dawg pics

[bush-man]

I was thinking of buying some off Ebay. Anyone have any input /opinion on them? I like the rounded edges, but I'm not sure of the heavy stiffness of them. I like a heavy pick, but I like a litte flexibility.

[Greenmando]

I love them. I have been buying mine direct from Carmel Music (http://www.carmelmusic.com/stocklist/dawgpicks1.html)

[groveland]

Love them and the Golden Gates of the same shape. #Essential to producing the fat tone I love, and provide a great range of tones by changing the pick angle slightly. #Stiff, smooth, easy to grip, tremolo is a cinch, speed and accuracy... The only pick I use.

Those are my enthusiastic thoughts. I sound like a commercial, but no financial interest.

[Chris Biorkman]

I'm not really a fan. I always had difficulty getting enough volume with the Dawg pick, and the clicking sound I heard when using it drove me nuts. If you like a rounded pick, I would suggest looking into the Wegen M100. It's a little pricey, but it's much easier to generate volume and it doesn't sound soft like the Dawg pick. It's also 1 mm thick (I think the Dawg is 2 mm, possibly thicker).

I guess it really comes down to what you are used to. Some people really love the Dawg pick.

[JEStanek]

The Dawg pick is my favorite. You can get all sorts of tones out of them with different angles / attacks. For me, I get less pick click than with others. I didn't like the Golden Gates as much, maybe a placebo thing??? The JazzMando larger size are nice too. But the Dawg has been my favorite for a good while now.

Jamie

[GeoMandoAlex]

I found the same problem with the Dawgs (less volume). I like the Wegen M150.

[Greenmando]

I found the same problem with the Dawgs (less volume)
Get a louder mandolin # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[bush-man]

Thanks for all the input, I think I'll give them a try.

[fredfrank]

I think these are fine as long as you like round picks. There are folks who like to play with round picks, and some who like points on the pick. If you like pointy picks, you probably won't like Dawgs.

[Walter Newton]

If you're familiar with, say, how a Golden Gate compares to a regular teardrop guitar pick, they're even more rounded and dark sounding - too much for me personally, though you should definitely give one a try (and they do look cool). PM me your address and I'll mail you one. FWIW I like Wegen M150, GG, and Ultex picks.

[nickster]

I use a dawg pick for all of my playing. I could never go back to a thinner pick. A golden gate is a nice pick also. These thicker rounder picks will bring the best sound out of your mandolin. If you have been playing with a thinner pick for some years it will take some getting use to.

Nick

[garyblanchard]

I generally do not like picks and play most instruments with my fingers. When playing melody on the mandolin, however, a pick is unavoidable for me. The guys at Acousticopia in Annapolis gave me a Dawg pick and I now won't use anything else. I have not found a local vendor here in central Massachusetts, and many mail-order companies want to charge as much for shipping 6 picks as the cost of the picks. I am hoping to find a good source soon, as my last Dawg pick is in sad shape.

Wow, just checked the Carmel Music link. Guess I found my source. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[AlanN]

When I first started playing, I recall seeing a publicity photo of the Osborne Brothers - slick, Nashville look to it with the guys in shiny suits -and Bobby had a perfectly round pick stuck in the strings. I figured that is what I need to use to get that sound. Have used a round pick ever since.

[tnpathfinder]

Another vote for the Dawg and GG picks. I really like them. I need to try a M150 though.

[bush-man]

I ordered the golden gate picks and the dawg picks from ebay. I have always used the rounded edge of picks for my mandolin playing. I am only just coming back to the instrument after about a 25 year hiatus. hehehe Back then there were'nt any dawg picks. I used to look for heavy guage and as rounded an edge as possible. I never liked the pointy picks, but that's just me. I'll let you know what I think of them when I get them. btw... where do you find Wegen M150 picks? I've not seen them or know anything about them.

russell

[45ACP-GDLF5]

Hey bush-man!

I've used the Golden Gates for years. They're great! The Dawg pick is too thick for my taste. It produces a different sound. You can find the Wegens at Greg Boyd's website located on the Home page here at the Cafe. I bought some 100's from them and I should have got the 150's instead. They come pre-beveled and sound real good. They also have ivoroid picks which they make there in their shop. It's the same material used in the binding on a lot of mandolins. Point of interest: The Golden Gates are the same picks that used to be the David Grisman signature picks, of which I still have a dozen of. They have his sig. embossed on the front in gold. Good luck! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Steve G]

I ordered some new Dawgs a while back and they seem thicker than my old one. It's probably me but it just feels and sounds that way. The Wegans are great but can be a little scratchy. I always come back to the Pro-Plec. One note: double stop tremelos up the neck w/ a Dawg sounds pretty clanky.

[BradB]

I have been frustrated recently with trying to find a pick that I like. I like the larger rounded triangle shape and after much experimenting I had pretty much settled on the ProPlec. The Golden Gate was a little too rounded and I couldn't get a lot of volume from them. The Wegen TF120 and TF140 are a little too bright, and I even find the Wegen M150 a little too bright and scratchy.

So even though I really like the tone of the ProPlec, after some more experimenting recently I found that a pick that thick and with that much point limits my speed. It seems to get hung up just a bit on the strings. The GG and M150 are faster but the GG doesn't get enough volume with a light grip and the M150 is too bright and scratchy.

Any others I should try? I already have hundreds of picks at home, a few more won't hurt.

[Steve G]

Doesn't Michael Wegan make an M150 with a regular bevel if you ask him? Has anybody out there custom ordered?

[tin ben dur]

I love my Dawg pick because it gives me a different sound. I think it sounds alittle deaper or warmer. I do like the mm150's alot and use them the most.

[Walter Newton]

Brad, take a look here (http://www.thekernels.com/mandoliner/torkepick.html), maybe you can try shaping your own picks to a shape that works better for you?

[Glassweb]

To me the Dawg picks are tone killers. Yes, they give that "warm, fat sound", but to me that sound is kinda dead. No highs, lots of pick noise and you really don't hear the character of the mandolin. Also, I recently started using the Tortis style B pick and man, this thing is the dog! Expensive yes, but a great sound and feel. I've tried all the picks including Wegen, Dawg, Golden Gate, Pro Plec etc... but for my money, Tortis is it. And I recently switched to using the point instead of the rounded end. More control, more tone and more volume... so there you go...
Picks are such a personal thing... everyone eventually finds what's best for them - and then change from time to time!

(:o)

[koaparlor]

I don't care for the dawg picks. #I can't get good volume with them and they sort of sound dead. #I think they are too soft of a material or something. #They are cheap enough to try though, so you may as well get one and see for yourself. #

I'm using a Tortis Mondo and I personally feel that it has the best tone, volume, and feel of any pick by far. #I've got 3. #One that I've been using for over a year now that I keep in a D'Addario pick pouch in my case, one still in the original bag in my case for a backup, and one in the original bag in my desk drawer for a backup to the backup. #$20 a pick seems like a lot, but you definately will take more care in knowing where it is at all times.

[Chris "Bucket" Thomas]

My Tortis Mondo broke.........

It was not thru mis-use. The only place it had ever been was "pick'in" or in the case.

I have heard of others having problems.

[koaparlor]

Wow, you broke one? #Now I'm a bit paranoid. #I've been using the same one extensively for over a year now and play pretty hard at times. #They seem to have no flex in them at all. #I love them and hope I never break one.

[cgwilsonjr]

The Dawg picks are good but I prefer the Wegen M-150 and the Tortis picks.

[pickinpete]

Wow, you broke one? #Now I'm a bit paranoid. #I've been using the same one extensively for over a year now and play pretty hard at times. #They seem to have no flex in them at all. #I love them and hope I never break one.
Yea, I broke one too. started with one corner breaking off and I super glued it back on, but within a week it broke into pieces while I played. Last $20 pick I'll ever buy. I got a 12 pack of clayton gold's for less and they sound just like em. I use the rounded triangle.

[fredfrank]

I've got quite a few of the tortis style C shapes. Never broke one. But they are a bit like playing with a rock. Last summer I went to playing with a politically incorrect pick, now I can't use anything else. Now I've got jillions of plastic and tortis picks I'll never use.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[danoNC]

I've always been a fan of the Golden Gate picks, but I reshape them with some sandpaper to get a bit more of a point (not as pointed as a typical guitar pick). I've tried the Dawg and
Proplec picks, but I didn't care for either, even after reshaping. To me, the GG picks just have the right feel. Maybe it's the density of the material....To each his or her own I guess.
DJ

[GDAEb]

Aren't the dawg picks primarily for heavier strung, arch-top mandolins? You wouldn't use one on a flatop mando with light strings, would you?

[BradB]

Aren't the dawg picks primarily for heavier strung, arch-top mandolins? You wouldn't use one on a flatop mando with light strings, would you?
That's the general concensus, but it's all a matter of personal taste. On my archtop f-hole mandolin I like a heavy semi-rounded pick like the ProPlec or Golden Gate. On my archtop oval hole mandolin (copy of an old Gibson A model) I like a slightly thinner, less rounded pick like a Clayton 1.2mm or Wegen TF120.

[bush-man]

I recieved my first dawg pics today. Firstly I have to say that they feel nice in the hand. Just touching all the smoothness is kind of tactically soothing. Holding it to pick with is another matter. It's a bit big for my tastes. And the sound it makes is incredibly different then I am used to. I was amazed at the tonal difference of using this pick compared to my usual fender heavys, mediums etc. Using it produces a softer warmer tone. I have to really dig in to make the mando bark. On rhythm I found the pick to be fantastic. I can really get multiple rythmic chops singing with this pick. Single note picking is more of a challange. I am starting to get used to it and picking more easily then when I started trying it out. I realize that you have to get used to using this style pick, so I will keep at it. Still on there way are Golden Gates, Wegen-150, and Dawg premium horn mock tortoise. I never realized that picks made such a difference, but I am having fun experimenting.

russell

[bush-man]

Okay after about 8 hrs of off and on playing, I think I am getting used to this pick. One thing I have to say is that tremello with this pick is fantastic. I will keep at it. Can't wait to get the others to compare to.

russell

[bush-man]

Ok, thanks to the kind generosity of Chris, [biorkman], I recieved 3 Wegen-150's in the mail today. As soon as I started playing with it, I was happy. It doesn't have that zen, soothing stone feel of the Dawg, but for picking, it feels much better. It's a little smaller which suits me fine, as I find the Dawg's a bit large. The sound is most definetly much brighter then the Dawg pick. I can pick single notes faster with it also. It also produces a much louder sound then the Dawg's. So far I really like this better then the Dawg. I will keep trying both and still have the GG's coming and the Dawg premiums. I'm still amazed at how much of a difference to the sound these various picks produce.

russell
]

[250sc]

Russell,

The Wegen works better for me too. You might try to take an emery board and bevel one of the corners of your Dawg to try to get the best of both worlds. I did this and liked the Dawg more than before since I could turn it and have a different feel but finally just stuck with the Wegen.

[bush-man]

Okay on with the cavalcade of picks. I got my Golden Gate picks yesterday. Right off the bat I loved them. The tone is in between the Wegen and the Dawg, and I love it. Tone wise, for my mando this pick is tops, not too bassy, and not too brilliant. Just a great warm middle tone, that I love. I can get a great attack with the pick and volume wise it's perfect. On the down side, this pick is slippery! Hard to hold on to. The Wegen is the best that way. I like the feel of the Wegen the best. I can produce the most speed with the Wegen. Tone wise the Golden Gate's are hands down my favorites. I still have more picks coming my way and will keep experimenting. So far the Dawg picks are my least favorite of the 3 I've tried. I still am amazed at the difference picks make.


russell

[45ACP-GDLF5]

Hey bush-man! I've been using the GG's for 20 years and believe me, I've tried hundreds of picks. They are the all-around best pick for me. I know they are slippery, but I use "Gorilla Snot" to fix that, but not always. The speed with these picks will come in short order. They seem to bring out the volume in mandolins. The Dawg pick just doesn't feel or sound right for some reason. They are good picks though. I kinda wish the GG's were the same size as the Dawg circumference-wise. I take it by your handle that you're a Sam Bush fan? He is my mandolin hero, while Doyle Lawson is my mentor. Keep on pickin' http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif


gaither

[bush-man]

A lot of time has gone by and I can report that the Golden Gates are without a doubt my favorite pick. They just do it all for me. All the others have admirable qualities, but none combine all the features that the GG give me, tone speed etc. Oh and 45ACP-GDLF5, yes I am a fan of Mr Sam Bush.

russell

[45ACP-GDLF5]

The GG's are just right! They used to be, years ago, the David Grisman Signature pick that had his name on them. The company, and David, I guess, decided to put their logo on it and that's what we have now. I still have about a dozen of those Grisman picks. The DAWG pick has a different feel and sound to it and I've tried, but I can't get the same sound out of them for some reason. They're thicker and I think that is it. I have some though. I use a little "Gorilla Snot" and that helps with the slick feel to the GGs. Yes sir, bush-man...Sam is the MAN when it comes to mandolin pickin!!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif