Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 33

Thread: Pick preference, tips and tricks

  1. #1
    Mandolinist out of Atl
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Posts
    135
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Pick preference, tips and tricks

    I have switched my "favorite," picks more times than I would like to admit. Right now I am playing Triangular Wegen TF 120's. I like them for comfort and reduced pick noise, but do not get a ton of volume. I have dabbled in real tortoise shell, Fender Heavies and many more.

    What is so nice about other picks, especially, the Blue Chips? One brand I have yet to try. What is your pick of choice and what different tone attributes, and playability differences do you forum members find between different pick shapes, materials, and brands.

    Thanks for Sharing!

  2. #2

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    I have played a lot of picks, maybe too many chasing that "Tone" I always go back to some very old shell picks I have I find them very fast and with some tailoring very close to the Tone I want.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	2013-01-29 08.28.24.jpg 
Views:	214 
Size:	111.4 KB 
ID:	106656/ RedBear/Bluechip etc, they are all good just depends on what you are looking for and no advice/talk takes the place of Picking.
    Best/joe

  3. The following members say thank you to Leon Peoples for this post:


  4. #3

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    Here is a pic of an old pick I use it for playing/no practice it's old and worn and Im trying to get it to last.Click image for larger version. 

Name:	2013-05-31 08.34.01.jpg 
Views:	203 
Size:	124.5 KB 
ID:	106658
    Best/joe

  5. #4
    Registered User Ken_P's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    508

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    I'm sure I'll be the first of many, but I heartily recommend that you try the blue chip. Well worth the money IMHO. They feel great, they sound great, and they're really durable. I've owned two for several years and not only are they both still in heavy use, they're basically as good as new!

  6. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Ken_P For This Useful Post:


  7. #5
    Registered User Fred Young's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Jiles Creek
    Posts
    79

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    gosh! I got five new picks today, these credit card folks keep me supplied. one card cut so so, will make five picks, good enough for me. have fun..fred
    'Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life?
    Think I'll just loaf today then. Fred.

  8. #6

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    I've been using the teardrop shaped Dunlop Tortex picks for years, and finally got a Blue Chip TD-50. I'd say the Blue Chip is better, slightly, due to the bevel and due to being a little bit harder and more wear resistant. 72 Tortex picks cost $20, and 1 TD-50 costs $35. The Dunlops are nearly as good as the Blue Chip, but don't last as long. (A year or so versus... forever for the Blue Chip.)
    The Blue Chip is slightly preferable. Feels a little bit more "accurate".
    I have a tortoise shell pick from Tony Bolin which is also very similar to the Blue Chip, but I think I like the Blue Chip a little better. No huge difference between the three.

  9. #7
    Registered User Cheryl Watson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    St. Augustine, Florida, USA
    Posts
    1,508

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    IMHO: Best tone: Red Bear; Most Durability: Blue Chip; Best Feel: Tie between Red Bear and Blue Chip. I use both. The shape/size/point shape/bevel shape all matter nearly as much as the material to me.

  10. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Cheryl Watson For This Useful Post:


  11. #8
    Mandolinist out of Atl
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Posts
    135
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    Thanks for the prompt replies everyone! I am going to have to give a Blue Chip a try. I am partial to the the triangular shape...
    it's between a TAD-50 3R, or a CT55 for me?

    Anyone have any input on differences or preferences between these two similar picks. I am only buying one for now since they are not the cheapest picks.

    Thanks

  12. #9
    Registered User Dave LaBoone's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Columbia, SC
    Posts
    265

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    Quote Originally Posted by JRcohan View Post
    Thanks for the prompt replies everyone! I am going to have to give a Blue Chip a try. I am partial to the the triangular shape...
    it's between a TAD-50 3R, or a CT55 for me?

    Anyone have any input on differences or preferences between these two similar picks. I am only buying one for now since they are not the cheapest picks.

    Thanks
    I chose the TAD-50 1R, as I wanted to have the option of one rounded edge. I usually stick to the pointy edges, but I absolutely love this pick...the Blue Chip is worth every penny, IMO.

  13. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Dave LaBoone For This Useful Post:


  14. #10
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    24,807
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    I love my Red Bear Heavy C style SB. It gives me the greatest tone. My favorite when playing alone or in an intimate venue. Then I love my Blue Chip TAD 60, also great tone, and perhaps my fastest pick. Great when lots of little notes. Then Wegen TF140. Not quite as good a tone, IMO, but perhaps a little punchier, a little louder. I use this in a jam or big venue where nobody can hear how great my tone is anyway, but I have to get through the noise.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  15. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to JeffD For This Useful Post:


  16. #11

    Default

    50-1R for guitar, and CT-55 for mandolin I love them both.

  17. #12
    but that's just me Bertram Henze's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    0.8 mpc from NGC224, upstairs
    Posts
    10,054

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    I've gravitated towards triangular Clayton Spike 0.72, a sharp pick which gives
    - good volume
    - lots of brilliant overtones (don't get me started with "woody")
    - a husky touch that adds character - you might call it pick noise, but how do you know you pick if nobody hears it?

    They wear down fast, but they have 3 points each and are cheap.
    the world is better off without bad ideas, good ideas are better off without the world

  18. #13
    Registered User Jordan Ramsey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Boulder, Colorado
    Posts
    543

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    Pick shape, pick edge, pick material, angle of attack, placement of attack, quality of instrument, etc.... lot of variables go into this tonal equation... In my experience, well-kept tortoise is the best and Bluechips are the best synthetic, hands down. I've bounced between tortoise and a TAD-60 for years, absolutely love the shell, but the TAD wins for consistency...
    2016 Ellis F5
    2007 Gibson Sam Bush
    1924 Gibson A Jr.
    1913 R. Calace Brevettato 900
    Espresso
    Youtube

  19. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Jordan Ramsey For This Useful Post:

    AlanNJRcohan 

  20. #14
    MandolaViola bratsche's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    south florida
    Posts
    2,820

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    Since I've been making picks since I started picking, it should be no surprise that even the commercial picks I acquire will get doctored, sometimes extensively, before I use them. Yes, the edge is everything. My favorite materials for making them have included ivory, ultem (specifically the raw material Jim Garber kindly sent me, because it's thicker than the available commercial picks, and because I wanted to make Roman shaped picks), and celluloid.

    I like my picks at least 1.5mm thick, so that there's plenty of material to create a smooth, mirror-polished bevel. Favorite commercial picks have included the Pro-Plec JazzMando (although I wish it were slightly bigger), and various Clayton large triangles. The latter were a pleasant surprise, as they are very rough-edged out of the bag, and scratchy-sounding, unless you work on them - then they're a delight! I have a BlueChip TAD 60 that I bought plain, and beveled and polished it myself the way I like it, but frankly, it's not much of a contender in my collection. The main reason is that it just doesn't work well on my flatbacks, particularly the mandolas, because the high-pitched pick click it produces just drives me nuts. I only keep it because it sounds good on my Baby Taylor converted OM for some reason; even so, I like the sound of the ProPlec on the OM better (but again, I wish the ProPlec were the size of the BlueChip)!

    bratsche
    "There are two refuges from the miseries of life: music and cats." - Albert Schweitzer

    GearGems - Gifts & apparel for musicians and more!
    MandolaViola's YouTube Channel

  21. The following members say thank you to bratsche for this post:


  22. #15
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    12,258

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    And Stevie Wonder sang...Reach for Higher Ground out there in CO, Jordan!

  23. The following members say thank you to AlanN for this post:


  24. #16
    Biscuits & Gravy bluemoonofky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Kentucky
    Posts
    88

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    I use the Dunlop Little Stubby 3.0mm - I started using these years ago when I playing my guitar and now use them for my mandolin. My fingers are small and I found the usual sized heavy picks would go flying out of my hands. For some reason I can really hold onto those little stubbys. They wear forever and I pay about 50 cents each for them. They work for me and now my newphew uses them for his guitar playing in his band!
    If You don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.

    Kentucky KM1500

  25. #17

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    Try the Fish pick ("Fisher") that Greg Boyd sells. Heavier than my CT55 but it's an interesting alternative. I'd be interested to hear others' opinions.

  26. #18

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    I like to use black Dunlop ultex jazz iii's. I have some wegen 140s and I've tried a bunch of other picks but those dunlops have seem to be the best for feel tone and volume. Maybe that's just because I like small picks though

  27. #19
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    24,807
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    What a difference a pick makes, and why.

    http://jazzmando.com/tips/archives/000718.shtml
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  28. The following members say thank you to JeffD for this post:


  29. #20
    Registered User Hany Hayek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Egypt
    Posts
    622

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    This is a pick related question. I am planning to order an Amber pick and was wondering if it can be made as per the Clayton small tear drop and at 0.8 mm thick.
    Has anyone tried that. Is it worth it. Amber is supposed to have same density as tortoise shell.
    “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.”
    ― Victor Hugo

  30. #21
    Registered User Pasha Alden's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Grahamstown South Africa
    Posts
    1,705
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    Fred, now that's a credible use of a credit card music to your own ears not that of the bank manager?
    <smile>

    Happy playing all!

    Playing:
    Jbovier a5 2013;
    Crafter M70E acoustic mandolin
    Jbovier F5 mandola 2016

  31. #22
    Registered User Pasha Alden's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Grahamstown South Africa
    Posts
    1,705
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    Using A JimDunlop which has a rather rough surface, drives me crazy as there is a pick noise produced. That despite softness and great flexibility.
    The other is a Shark fin Landstrom

    Playing:
    Jbovier a5 2013;
    Crafter M70E acoustic mandolin
    Jbovier F5 mandola 2016

  32. #23
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    24,807
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    Quote Originally Posted by Hany Hayek View Post
    This is a pick related question. I am planning to order an Amber pick and was wondering if it can be made as per the Clayton small tear drop and at 0.8 mm thick.
    Has anyone tried that. Is it worth it. Amber is supposed to have same density as tortoise shell.
    Just be carefull in the filing. I recall reading somewhere that amber dust is toxic.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  33. The following members say thank you to JeffD for this post:


  34. #24
    Registered User bjewell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Ione CA in the beautiful gold country east of Sactown
    Posts
    399

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    I use tortoise picks exclusively, have for almost 50 years. I've had the same guitar pick for 15 years it's the perfect size, weight and thickness for me. Shows virtually no wear on the edges. A friend makes picks out of broken antique tortoise cosmetic boxes, purses etc and does a fantastic job. When I need another one -- probably 10 years form now -- I'll contact him.

    I checked out the "Blue picks" and they seemed okay until I saw the price. Forget that...

  35. #25
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Pick preference, tips and tricks

    I have a big pile of picks which I switch off depending on the instrument and the tone I want. My overall preference for mandolin has been Blue Chip LG Jazz 35, 40 or 50 (lighter for shorter scale instruments like L&H A with T-I strings) and the now "out of print" black plastic heavy Gibsons which I happened to buy a small bunch of, should I be in that mood. I also like the Roman style pick i got from my Belgian friend and one I made from ultem (as Bratsch mentioned).
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •