Try a leather pick.

[lark_z]

https://www.amazon.com/SkinTone-Leather-Guitar-Pick-Brown/dp/B01MSACYLQ

 

[Oddly]

I'm mainly a fingers-player, but yes, I've used both felt and leather picks too and been very happy with them.

I'm liking @Bass V 's idea of a hybrid for added strength as another option.

 

[bearhart74]

Can't you just make a pic out of tort and be done with it?

 

[Fight4Bottom]

I use a felt pick and it works well. No scratchy-scratch sound from my lack of technique.

I just remembered using a felt pick when I first started playing bass. I think it was a ukulele pick, or something. I quite liked the sound, but the shedding made my bass look like it had bad dandruff.

 

[jd56hawk]

Tried leather, tried felt...moved onward and upward.
I've been using these for years and they sure ddon't look like that!

 

[MattZilla]

Can't you just make a pic out of tort and be done with it?

real question: if I find remains of a squashed turtle on the side of the road... nevermind.

 

[felis]

Anyone try this for a soft sound?

https://www.amazon.com/FitsT4-Arche...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PA6YYD53ZXZGGS9BRGM9

 

[jd56hawk]

Anyone try this for a soft sound?

https://www.amazon.com/FitsT4-Arche...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PA6YYD53ZXZGGS9BRGM9

For which hand?

 

[PWRL]

Anyone try this for a soft sound?

https://www.amazon.com/FitsT4-Arche...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PA6YYD53ZXZGGS9BRGM9

I've never used that particular model, but in general, those don't have the type of flexibility you'd need to play a bass with.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

I’ve tried leather and I’m sticking with my Gravity, V-Picks (both plexiglass) and my TI picks (titanium). All of these don’t flex, are easy to grip and sound superb.

I’m a big fan of the Mummy V-Pick.

 

[Flamingo21]

For which hand?

Shooting hand.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

For me, a leather pick kind of defeats the purpose of why I would use a pick in the first place.

If I'm going to use a pick, it's to get that percussive attack. If I want a mellow sound I just use my fingers.

Depends on the leather and how it’s treated (leather can get very hard...they did use it for armor in the past).

If you wet and dry it, I’ve found it is more stiff than plastic. With time, the oils re-soften the leather, however.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

Do you have one that still looks new? Would you mind taking a few photos and posting? Front, back, close up of the sides?

No, I lost three newer ones. I’ve tried making some but can’t figure the proper leather, yet. They worked alright, but the depth was off.

 

[retslock]

When I was a kid we didn’t have much money and my dad used to repair our shoes. He used some pretty tough hide and looking back I can see now how thick hide could work as a pick. I’m curious now. I don’t use a pick because I don’t like the sound they make but thick leather might be worth a try.

 

[BarfanyShart]

I've messed around with a bunch of picks over the years, and I most like very dense felt ones as well as thick rubber ones. I imagine the ideal pick would be very hard rubber (or wood) that comes to a rounded point, with the whole thing covered by a softer material like dense felt or leather - like your finger bone covered in flesh, but less flesh and a pointier bone. I haven't seen anybody making something like that, but that is where my imagination takes me.

 

[Luckydog]

Hybrid in what way? It's only partially leather?

the hybrid offspring of domestic cattle and bison is called beefalo. Picks made from beefalo are called pickalos.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

When I was a kid we didn’t have much money and my dad used to repair our shoes. He used some pretty tough hide and looking back I can see now how thick hide could work as a pick. I’m curious now. I don’t use a pick because I don’t like the sound they make but thick leather might be worth a try.

It doesn’t have to be too thick. I think 6 oz leather is adequate as long as it’s stiff tempered. I captured this in a video out of sheer curiosity (couldn’t upload), but here is a shot from the video of a leather pick I made bending two stacked paper clips. This was soft, very pliable leather before treating it.

 

[stratovani]

Is it possible to make a leather pick? Shouldn't be too hard, just fasten a piece of leather to a pick with contact cement and trim to suit. It's getting the leather that might be tough, maybe a craft store like Michael's? Also the type and thickness of leather might have to be considered. Ideas?

 

[fretlessman71]

the hybrid offspring of domestic cattle and bison is called beefalo. Picks made from beefalo are called pickalos.

Sounds like a pastrami hero!

 

[ungearhead]

I use a baseball glove. But seriously, I've never given leather or felt a try. I might now.