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Post by rodeoclown on May 15, 2006 20:30:43 GMT -7
I'm 57 years old and have been playing since I was 14, and I recently realized I've given much thought through the years to just about every piece of my gear other than the flatpicks I use. I use my fingers a lot, and I've never really cared much about what I used for flatpicks as long as they weren't too thin. Recently I found a Pickboy carbon nylon 1.14 guage pick on my family room "crap" table. You know the table I'm talking about. Anyway, I found this pick on the crap table and started playing my b- bender tele through my Carr Rambler that I keep there next to the crap table in the family room because it doesn't take up much room so the wife doesn't get too pissed that it's there and it sounds pretty good and .... am I Rambling? I have no idea where this pick came from. I have two sons who play guitar but one is in college in Boston and all he ever leaves here are the cheap ones he gets from the First Act music store he works at on Beacon Street. My other son broke his wrist playing hockey and hasn't touched a guitar in months. So this Pickboy pick magically appeared and suddenly after 43 years my playing seemed to jump up a notch. John Jorgenson of a B...., Brad P, Chet A, Joe Maphis, Brent Mason, etc.....I'm gaining on them all because of this pick I found! So now I go looking for this thing and I find out it's a Japanese company and they're out of business. But the good news is ....eBay! I found a bunch at a store on eBay and bought them all. Now I should be all set until the arthritis that is creeping up on me finally takes over, or I'm placed in a facility where they don't allow anything as sharp as guitar picks!
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Post by billyguitar on May 16, 2006 8:54:25 GMT -7
Thick picks just sound better to me, no matter what the brand is.
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Post by John on May 16, 2006 11:31:53 GMT -7
This may be weird, but I use large triangular METAL picks. They're thin, but they're metal and don't bend. I've been using them for about 20 years now and I can't use anything else. I'm so used to them.
If I try to use a plastic (or whatever) pick, it has to be thick to not bend like my metal ones, and that thickness feels really weird. If I try to use a thin plastic pick (thin like my metal ones) then it bends to much.
When gigging, yes, I change strings every night.
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Post by BW on May 16, 2006 11:46:34 GMT -7
A guy gave me a 'gift' of a pick made out of a railroad track-flattened penny once back in the deep dark 70's, my ol' LP Custom still bears the scars of that little diversion, among others...
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Post by billyguitar on May 16, 2006 11:54:04 GMT -7
Also in the 70s I used some picks made of polished stone. At the time I was playing a Travis Bean. That pick really chewed up the finish between the pickups.
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Post by prowler on May 16, 2006 11:57:06 GMT -7
I've been using this style pick for quite a while. They work well for me.
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Post by tele1962 on May 16, 2006 18:17:55 GMT -7
Picks become part of your fingers as you play, so they're intensely personal. I can make a lot of picks work, but not the nylon ones...especially the Dunlops.
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Post by tjstrat on May 29, 2006 13:53:05 GMT -7
I have a couple gross of the Herco golds. Before Dunlop bought them out I thought they were going the way of the dodo, so I did a Johnny Winter and bought a lifetime supply. I have a d*mn drawer full of them and they last forEVER...
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Post by sonicbluepaisley on May 29, 2006 19:24:09 GMT -7
I messed around with different picks, thick, thin, rough pick for easy gripping, no grip, fender picks, off brand picks.
But in the end I found the picks that work best for me. Ernie Ball medium just feel perfect for me.
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Post by texblooz on Jun 16, 2006 6:38:46 GMT -7
This may be weird, but I use large triangular METAL picks. They're thin, but they're metal and don't bend. I've been using them for about 20 years now and I can't use anything else. I'm so used to them. Interesting. I also use metal picks exclusively and would have trouble going back too. I even use coins sometimes. I know - it seems like the effect would be harsh and the attack uncontrollable, but I find the opposite is true.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jun 16, 2006 6:59:55 GMT -7
I'm more anal about picks than most, I think. I buy those .73mm Tortex picks, then one by one, I clamp them between two table-s-p-o-o-n-s and submerge them in boiling water for about fifteen seconds. This pre-bends them so they become directional, and my thumb has greater control of them. Changes their dynamics too - they are a little bit stiffer because of the new shape. How did I ever stumble on this? Well I bought some Tortex picks once that were warped - an apparent manufacturing anomaly - and found that they were easier to hang on to and pleasant to the ears. Been doing it this way ever since - about ten years now. All my picks are warped...
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Post by propellr on Jun 16, 2006 7:31:03 GMT -7
I'm more anal about picks than most, I think. I buy those .73mm Tortex picks, then one by one, I clamp them between two table-s-p-o-o-n-s and submerge them in boiling water for about fifteen seconds. This pre-bends them so they become directional, and my thumb has greater control of them. Changes their dynamics too - they are a little bit stiffer because of the new shape. How did I ever stumble on this? Well I bought some Tortex picks once that were warped - an apparent manufacturing anomaly - and found that they were easier to hang on to and pleasant to the ears. Been doing it this way ever since - about ten years now. All my picks are warped... ...That explains it all, man. A guy that plays warped picks. You've said it all, there, benttop ;D
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Post by propellr on Jun 16, 2006 7:43:35 GMT -7
I've been playing heavy Fender California Clear picks for the last year or so. The celluloid ones kept splitting over time. These wear better and don't split. I dig the 12 packs, because of the resealable packaging. Got those packs in every guitar case and in several rooms all over my house. I can't stand not having a pick around, ever since I played an entire set of music with my credit card. Some of you know how much I hate to use plastic! Well, some times, you just have to charge it!
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Post by Lefty on Jun 16, 2006 8:00:36 GMT -7
Years ago I bought a bunch of picks from a local music store, Music Exchange (BW knows the one), cheap, thick, and red. I went through the "pick preferance" stage, small ones, big ones, thick & thin, metal, tortex, yadda yadda. I came to the conclusion, when I'm in a pinch for a pick (10 min to show time, and down to one pick) as long as it's thick, it's good. Most of them end up in the washing machine anyway
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Post by billyguitar on Jun 16, 2006 11:42:09 GMT -7
My favorite picks are the "Cool" picks, heavy. The blue oval wears off pretty quick in your pocket but the never warp, wear evenly and last a long time. Best picks I ever found.
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Post by foxx on Jun 16, 2006 18:06:11 GMT -7
do those picks from the washing maching give you a cleaner tone Lefty?
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Post by propellr on Jun 16, 2006 20:33:03 GMT -7
do those picks from the washing maching give you a cleaner tone Lefty? That was too easy, foxx.
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