Does pick use affect flatwound lifespan?

[Rayjay]

No, not necessarily, but how hard you work the strings will. I was hoping to get many more years out of my TIs but they got the “death rattle” and I attribute it to a particular song I have to play, which requires some aggressive picking.

 

[Cutter8]

Unless you are using fairly unusual picks (i.e., hardened steel, tungsten, agate, etc.), I don't believe pick playing will have any notable negative effect on flatwounds.

 

[Bobbylon]

Are you worried about making them sound dead? If so, I wouldn't worry since flats sound dead when they are new.

No, I was just wondering about the years of use with a pic. I’ve always picked with rounds or half’s in the past, and replace those every year or more. Wasn’t sure if several years of playing the same flatwounds, the pick in contact with a string, would possibly unravel it or something.

 

[Bobbylon]

Unless you are using fairly unusual picks (i.e., hardened steel, tungsten, agate, etc.), I don't believe pick playing will have any notable negative effect on flatwounds.

I’m using Telefunken 1.6 mm pics. I think they are a combination of graphite and plastic material.

 

[nonohmic]

Not playing cause you don't like the sound will make them last the longest.

 

[Sam Evans]

You could lower flatwounds into a volcano, hold them in there for half an hour, pull them back out, dunk them in motor oil, have them be mauled by a grizzly bear, sneak them into my dinner and have me digest them, and they would still sound great.

In fact, that's the preferred method of breaking in a set of Chromes ...

 

[JW56789]

It may have some effect long-term, I'm thinking about how water will work a channel through a granite outcrop over a few centuries . . . . but hey, you ARE using flatwound picks, right ?

 

[Pimpernel Smith]

you ARE using flatwound picks, right ?

That's brilliant.

 

[JW56789]

Thanks, Brother Smith.

 

[MrLenny1]

Nothing has a negative effect on flat wounds.
They always sound the same, new or old.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Aren’t flatwound strings immortal ??

The grunge from our fingers is part of what dulls/ages strings over time, so playing with a pick might actually make them last longer!

I’d also say they’d last longer.

Just avoid pick scraping (along length of string, a rock guitarist technique) as 1) it could get caught in the open gaps between the winds & damage them, & 2) It’d prob sound like poop on flats.

I’ve seen coated strings wear, and even Tapewounds strings wear from heavy pic use.

 

[Road Hat]

I've been using TI flats for over twenty years, exclusively a heavy pick player, and the picks won't wear the string. I find palm muting and sweat have a bigger impact, especially if I don't clean up afterwards.

 

[atayzop]

I've been playing LaBella LTFs with a pick for the past 6 months with no issues. techzpod mobdro download