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Picks!!!
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Joined: Apr 13, 2018 Posts: 1345 New Orleans 
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Posted on Jul 09 2023 09:47 AM
V-picks are great, I love the Psycho, a giant 6mm triangle. But the tips wore down after only a week or two, then I was looking at another $20 pick! So I went back to Cool Picks. It's a lot easier to stomach tossing a $1 pick. The acrylic was nice and sticky. You all are so right about holding the pick looser in general. I only grab the pick hard for intense tremolo picking. Most of the time it's pretty loose. A three-fingered grip.
Daniel Deathtide |
Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4129 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Jul 09 2023 10:16 AM
Wow! I had never thought about that, but I can see how acrylic could wear faster than, f’rinstance, Delrin. I am tremolo-picking-impaired. The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. |
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Joined: Apr 13, 2018 Posts: 1345 New Orleans
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Posted on Jul 09 2023 03:31 PM
That's probably why your tips don't wear down as quickly, the lack of tremolo picking! That's when I notice the tips wearing and a bunch of white dust on the PG under the strings - after practicing "hard and fast" surf tunes. —Daniel Deathtide |
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Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4129 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Jul 09 2023 06:57 PM
DeathTide wrote:
Hey, I got those whole notes down pat and I’m shaping up fast on those half notes. Speed was never my greatest strength as a player, but I finally got to the point where I was pretty solid on 16th note, even at a fast clip, but the tremolo wears me down fast. I’ve been playing for a long time, and believe it or not, I’ve only worn out one pick, a thumb-pick that eventually wore too short. I can only remember breaking two strings in the last 40 years. I’ve had a couple break at the rivet end when I first tuned them up and they broke before I even got them to pitch, which I would attribute to those two particular strings being defective. I’m not that light of a player, either. I actually have a fairly strong touch, but I’m also very precise with my right hand, so maybe that helps. —The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. |
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Joined: Apr 13, 2018 Posts: 1345 New Orleans
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Posted on Jul 10 2023 08:38 AM
Yeah I know I am doing it "wrong" but I just love the sound and feel of digging IN and slamming the strings. I've tried playing lighter and I can manage it but I don't like the sound as much. The action on most of my guitars is 5mm - 6mm! It's the only way to avoid that fret slap. On a classical I SLAM the strings, the louder the better on those! —Daniel Deathtide |
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Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4129 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Jul 10 2023 12:19 PM
DeathTide wrote:
Not necessarily wrong, but perhaps not optimal for string life. —The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. |
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Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4129 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Jul 27 2023 07:51 PM
I tried a couple of great V-Picks today. The Van Zen and the Tradition Ultra Lite Teal. They are polar opposites. Starting with the familiar, the Tradition Ultra Lite Teal is a slightly pointier version of the Fender 351 sized pick, with a slightly different taper, and in acrylic, roughly the same thickness as a Fender Medium. If you like acrylic and need a fairly thin pick, this is a decent choice. The Van Zen is slightly smaller in height and width, but 4mm of clear acrylic, with tapered edges. It gives a fairly bright sound, probably because of the tapered edges, but the thickness of the main body of the pick makes it very easy to grip. It’s probably not quite as bright as the Tradition Ultra Lite, but it is surprisingly bright. One thing I love about the Van Zen, is that I find it very easy to tremolo pick with it. These are picks that go for $10 each, but I intend to buy more of them in the near future. —The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. |
Joined: May 24, 2023 Posts: 131 |
Posted on Aug 02 2023 06:05 PM
DeathTide wrote:
Cool picks! I just ordered a small bag of the Juratex 1mm picks and am curious about them… hopefully they work out… I love the look of the point and feel it will be great for tremolo picking what are your thoughts on ‘em? |
Joined: May 04, 2008 Posts: 80 Lubbock, Texas
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Posted on Aug 04 2023 10:12 AM
I am loving these Planet Waves 1.00mm Duralin large triangle picks: Last edited: Aug 04, 2023 10:13:24 |
Joined: Dec 07, 2014 Posts: 1222
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Posted on Aug 05 2023 03:53 PM
- Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 16:31:52 |
Joined: Aug 29, 2023 Posts: 37 |
Posted on Sep 01 2023 09:31 PM
I'm no expert and I play a wide variety of music, so my picks of choice may not be applicable,but I tend to like Ultex and Primetone picks (raised). I usually use .73, .88, or 1. |
Joined: Mar 09, 2014 Posts: 88 New York
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Posted on Nov 01 2023 11:51 AM
I used lots of different stuff through the decades, but now, I just have a tin full of Fender Heavy in various colors. Just hits the spot for me. |
Joined: Nov 05, 2021 Posts: 55 |
Posted on Feb 01 2024 03:24 AM
Fender Celluloid (Heavy) is perfect for surf (for me) |
Joined: Sep 23, 2014 Posts: 1353 Memphis, TN
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Posted on Feb 19 2024 07:27 PM
I use Dunlop Max Grip 1.5 blue picks. I really want some white ones, but can't find any. Does anyone know of any white picks that are close to the ones I currently use? I emailed Dunlop, but they never responded to me. —MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New videos uploaded |
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Joined: Jun 06, 2023 Posts: 3 |
Posted on Feb 20 2024 12:10 AM
Dunlop Ultex 1.0 mm or 1.14 mm if they have’em in stock |
Joined: Feb 23, 2018 Posts: 89 Oslo 
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Posted on Feb 20 2024 04:31 AM
Been using Dunlop Jazz 3 for 15+ years now! Love that pick! Troy Grady has great video on it! —Master of sound in: |
Joined: Mar 27, 2006 Posts: 197 Newington, CT USA
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Posted on Feb 20 2024 06:06 AM
SixStringSurfer wrote:
Not as thick as the ones you're using, but I really like the Dunlop White Fang Custom Flow Picks. https://www.jimdunlop.com/hetfields-white-fang-custom-flow-pick-1-14mm/ |
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Joined: Sep 23, 2014 Posts: 1353 Memphis, TN
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Posted on Feb 20 2024 10:35 AM
Thanks for the replies, but I am just not having any luck finding a solid white pick close to what I currently use. —MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New videos uploaded |
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Joined: Apr 13, 2018 Posts: 1345 New Orleans
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Posted on Feb 20 2024 11:21 AM
SixStringSurfer wrote:
Have you checked out the Coolpicks that are white with the blue sandpaper dab in the middle? Those get up to 1mm and I love em. I've tried $30 V-picks and a ton of other brands, and those are the only game in town for me. They have a blue circle in them so they're not totally white. Why do you need white, just curious? —Daniel Deathtide |
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Joined: Sep 23, 2014 Posts: 1353 Memphis, TN
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Posted on Feb 20 2024 02:18 PM
Dick Dale tribute artist. Plain white picks would be perfect! —MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New videos uploaded |
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Thanks to all the surf bands, past and present. And thanks to all the fans who care about and keep surf music alive.
I can do it, but it’s hard for me to sustain. On a good day, I can play the third verse of Honky Tonk, convincingly, but that’s about my limit. I’m in awe of what John Pisano did on the Tijuana Brass recording of Zorba the Greek. My right arm gets tired by just listening to that track.