Does picking with a pick damage the strings?

[VortexTrickster]

does a pick damage the strings?

i am talking about a 2.0 mm plastic pick.

or any other plastic pick actualy

does it damage the bass strings?

[hover]

Of course it depends on your technique, but generally

Pick- plastic.
Strings- metal.

strings win.

[Vengeance218]

Never had any problems. I use some pretty stiff Dunlop Jazz picks... and I never broke a sting or something. Of course, the strings get used, but not really damaged... but as hover said, depends on your technique, too.

[fretlessman71]

Never heard of a plastic pick ruining a set of metal strings. Maybe it's just me.

Although I HAVE heard of someone who had just put a fresh set of Rotosounds on his bass and went to a bar gig, and the singer's old bass player from another band showed up to watch and ended up sitting in using the bass with the fresh strings....

...and using a quarter for a pick. You can imagine what shape the strings were in after that!

[tapp01]

Not sure. Try plucking with a cheese wedge just to be safe.

[Mike Shevlin]

no

[Stumbo]

Not IME.

[musicelectronix]

Well, guitars also have much thinner strings and I never heard a guitard complaining about picks damaging anything Not sure about cello though, those bows must really be a string wrecker...

[BarkerBass]

simply NO unless like me you use elixir coated strings then picks tend to rip the coating off pretty fast compared to finger so i have one bass strung up with uncoated so i can vary my techniques and not worry about the strings being worth alot and ruining them

[paradigm_shift]

It can take the nickel off the strings... But is that really something worth even thinking about?

[ShowKing]

i find my pick wears out and my string seem to remain the same

[Solarmist]

I use Dunlop nylon picks 100% of the time. No damage, however the oil from your fingers will shorten the life of strings from playing fingerstyle IMO.

Nylon/Plastic < Metal Strings

[llacnayr]

Originally Posted by BarkerBass

simply NO unless like me you use elixir coated strings then picks tend to rip the coating off pretty fast compared to finger

I was about to say that. I love Elixir's, but the coating wears off with a pick (I use fingers, I just mess around with picks)

[Craig_S]

I don't think your 2mm pick would do any damage, unless you're beating the strings to death. I can see snapping strings at the bridge, if you're really heavy handed.

[Paddy 002]

Originally Posted by tapp01

Not sure. Try plucking with a cheese wedge just to be safe.

I would definately go the cheese wedge option. And you'll have a snack throughout the gig too.
On a serious note I used to use a pick and have broken 2 x E strings with them getting a bit carried away with Alive & Rockin by Pearl Jam (D'Addario) Use your fingers man, it's such a sweeter sound and easier to control various sounds!

[Will Subdivide]

I break the E string occasionally wailing away on it with a pick. So I guess, yea!
But agreed on other counts, the oil on your fingers will do more to wear down your strings.

[seansbrew]

Who cares? If that's what you have to do to kick ass then do it!

[Slats]

If you avoid using a penny for a pick you should be ok.

[bassybass]

Originally Posted by Will Subdivide

I break the E string occasionally wailing away on it with a pick.

Whoa! You must be pummeling that puppy (or something's wrong with your bridge). How often does that happen?

[kevteop]

Originally Posted by Craig_S

I don't think your 2mm pick would do any damage, unless you're beating the strings to death. I can see snapping strings at the bridge, if you're really heavy handed.

When I was younger (*sigh*) I used to break strings pretty regularly from finger picking over the bridge pup, but I've never done it from using a pick.