Dawg pick = tone heaven

[walshb]

I finally tried my Dawg pick again the other night. I had given up on it because the volume just wasn't there, compared to any of my other picks. I've been using a Golden Gate which sounds great and the volume isn't bad with it. And I've grown accustomed to it, if ya know what I mean.
But the Dawg pick just takes things one step further, it brings out the sweet tone that I hear so much on recordings, it's so mellow and it's awesome. My Eastman has never sounded so good.
And to think, I started out using thin, pointy guitar picks on the mando...

[250sc]

If you have an extra one and feel like experimenting take an emery board and bevel the edges of one of the corners like a Wegen and try that out.

[bluegrassjack2]

Are you saying to make one of the edges 'thinner' or rounder?

[fiddler]

I've had a similar experience with the Dawg pick, and it also took me a while to begin to appreciate it. Sweet, rounded sound. With normal pressure the sound is on the soft side, but when I drive it hard I do get plenty of volume, just not the brighter kind of loudness you get from a pointier pick. Anyway, I just ordered a dozen this morning.

[Tom C]

I started with the Dawgs and Golden Gates. But I find if I am pushed to my limits as far as speed, I start brushing or missing the strings. #I like the Wagen 1.0mm #It has a little more shape to it. Plus I find 1.5mm too thick.

[straight-a]

When you have a mandolin with the power that "Crusher" has, you don't have to deal with the volume issue. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Philip Halcomb]

I had the same experience with the Dawg pick at first. Just keep at it and the volume will come as you get used to it and learn how to hit with it. Now I get as much volume if not more with the Dawg pick then any other. It takes a little getting used to at first, especially when you're used to standard guitar picks.

[Peter Hackman]

I once tried agate stone picks for my guitar.
They were about 3-4 mm thick, and you could play
really fast with them. But there was too much noise,
might work better on mando, or electric.

Normally I use 1.2 mm Dunlop Tortex picks for both guitar
and mandolin, or similar (but larger)
Larrive picks. Lately I've been experimenting with Dawg
picks, and some similar, and even thicker, brand.
I might arrive at a cleaner attack with these.

Another method would be to practise more ...

[Eugene]

And to think, I started out using thin, pointy guitar picks on the mando...
I use even thinner, pointier old-school mandolin picks on mando...and I like'em that way.

[250sc]

bluegrassjack2,

I asume your asking me if you should make the edges thiner or rounder.

I suggested creating a bevel on the leading edge of the pick. If you've ever had a pick for a long time you might have notice it gets worn where it hits the string and becomes kind of sharp. The Wegen picks come beveled like that and it's easy to do yourself with a standard emery board, used for filiing your nails. When I did this to a Dawg pick I liked it better than when it had the standard bevel from the manufacturer.

[glauber]

I also started with Dawgs and moved to pointier picks. I think pointier picks are harder to use in the beginning, but i prefer the tone i get with them. I almost said they give better tone, but i realize this is a matter of personal preference. I prefer stiff picks over flexible ones.

[tjg]

Try D'Andrea ProPlecs. #Same thickness as Dawg picks, I believe, corners are more pointed. #I moved from Dawgs to ProPlecs and found volume increases, but only because I was probably hitting the strings with more pick. #Anyway, I like them better.

[BlueMountain]

Have a look at how this pick is beveled: http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/TORTM-SPB-H.htm
You can do that with an emory board. I use a piece of 220 sandpaper taped to a a sheet of 1/4 inch aluminum (wood will work). You can do an entire pick this way in about two or three minutes. Why? The thinner edge yields a much snappier sound, but the thick pick yields much less pick noise (versus string noise) than would a pick that is a thin all over as the tip of the filed pick. The intent is not something really thin, but a bevel. Again, see the link for a good photo. There are guitars players who use such soft picks that the primary sound that comes over the P.A. system is the sound of their pick, not their amplified strings. Mandolin players don't want to hear the pick (do we?). I have a dozen 1.5 mm. ProPlec pics. For my money, I won't use them without filing--there's not enough attack to them. I prefer a 0.96 mm. Dunlop Gator with a bevel filed on the tips. They have a very pronounced snap to them (sound, not action), and I really like that sort of sassy, strutting sound.

[Milan Christi]

I, too, just dug my Dawg pick out of my supply tin the other night and was pleasantly surprised at the tone. I remember when I bought them I couldn't control them at all. Now with several more months' practice under my belt I'm able to control them and actually get some nice sounds out of them.

My Dutch, bass-playing buddy calls me a "pick nerd". I can't imagine wht he would say if I told him I was putting more bevel on the edges. (But I'm gonna try it anyway.)

[luckylarue]

It's funny, I use both the Dawg and Golden Gate picks almost exclusively, yet I find the newer Dawg picks to be louder than the G. Gates. I still like the older, smaller Dawg picks and the Clown Barfs the best.

[cgwilsonjr]

I have and use many fine picks: Golden gate, old and new Dawg picks, Pro-plec and Tortis. Currently I am favoring the Wegen, that beveled edge is amazing.

[sgarrity]

I have tried and tried using Dawg pics. I just can't get any volume. A Wegen 1.5mm mando pic works perfect for me. The speed bevel makes all the difference in the world.

[dudlebug23]

I love the DAWG pick. If you're not looking for volume in a band setting and you just want to see what your mando is supposed to sound like, use one. Wow. I used one in a recording for a wedding I made, and it sounded wonderful. Smoothe, full, etc. I'm using one right now with my Weber mandola, amazing. Try one if you haven't.

[scgc.om]

One word: Wegen!

[Peter Hackman]

Try D'Andrea ProPlecs. Same thickness as Dawg picks, I believe, corners are more pointed. I moved from Dawgs to ProPlecs and found volume increases, but only because I was probably hitting the strings with more pick. Anyway, I like them better.
yes, that's the one I tried; 1.5 mm, same size
appr. as a Larrivee pick, larger than a Dawg.
It's smooth. Looking around the house for it
I also found a Dunlop Tortex, 2mm. A bit small, but
smooth, too.

[walshb]

After all the Wegen comments, I guess I'm just gonna have to try one out. Thanks everyone for your input! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif