picks for mandolin decades ago. As a relatively recent new player of a solid bodied 5 string electric, I have just kept using the same picks.

Is this the experience of most players or do you tend to use a different pick when playing solid electric versus traditional acoustic?



Both instruments by Dave Farmiloe.

Regards

[Tom Wright]

I had been using 1.0mm Ultex on both but have shifted to lighter, .73mm on acoustic and .60 on electric.

While the stiffer pick yields a darker tone it is too much attack on the electric, and a bit more flex is better for my acoustic when amplified.

[Bill McCall]

I play a lighter pick on electric as well, a Radex .75mm.

[meow-n-dolin]

I have been "breaking in" My El Rey for a few months and have been using the same picks (Wegen and Thiele). I did discover one thing while using other picks: while I like the feel of the more rounded Wegen picks, my technique does not generate enough volume to use on my acoustics -- but on the electric, it's not a problem. So, for now, my go-to pick is a rounded Wegen.

Al

[Jim Bevan]

BC TAD-3R 60s on my acoustics, BC TAD-3R 35s or 40s on my electrics.

[mandroid]

Electric players have an additional discussion forum.
https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/f...ring-Electrics

[Verne Andru]

I use different picks - Jazz III with the 5-string electric and Dunlop .71 mm for acoustics.

[Elliot Luber]

Red Bear or D'Addario caesine on acoustic, D'Andrea Pro Plec on electric.

[JeffD]

Yea I find the electric mandolin's sound is much less sensitive to the type of pick. So while I use a BC TAD60 or a Primetone 1.4 mm, or the like for acoustic, I use any old 1 mm pick for the electric. Right now I have something with a skull on it.

[Nashville]

I find that a Fender medium (.72mm or .73mm) works well on electric mandolin for me. For acoustic mandolin my preferred pick seems to change every so often.

[CES]

OP, that's a nice looking pair of mandolins!

My main acoustic pics are BC CT-55 or TAD-60, but Wegen TF-140 and a Miller pick I've been using a lot of late are close seconds. I used to use just whatever on my Mandobird IV, as long as it was at least 1mm thick, but lately have been using one of the TF-140s that the BCs and Miller have relegated to the pick box. I, too, have trouble getting good volume with rounded picks (like Dawg/Golden Gate rounded), and I've been using a TAD-60-3R I picked up to try on my National RM-1 of late, because volume is no issue there, but I may try some of those out on the 'Bird just for fun...hadn't thought of that until the above post suggesting it. That may also be a good application for the Mike Marshall Apollo pick I have. Like the tone and feel but prefer just a bit more point on my acoustics.

Regardless, I agree that pick choice is less critical on electric, but I still prefer to use those whose feel I prefer.

[Dave Hanson]

I use standard Golden Gate plectrums on all my mandolins.

Dave H

[Jacob]

Not very selective about picks for traditional eight string acoustic, variety of thick picks. Not playing these much these days.
For five string electrics, no pick at all. Bare thumb with well tended nail profile. Melodies from various styles. No chords, rare double stops.