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Thread: How to make the perfect round-corned pick

  1. #1

    Default How to make the perfect round-corned pick

    After many years of trying to find the perfect pick, I did an analysis of the optimal dimensions for a round-cornered pick and came up with a very cheap process for making them. I am sharing my notes in case they are helpful to others.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Optimal Pick Dimensions + Manufacturing Process.pdf  

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  3. #2
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to make the perfect round-corned pick



    Very nice.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
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  4. #3
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to make the perfect round-corned pick

    Don’t a lot of players just use the rounded corners (you do get two per pick) of the classic Fender style celluloid pick? Or is that what you are saying?
    Jim

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    Default Re: How to make the perfect round-corned pick

    Do you use diamond file or what to shape it?

    kind of like SRV https://srvarchive.com/picks
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  6. #5

    Default Re: How to make the perfect round-corned pick

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Don’t a lot of players just use the rounded corners (you do get two per pick) of the classic Fender style celluloid pick? Or is that what you are saying?
    Guilty confession - right now i am using the round corner on a Fender medium (not a heavy) and it is working really well. No need to sand a bevel when it's at that thickness.

    i have wanted to post something to this effect for years because I will use Primetone, Golden Gate, the Dawg pick, etc., and they each have their outstanding features, but I keep coming back to cheap guitar picks on the rounded end after an impasse.

    I heard Dan Crary on a guitar instructional video talk about ordering medium picks by the gross and playing on the rounded end. Then I heard Sam Bush on one of the Homespun videos saying that he plays a Fender medium using the rounded corner. I started to feel better about using a cheaper pick. And if my (probably faulty) memory serves me correctly, John McGann (RIP) also used to use a Dunlop tortoise teardrop pick on the rounded end with a somewhat thinnish pick width.

    So I reflected on how I might design the perfect triangle pick - i would take it and sand the corners of at least two ends to make them more rounded. I would leave a a long end (the pointy part) to rest along the side of the thumb for stability and to remind my fingers which end is the rear. And I would include a second a round end on the other side of the first round end so that I would have a spare if the first round corner wore out.

    Chaqu'un a son gout (i.e., use whatever works for you).

  7. #6
    Registered User Mike Buesseler's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to make the perfect round-corned pick

    I must be playing too softly or not often enough. I’ve never worn a pick out, or even down much. Does everyone wear out their picks?

  8. #7

    Default Re: How to make the perfect round-corned pick

    Like a Golden Gate IMHO.

    Dave H
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  10. #8

    Default Re: How to make the perfect round-corned pick

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Buesseler View Post
    I must be playing too softly or not often enough. I’ve never worn a pick out, or even down much. Does everyone wear out their picks?
    That always strikes me as weird, too. I swear I have some picks from the 70's I still use daily. Agree with playing the side of the pick. Sounds better and keeps the point from getting caught between the strings and flying out of your hand.

  11. #9
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to make the perfect round-corned pick

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Buesseler View Post
    I must be playing too softly or not often enough. I’ve never worn a pick out, or even down much. Does everyone wear out their picks?
    I don’t think I ever wore down my mandolin picks but playing old time rhythm guitar I could easily wear down even Ultem picks. However for that I definitely prefer my BCs which after class to a decade never seem to wear much.
    Jim

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  12. #10

    Default Re: How to make the perfect round-corned pick

    I really liked the detailed manufacturing instructions. And as an engineering manager I appreciated the careful verification that the finished product met your specs.

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