Wegen picks

[Matt Hutchinson]

Hi guys,


I use Wegen picks at the moment and alternate between a TF140 and an M150. I like the shape, feel and sound of the M150 but find it a tiny bit on the thick side. The TF I find to be the perfect thickness but slightly too bright for most stuff. Has anyone tried a custom M140 (or anything in between the M100 and M150)?

Just curious.

Cheers,

Matt

[swinginmandolins]

Matt,
I use the TF140's. I thought they were too bright with the speed bevel. I took a fingernail file and rounded the corners and put a standard bevel on it and then rebuffed the edges. Now it's darker and I love the way it pushes through the strings better. Something to try.

[Matt Hutchinson]

Thanks, I might give that a go on one of the TFs. I do like the shape of the M150 better though.....

[Bill Van Liere]

I use a 140 with my BRW, it feels right to me on that particular instrument but a little thick on others. I use from a .76 (octave) .88 (guitar & oval A) 1.0 (Brentrup) to the 140 for Bluegrass. I'll agree with Terry that the 140 is a touch bright though.

[swinginmandolins]

Matt,
Try to shape the 140 like the 150 if that is the shape and feel you like. I shaped mine similar to a Proplec Jazzmando since that was my pic of choice before trying the Wegens.

[JHo]

Michel Wegen can make you any pick(s) you like. I think an M140 would be nice. Another cafe member mentioned recently that he'd had some custom M120s (1.2mm) made to suit his liking. Michel would probably even put together a sampler pack if you asked, something like M picks at 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4.

Oh, and I too have softened the edges on a TF140 (using ScotchBrite No-Scratch), and it made a big tonal improvement IMO.

[JeffD]

Love my 140s!

[MandoBen]

I know it sounds impossible, but I am convinced black wegens are smoother/darker sounding than white wegens
I alternate between a black wegen trimus 2.5mm, dawg pick and a de'andrea pro-plec. I beveled the edges on
the dawg and pro-plec just like a wegen, they are great for a variety of different tones. The dawg w/bevels is
a lot like an M150 mando pick but bigger an easier for me to hold, a little rounder too, great for tremelo. The
pro-plec is a bit brighter and a little more bendy, great for playing fast and loud, it is like a poor man's TF140.

[JHo]

Right on MandoBen, I totally agree. I believe the black and white Wegens are not the same. I much prefer the black ones to the white ones. I don't know if they're denser due to the black coloring agent or what.

[DryBones]

Michel Wegen can make you any pick(s) you like. #I think an M140 would be nice. #Another cafe member mentioned recently that he'd had some custom M120s (1.2mm) made to suit his liking. #Michel would probably even put together a sampler pack if you asked, something like M picks at 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4.

Oh, and I too have softened the edges on a TF140 (using ScotchBrite No-Scratch), and it made a big tonal improvement IMO.

that would be me with the custom M120's in a lefty no less. I am finding that string/pick combinations really varies from mando to mando. I am still liking the M120 but since I went from EXp74's to Firewire strings on my JBovier I am finding I like the M150 more. Probably has soemthing to do with string sizes along with coating differences. I am thinking I should have gone with M130's since I really wanted something in between M100 and M150 so I guess an order is due! BTW, I think I like the white over the black.

[jmpullen]

Ditto for me -- I have black and white Wegen 150s', and I prefer the white ones. I wonder what it is about the black ones, as they seem to feel better and sound better. But, I carry both. If you're picking somewhere that the floor is a dark color, use a white one. And vice versa. Makes pickin 'em up a lot faster !

[buddyellis]

If you like the 150, its easy enough to pare the thickness down with a bit of 400 or 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper and a bit of water. Hook your fingernails around the top, and work it in a circular motion with light pressure until you get the thickness that feels comfortable. You can also get 2000 grit wet-dry paper at wal-mart or the local auto supply store to work the bevels/slick out the sanding marks. Personally I like the surface I get from 600 grit paper.

[Matt Hutchinson]

Thanks for all the replies. As I have 3 M150s I guess I can afford to experiment with a couple and see how I get on. I definitely need a slightly thinner pick, just not sure how much thinner.

cheers

[woodwizard]

I switched from the Dawg & Goldengate's to the Wegen M100 & M150. Use the M100 more than the M150. Because the 150 is a little thick and the 100 is a little thin. I have mando picker friend Bill Nesbitt of Old School Bluegrass-Little Rock,(a very good Bluegrass Band by the way),heshowed me his wegen 140mm Bluegrass pick. I have a package of them on the way. I really likedhis. Can't wait till they come in. They are not a dawg shaped pick and not a big triangle either.

[DryBones]

I switched from the Dawg & Goldengate's to the Wegen M100 & M150. Use the M100 more than the M150. Because the 150 is a little thick and the 100 is a little thin.

me thinks its time for you to just order some custom M120's or M130's from Michel Wegen! #

[gregjones]

I'm new to mandolins and flatpicks. #I've played acoustic blues guitar with bare fingers forever. #So, I am no expert at this pick thing at all. #I ordered some of everything I could find from anywhere that sold them.....Wegens included.

The question I have is if one is going to pay the Wegen price only to modify it, why not get the picks from www.mandolinbridge.com? #They seem IMHO to be a "Wegen blank". #I can't tell the difference except in the surface texture which can be duplicated in a few seconds with a fingernail file. #Just wondering.

Anyway I use the Golden Gates for now in my learning efforts.

Thanks,
Greg

[Matt Hutchinson]

I contacted Michel and he's happy to make me up a custom 3 pack of 1xM120, 1xM130 and 1xM140 to see which I prefer. He even suggested making the 130 in black rather than white so they're easy to tell apart. Great service from a guy with a great product.

Isn't the internet a marvellous thing?!

Matt

[8strings]

What I have done is diagonally slice and carefully 'sandwich' a TF140 and a M150 pick. I also filled in 3 of the 7 holes with a liquified binding mixture, originating from a 1923 Gibson F5. I now find that I only have to practice half as much as I used to and getting even better results. Proof that it really -IS- the equipment that we use and not regular practice and dedication to improve tone and overal competence with the mandolin.

[mythicfish]

"I now find that I only have to practice half as much as I used to and getting even better results. Proof that it really -IS- the equipment that we use and not regular practice and dedication to improve tone and overal competence with the mandolin. "

(Speechless)

Curt

[Brad Weiss]

What I have done is diagonally slice and carefully 'sandwich' a TF140 and a M150 pick. I also filled in 3 of the 7 holes with a liquified binding mixture, originating from a 1923 Gibson F5. I now find that I only have to practice half as much as I used to and getting even better results. Proof that it really -IS- the equipment that we use and not regular practice and dedication to improve tone and overal competence with the mandolin.

Hmm, I find that if I fill 4 of the 7 holes, and use scrap celluloid from a July 9 F5 as an adhesive, I can produce similar results- but I am practicing 57% as much and, while only about 93% as accurate at picking, #my speed is enhanced 116%. Tone is, of course, subjective, and overrated by 49% of all players.

[ElJefe]

I have been using a CF-120 Wegen (Chad Fadely) for my guitar and a M-150 for mandolin. #

He says that he can't tell any difference between black and white. #I can if I drop it on the floor and try to find it.

[Matt Hutchinson]

Well, the new picks have arrived and, so far, I'm loving the 1.3. It has the solid sound I like in the 1.5 but is a bit more subtle for tremolo and keeps my picking a bit cleaner as well.

Here's to Michel for such a great service and willingness to help players find the right pick for them.

Matt

[mandolirius]

<What I have done is diagonally slice and carefully 'sandwich' a TF140 and a M150 pick. I also filled in 3 of the 7 holes with a liquified binding mixture, originating from a 1923 Gibson F5. I now find that I only have to practice half as much as I used to and getting even better results. Proof that it really -IS- the equipment that we use and not regular practice and dedication to improve tone and overal competence with the mandolin.>

LMAO!

[stevem]

Funny stuff.

I use the TF 140, but want to give the M150 a try.

[ElJefe]

In a double-blind side placebo test, I believe that the black ones are darker.

The white ones are not as heavy, so they must be lighter.

Sorry. Couldn't stop myself.