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  • Guitar pick materials...

    Lately I've been wanting to check out if the material in guitar picks actually make a difference in the tone. I've been particularly interested in the stone picks, but I've also seen shell, bone and wood picks that look pretty cool. I noticed most people that use these kinds of picks play acoustic; I rarely see electric players using them.

    One of the reviewers on a stone pick site said he used his stone pick to play hair metal type stuff. I like to play 80's hard rock, metal, power metal and I'm wondering if these stone picks would effect the tone in a positive way.

    Wouldn't be a good thread without photos...

    Stone Picks



    Wood Picks



    Mother of Pearl Picks



    Do any of you guys use stone, wood, shell, bone or any other type of guitar pick? If you do, how do you like them?
    Jackson ke3 kelly trans blue
    Jackson Dk2m bengal with emg 81/85

  • #2
    Originally posted by Maiden89 View Post
    Lately I've been wanting to check out if the material in guitar picks actually make a difference in the tone.
    Yes, it does make a difference. The shape of the point you hit the string with makes a difference too.

    I've tried copper, stainless steel, a six pence, stone, Big Stubbies, nylon, Tortex, Ultrex, celluloid and polyacetal. Harder materials have a brighter more biting attack. Softer materials soften the attack and make it not as bright. A sharp point creates a more precise, definable attack and a rounded point make it sound smoother. A serrated edge (e.g. the side of a quarter) add some swishiness to the attack. You can also add angle of attack into the equation as well. Slicing the string perpendicularly is brighter and more precise than attacking it at a parallel angle.

    Most pics are cheap but even if they're not it's worth experimenting with them if you don't like your current picks. I finally settled on Ibanez Grip Wizard which they discontinued but I was able to pick up around 500 of them at least.

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by Matt_B View Post
      Yes, it does make a difference. The shape of the point you hit the string with makes a difference too.

      I've tried copper, stainless steel, a six pence, stone, Big Stubbies, nylon, Tortex, Ultrex, celluloid and polyacetal. Harder materials have a brighter more biting attack. Softer materials soften the attack and make it not as bright. A sharp point creates a more precise, definable attack and a rounded point make it sound smoother. A serrated edge (e.g. the side of a quarter) add some swishiness to the attack. You can also add angle of attack into the equation as well. Slicing the string perpendicularly is brighter and more precise than attacking it at a parallel angle.

      Most pics are cheap but even if they're not it's worth experimenting with them if you don't like your current picks. I finally settled on Ibanez Grip Wizard which they discontinued but I was able to pick up around 500 of them at least.
      +1` One of my older siblings lives in Hawaii and he sent me a pick with my initials on it. The picks made out of whale bone and the guy who put my initials on it used a technique called "Scrimshaw." It does have a brighter attack than any other pick I've ever used. I really don't ever play with it though because it's not comfortable for me.
      This is what I think of Gibson since 1993. I HATE BEING LEFT HANDED! I rock out to Baby metal because Wilkinsi said I can't listen to Rick Astley anymore.

      Comment


      • #4
        But a big question for electric players is:
        does tone matter or are you getting tone from the gadgets.

        Comment


        • #5
          Most of the time I plug straight into a Boss chorus pedal and directly into the amp so yes....Tone matters to me.
          This is what I think of Gibson since 1993. I HATE BEING LEFT HANDED! I rock out to Baby metal because Wilkinsi said I can't listen to Rick Astley anymore.

          Comment


          • #6
            I always use the green dunlop picks.. to me they are the perfect thickness and feel..

            as for tone.. it matters but I believe tone comes from the fingers more so than any gadget..
            GEAR:
            #1 2001 MIJ Jackson DK-2 (IG Smoke Stack II,IG Pig Iron & 79' Gibson T-Top)
            #2 1995 MIK modded Fender squire (IG Rollings Mills,SD SC-101, IG Iron Slag)

            #3 2001 MIK Squier Stagemaster Deluxe[Fender TripleBucker]
            #4 2007 MIJ DKMG/DXMG Jackson (IG VOLTS)
            #5 1985 MIA Gibson SG Special (EMG 85 & H)
            #6 1999 MIK ESP LTD M107
            AMPS:
            1989 Randall RG 100 ES;Randall RH 200;Peavey 412 ms;two Early 70's Woodson 212's
            ART SGX 2000 w/x15 ultrafoot;ART MutiVerb

            Comment


            • #7
              I agree that most tone comes from the fingers and hands; in fact, a lot of the times I use my fingernail to pick when I can't find picks laying around. A pick is a tool that becomes part of your sound though... Once you experiment with pick thickness, shape size and material it opens up a lot more to your playing, in my opinion.

              I think I'm gonna get a stone, koa wood and seashell pick to experiment with. Their not cheap though, I'm gonna have to be a lot more careful with not losing them.
              Jackson ke3 kelly trans blue
              Jackson Dk2m bengal with emg 81/85

              Comment


              • #8
                Pick material and thickness affects the attack part of your tone. The more your pick the more you notice it.

                Comment


                • #9
                  The thicker the pick the warmer the sound is what it seems like to me.
                  I use V picks usually and 1.5 is the thinnest I use but do use a 2.75 on a particularly bright guitar.
                  The point and how sharp it is does make some difference.
                  These pics are all over a year old and get used everyday so the durability of V picks are outstanding.
                  I like the material because once the get warmed up they stick to your fingers and you don't drop them.
                  Attached Files
                  Last edited by straycat; 12-06-2013, 07:59 PM.
                  Really? well screw Mark Twain.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by pianoguyy View Post
                    But a big question for electric players is:
                    does tone matter or are you getting tone from the gadgets.
                    Don't shoot the messenger, it was just a question. Lol
                    i mean, the minute you use a compressor your tone dies. Then we add an eq to bring back what was taken away, but we bring out some highs and add some lows.

                    Picks. Cords. Amps. Strings. everything makes a difference, but the gadgets make up the differences we don't make ourselves.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Try some of the Dava nickel picks. They are plastic but have a nickel leading edge embedded. It can add a lot of snap and brightness to the tone. Great for single note stuff or 'janglier' tones.
                      GTWGITS! - RacerX

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Straycat mentioned the V-Picks and I like them a lot - the Screamers, especially. I was using those and Big Stubbys until I tried Gravity Picks, I really dig those - they are a bit higher in price but he sends you a free pick with your order so it kind of evens things out.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Still using jazz IIIs, but the ones with the grips. If I loose all my picks, I just grab a plastic bread tie
                          Gear https://images.imgbox.com/e4/00/IxQywXkV_o.jpg

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            ok some of these pics look awesome.. might have to try a few out
                            GEAR:
                            #1 2001 MIJ Jackson DK-2 (IG Smoke Stack II,IG Pig Iron & 79' Gibson T-Top)
                            #2 1995 MIK modded Fender squire (IG Rollings Mills,SD SC-101, IG Iron Slag)

                            #3 2001 MIK Squier Stagemaster Deluxe[Fender TripleBucker]
                            #4 2007 MIJ DKMG/DXMG Jackson (IG VOLTS)
                            #5 1985 MIA Gibson SG Special (EMG 85 & H)
                            #6 1999 MIK ESP LTD M107
                            AMPS:
                            1989 Randall RG 100 ES;Randall RH 200;Peavey 412 ms;two Early 70's Woodson 212's
                            ART SGX 2000 w/x15 ultrafoot;ART MutiVerb

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              V picks will send a few extras to try free of charge too.
                              V pick screamer is one of my faves but the red rocker and switchblade work the best for me.
                              They might be pricy but they last a very long time so well worth the money IMO.
                              I have a screamer thats over 3 years old now and its still in great shape.
                              Last edited by straycat; 12-10-2013, 12:53 AM.
                              Really? well screw Mark Twain.

                              Comment

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