If you use a pick.......

Rickett Customs · #1 02-28-2008, 06:36 AM

I do use a pick "part time", but the discussion at hand on this one is:

Do you use an alternative material for a pick?
I've found out lately, that I get a rather "tight percussive" sound when I tried a deutschmark, too round at first, but once I ground it down (to a pick shape), it makes an awesome pick.

Anyone use something different than your usual "store bought" picks?

jgroh · #2 02-28-2008, 06:41 AM

I am primarily a pick player and the only "other" thing I use is my fingers (held together like you were holding a pick, but then just using tip of my finger like a pick) When I do use the pick it has to be bigger and thin to get that twangy midrange I like.

kickupthejam · #3 02-28-2008, 06:52 AM

Ok, this may sound weird, but hear me out. About five months ago, I came across a ukulele pick. They're made out of a kind of felt fabric, so they deliver a far more mellow and soft tone than a regular pick. They are pretty big, so get used to a larger than normal pick. I find it really helps for the more melodic player that enjoys a good double or tripple-stop.

jgroh · #4 02-28-2008, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kickupthejam

Ok, this may sound weird, but hear me out. About five months ago, I came across a ukulele pick. They're made out of a kind of felt fabric, so they deliver a far more mellow and soft tone than a regular pick. They are pretty big, so get used to a larger than normal pick. I find it really helps for the more melodic player that enjoys a good double or tripple-stop.

That actually sounds pretty cool! Ukulele huh? Hmmm...

The Golden Boy · #5 02-28-2008, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kickupthejam

Ok, this may sound weird, but hear me out. About five months ago, I came across a ukulele pick. They're made out of a kind of felt fabric, so they deliver a far more mellow and soft tone than a regular pick. They are pretty big, so get used to a larger than normal pick. I find it really helps for the more melodic player that enjoys a good double or tripple-stop.

I used to have a felt pick that was with my dad's old Harmony uke.

As far as picks- I prefer the nylon picks with patterns or lettering. I prefer nylon because they don't get "ruts" in them, and I like having a "grippy" surface. Not much tonal consideration.

NKUSigEp · #6 02-28-2008, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kickupthejam

Ok, this may sound weird, but hear me out. About five months ago, I came across a ukulele pick. They're made out of a kind of felt fabric, so they deliver a far more mellow and soft tone than a regular pick. They are pretty big, so get used to a larger than normal pick. I find it really helps for the more melodic player that enjoys a good double or tripple-stop.

I have one of those and until now I had no idea what it was! Just thought it was a big, felt pick. Who knew?

dave64o · #7 02-28-2008, 08:23 AM

I only use a pick when I want/need that tone and other than that I prefer fingerstyle. When I do use a pick I like a Dunlop Big Stubby 2.0mm, however I recently bought a pack of felt picks (I think they were Dunlops also). They do give a much softer attack and a mellower tone so it's nice to have that option. I like them.

However, I've also found that the picking end gets compacted pretty quickly and then you'll get a sharper attack and more conventional pick-like tone. But I don't use picks often, so it takes a while for me to wear one down to that level and when it does I've turned the pick around to use one of the other "corners".

Morkolo · #8 02-29-2008, 03:24 PM

I usually use an Orange Dunlop (Tortex I believe it is, the one with the turtle on it). Lately I've been using a jellyfish pick, but not the way you're supposed to I find it completely useless that way. I use the part you hold on to and not the fibers, gives it a different sound.

megadan · #9 03-05-2008, 07:48 PM

When I say Japanther play a couple years ago, the bass player was using a credit card for a pick. Like, a whole one

Rawkabilly · #10 03-05-2008, 08:58 PM

My favorite pick is a Dunlop Tortex in 1.14mm(the purple one). I tried a felt pick once. They're cool, but if you play hard like I do, the fuzz wears off pretty quick.

edbass · #11 03-05-2008, 09:02 PM

Felt picks for bass were commonplace in the olden days. I bet a lot of us old dudes used them.

Rawkabilly · #12 03-05-2008, 09:10 PM

Check this out: http://www.howlinhobbit.com/feltpick.php
This guys rolls his own. Hmmmmmmmm..........

Curtybob · #13 03-05-2008, 09:15 PM

I've been playing with a leather pick lately. Very similar to the felt, but lasts a bit longer after a bit of modification. I took some full grain leather, filleted it open, and put a few drops of polyester resin (fiberglass resin) between the 2 fillets to stick them back together, and to add a bit of backbone to help the leather stay stiffer a bit longer. It worked nicely, but I need to make a few more, I just tossed my last one over the weekend. But they work great... by design, one side is fuzzy, and makes for the best grip.

Mr Venus · #14 03-07-2008, 06:25 AM

I use picks all the time, and a Wedgie rubber pick occasionally for a more muted sound. They do them in three degrees of hardness, and I use the hardest (or least soft, more appropriately) of them. They work well but wear out and leave little bits on rubber on the bass.

CrashClint · #15 03-07-2008, 07:35 AM

I used a dried scale from a fish onetime.

jim primate · #16 03-07-2008, 06:47 PM

i use metal picks.

i started using brass ones, but moved on to stainless steel.

very bright, percusive, bell like tone. sounds mean with a little overdrive.

aluminum ones are ok, but they're kind of sticky feeling. the brass ones are fine but not as bright sounding as the stainless. plus they require a little breaking in. the stainless ones DO NOT WEAR AT ALL. i've been using the same one for a year. they are a little slippery so i filed some scratches in the half that i hold.

McDreads · #17 03-07-2008, 07:03 PM

I use metal picks sometimes, the ones normally used for 5-string banjo, including the thumb pick. It's like playing with 4 picks, very fast and very percussively. It took me some time to master, but then it helped I've been playing banjo for a few years.

peterbright · #18 03-07-2008, 07:12 PM

Depends on the sound you are looking for...felt, tortoise shell, various types/thicknesses of plastic, silver & the good old jellyfish

CoffeeBass · #19 03-07-2008, 07:21 PM

My Father would use the clip from the bread bag when I was a kid. I don't use a pick right now, but I think that I need to develope my technique for when jamming acoustically with my ABG. To this end I tried out a felt pick with a Dean Markley playmate and it was not as much of a difference in volume as I would have hoped although it was a good sound.

CB

CB

Vandelay · #20 03-07-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curtybob

I've been playing with a leather pick lately. Very similar to the felt, but lasts a bit longer after a bit of modification. I took some full grain leather, filleted it open, and put a few drops of polyester resin (fiberglass resin) between the 2 fillets to stick them back together, and to add a bit of backbone to help the leather stay stiffer a bit longer. It worked nicely, but I need to make a few more, I just tossed my last one over the weekend. But they work great... by design, one side is fuzzy, and makes for the best grip.

My instructor showed me a leather-wrapped pick recently. I believe there's an actual plastic pick inside, covered by leather. It sounded a lot like fingerstyle! I'm not sure where you buy them, but I'd like to have a couple.