I haven't bought a pick in over 15 years. I work in a rock and roll bar, I pick them up off the stage after every band leaves

I use a hard to find heavy Fender size #451- which is a downsized Fender #351 from Pick World; who printed my band name on them for an extra $20.00.

http://www.pickworld.com/

I then take them outside to the concrete sidewalk and scrape the edges up real good; to create knife-like serrations that excite the strings much like a violin bow does. I get richer harmonic tone from them when used at a slight angle to the strings. It does not work on flat-wounds, however.

Dusty Twangdude

Last edited: Jun 28, 2013 19:31:31

Excellent!
Others can see my picks at the Drip Grinders ReverbNation link.

Dusty Twangdude

Last edited: Jun 29, 2013 13:11:12

Samosurfer wrote:

I loose picks constantly! Has anyone come up with a solution to this unfortunate trend?

Buy a lot of them... I keep them in my pocket, and I own a lot so I don't worry about losing them. I don't really lose them, if I lose a pick it is because I used it as a tool and ruined it.

Somebody just needs to give Dick a Tortex or Ultex pick.

This is an obviously self-made pick cut from a CDR. It has the cool look of broken glass. It is polycarbonate, a particularly strong and rigid plastic that is used for fireman's helmets and plastic lenses in eyeglasses. I cut it with emergency medical shears, smoothed the cut edges with a knife blade, and peeled the CDR recording surface with the knife edge. Each of the three sides is about 1-3/8" long.

It sounds terrific, with great clarity but not harshness. However it is far more rigid than the Ultex 0.73 pick, which I had thought was rigid. Its rigidity exhausted my finger strength within a couple of minutes on songs that had never tired my fingers before. It seemed more tiring on high strings. This finger tiring was very surprising--and very obvious.

This is an excellent bass guitar pick, especially for rapid playing. And the price is right. I could cut 5 or 6 of these from one CDR disc.

The pick is absolutely flat. Any appearance of curvature is because the cloth underneath it in the photo is not flat.

Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com

Last edited: Jun 30, 2013 15:38:25

Kian wrote:

Just out of curiosity, does anyone here also play mostly fingerstyle or is it just me?

Over the past year I have been fingerpicking, but on a minority of songs. When I do I alternate fingers 2 and 3 for most notes, 2 & 3 & 4 for some phrases, and 1 thru 4 for arpeggios, notes with arpeggios, and full fingerstyle (i.e., bass plus lead). I play the classic "Wheels" with full fingerstyle. I play a medley of Classical Gas & Walk Don't Run fingerpicked. However, most of my songs are too percussive and fast to fingerpick on metal strings.

Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com

Last edited: Jul 13, 2013 17:31:54

Mark2Bra wrote:

Just out of curiosity, does anyone here also play mostly fingerstyle or is it just me?

I'm new both to Surf music and electric guitar , but I'v played Flamenco music for 7 years.

I bought 2 Jazz III picks some time ago but it simply don't work for me.

Of course I need to practice pick using, but I like using my finger nails: I use mainly a Flamenco technique called Picado (striking fast with i and a fingers) and for tremolo, I hold my index finger tip with my thumb and middle finger as if it was a pick.

The last technique (i.e. what you use for tremolo) is what I generally used before now, as I cannot find the time to order any new picks. I tried learning Flamenco, but I eventually gave up and developed a style more like playing a bass.

As a funny anecdote, I'm naturally left handed and a knuckleball pitcher so I constantly have to have my left hand nails well-kempt, as k-ball is reliant upon having a good smooth fingernail on the index and middle fingers.

However, I play guitar right handed, so I always have longer nails on my glove (right) hand. It really freaks my buddies out when I take off my glove and have half-moons on my fingertips, as generally pitchers trim the glove nails off flush.

Unfortunately, the other week I found out why they trim them flush, as I chipped the holy hell out of my index nail trying to put it in my glove. Due to this, I've currently gotten back into playing with a thin-for-my-tastes-pick I borrowed from a friend until I can either regrow my nail or find a much more comfy pick.

Last edited: Oct 08, 2013 01:23:07

Mark2Bra wrote:

The reason I decided to switch to a pick is because when playing with fingernails (altering between i and a) the flash under the nail is muting the string - good if you play Flamenco or maybe Classic guitar but not for Surf , where you want the notes to ring as much as possible (or at least that my impression is)

Edit: This pick noise on the strings (cluck, cluck) is driving me nuts! I'm attacking the strings with an angle but it doesn't help. Is that normal?

Cheers ,
Mark.

I feel ya on that one. It's even worse if you put a little dirt on your amp, as you'll start getting a bunch of random pitch harmonics along with your mutes. If you're laying down some Slayer it's awesome. Not so much when you're doing "Ghost Riders in the Sky." Johnny Cash and Zakk Wylde were not meant to mix. XD

I'm having the same problem with pick noise, I figured it was because I used roundwounds and was going to switch to flats, but I have tapewounds on my bass and I still have a ton of pick noise. I think it must have something to do with how hard I pick, but if anyone has any input for Mark and I, I would appreciate it.

Ok , a small update: I ended up using the Dunlop Gel L and the Tortex 0.6 .

Eventually I accepted he fact I'll get some noise from the pick.

I really like the Gel , mainly cause it is fast for double picking.

However , these are easily breaking. I don't think I'm holding them that strong , but one simply spited in half on its length and the second one got 2 cracks now.

Anyone who tried the Gels - is it normal?

Cheers,
Mark.