I found one of these during a sound check and decided to use it all night. Cool pick “beta carbonate”. It’s very pointy, like a jazz pick but not completely chunky or inflexible. It has a gel-like grip area. The point really lets you pick quickly. Much clearer and more pronounced tone than anything else I’ve tried. I recommend the heavy version over medium.
Besides that, I use heavy Fender or the dark pink Dunlop 500.

http://www.coolmusicinc.com/portfolio-items/cool-beta-carbonate/

Kitten and The Tonics

https://kittenandthetonics.com/

Last edited: Feb 22, 2024 10:00:53

I've used these Snarling Dogs Brain Picks for years. I like the grip on them as I injured a tendon in my thumb when I was younger and my grip isn't super reliable.

I'm having a hard time getting tremolo picking down, though... maybe I need to move up from .88 to a thicker size?

Last edited: Mar 17, 2024 21:25:03

AgentClaret wrote:

I've used these Snarling Dogs Brain Picks for years. I like the grip on them as I injured a tendon in my thumb when I was younger and my grip isn't super reliable.

I'm having a hard time getting tremolo picking down, though... maybe I need to move up from .88 to a thicker size?

I’ve found that I do my best tremolo picking with a stiffer pick, and at least for me, a pick slightly smaller than the standard sized Fender pick. The pick I do best with is the V-Picks Chicken Picker or Bullseye. For mass market picks, the Jim Dunlop 477-205 works best for me. The V-Picks will probably sound better for Surf.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

AgentClaret wrote:

Yikes, those V-picks are not cheap! I was gonna pick a few up for the heck of it but that might be something I gotta budget for!

Not cheap, but they are great picks. There’s one called the Van Zen which is 4mm thick, which makes it easier to grasp, but the edges are sharply tapered, which makes it sound more like a thinner pick. All this, for a mere $10 each. Actually, the Chicken Picker may be the best for my use, and these are a lot less costly.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

The Brain Picks I was talking about have that cats tongue surface, it's great!

I found an old small but fat and pointy pick in my collection and started playing with it last night and it did seem like I was getting a little extra picking speed out of it!

AgentClaret wrote:

synchro wrote:

AgentClaret wrote:

Yikes, those V-picks are not cheap! I was gonna pick a few up for the heck of it but that might be something I gotta budget for!

Not cheap, but they are great picks. There’s one called the Van Zen which is 4mm thick, which makes it easier to grasp, but the edges are sharply tapered, which makes it sound more like a thinner pick. All this, for a mere $10 each. Actually, the Chicken Picker may be the best for my use, and these are a lot less costly.

I bit the bullet and bought a couple Chicken Pickers on Amazon...

Dude, you weren't kidding; they're great! I don't think it's just a placebo effect but I feel like I'm immediately playing faster. I like how they kind of adhere to your skin too.

I guess I'm buying $5+ picks now?!?

They are exceptionally good.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

Here’s a suggestion for a pick that might prove useful in maximizing drip. It’s the Fred Kelly Speed Pick, in a light gauge.

Most thumb picks don’t suit me all that well, but the Fred Kelly Slick Pick works very well for me, because you can use it as a thumb pick, or grip it like a flat pick. I use these for any fingerstyle setting, because I can grip it, and play my blazing and amazing arpeggios and then return to my regularly scheduled thumb picking, at will. In all seriousness, they are a great pick, and there’s no real disadvantage between one of these and a flat pick, which I also use, depending upon the song.

The pick pictured below is the Fred Kelly Speed Pick, which is also a grip panel thumb pick, but with a very narrow picking surface. This makes for a very sharp attack, which is a great way to maximize drip. I’ve owned some of these for years, but hadn’t used one in a while, but I thought I would give one a try, just for Surf sounds, and it did not disappoint me. I think that it’s at least worth a try, if you are still wrangling with plectrum selection. I placed a link to these, at Strings By Mail, which is a vendor I’ve had good luck with, but there is no affiliation involved.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

Last edited: Apr 07, 2024 11:15:30

synchro wrote:

Looking at the photo I just posted; is that pick flipping me off?

That was my first thought.

synchro wrote:

taijiguy wrote:

synchro wrote:

Looking at the photo I just posted; is that pick flipping me off?

That was my first thought.
It’s a very defiant pick.

Defiant, yet insulting.

SHADOWNIGHT5150 wrote:

Ive been using custom made giant picks, ranging from 6mm-8.5mm

Is that the thickness? I sometimes use a 4mm thick V-Pick, which is quite easy to hold onto.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.