Picks

[firstchair]

I was wondering what kind of picks you use? Since I've never seen mandolin picks do you use guitar picks? Also what is the brand and thickness?

[12 fret]

There are some picks specifcally designed for mandolin such as the Dawg and Grisman styles. Next to the instrument, picks are probably the most individual and personal choice. I tinker with then incessantly and my current choice is the triangular horn picks from Saga that I reshape to more pointed tips and add a deep bevel all around. On commercially produced picks, I like the Fender 346 in heavy or ex heavy gauge. I use the same for mandolin, guitar and tenor banjo. Everyone is different so don't expect a consensus

[Don Christy]

As 12fret said, it's a very personal decision. I've tried a ton of picks and suggest that you try several of the ones that we most often see experienced players use.

I recommend buying one of each of the following, using it for at least a week and seeing what you think:
- Dunlop Ultex Tri - 1.0mm
- Dawg
- Golden Gate
- Proplec tri-corner 1.5mm
- Wegen TF-140 (1.4 mm)
- Tortis - Taterbug Special (Mike Compton)

I started with Dunlop and tried several others but kept coming back to the Ultex. My current favorite is the Wegen, but I'm trying out a Tortis that I bought from Mike Compton.

Don

[firstchair]

My local music store doesn't have any mandolin picks. Is there sites that you go to that have good deals?

[Don Christy]

Elderly carries a fair number:
Wegen TF-140 (http://elderly.com/accessories/items/WP-TF140-WHT.htm)
Dunlop Ultex (http://elderly.com/accessories/items/PK426P-114.htm)
Tortis Triangle (http://elderly.com/accessories/names/tortis-style-c-large-triangle-pick--TORTC.htm)
Tortis Mondo (http://elderly.com/accessories/names/tortis-mondo-rounded-triangle-pick--TORTM.htm)
D'Andrea Pro-346 "Pro-Plec" (http://elderly.com/accessories/names/d%27andrea-pro-346-pro-plec-pak--PRO346.htm)

Don

[fwoompf]

My Tortis mike compton taterbug special is my favorite

[Ronbo]

I am using the new version of the Dawg picks.

[Blork]

My favorite pick, one I've never heard recommended here are the Ultra Cool Carbon Fiber Picks. They have a nice semi-rounded shape, a very responsive sound due to the hardness of the material, and cheapo rubber grip dots that wear away after a few hours. Makes a great pick and wears down to your playing style as the pick ages.

[gregjones]

In the last month I've bought the Dawg, Golden Gate, Wegen, the Elderly "turtle", those from www.mandolinbridge.com and several others.

I just refuse to pay $30 for a pick, so the Red Bear was excluded. #If it's $30 worth of good, so be it. #I come from the days of 25 cent/5 a dollar Fenders. #$5 apiece for the Wegen's streatched the limit to right at it's breaking point.

All in all, I've spent enough in the last several months on mandolin picks to keep several generations of Strat players supplied.

IMHO: #If you like Wegen contact mandolinbridge. #Spend 15 seconds with a nail file and you won't be disappointed. #Plus you'll #have enough cash to buy a 6 of your favorite beverage.

I use the Golden Gates.

[elvisNoir]

I was wondering what kind of picks you use? Since I've never seen mandolin picks do you use guitar picks? Also what is the brand and thickness?

My 2¢ is that as others have said it is an individual thing, depending on taste, style, your mando, and technique.

Many of the picks that others use I cannot abide. Some are too bright and clicky, and some dull the sound too much. Some picks work pretty well, but are just not as nice as the ones that I like. Some picks are one-trick pickys: the Wegen I have (an asymmetric triangle) produces only OK tone, but it is louder than any other pick I have. If I wanted to play rhythm in a group I would use it.

As someone mentioned above, the good old Fender heavy (brown/fake tortise) is a good pick for mandos and for guitars. I sand down the end a bit on some of mine when I want to play with the treble dialed down a bit. They are a good starting point.

[Kevin Briggs]

To each his own. I like those 1.5 ProPlecs. They produce a great tone, last a decent amount of time, and are not too expensive.

[Jim Broyles]

My local music store doesn't have any mandolin picks. Is there sites that you go to that have good deals?
In actuality your local store probably has some 346 shape, which is the rounded triangle in heavy or extra heavy. Many players like these. They may not have Dawg or Golden Gate picks, but you should be able to find a selection you like at your store. I bet most players use what is technically called a "guitar" pick for mandolin. My personal favorite is the Dunlop Ultex 1.14 mm triangle. They also work in the standard 351 (typical Fender guitar pick) shape.

[Jason Holmes]

I'd say order some from First Quality Music Supply or Elderly Music. I did that a couple of years back, ordered a pick sampler of sorts, and for $20 worth of assorted picks, I learned a lot about what I like and don't like. On a side note, I always find it funny that people will spend thousands on an instrument, and then be unwilling to spend more than 25 cents on a pick. The pick you use does make a huge difference, regardless of which one in particular you decide to use.

On the cheaper end, I think the 1.5mm D'Andrea Pro Plecs are a very good pick for little money, though the JazzMando Pro Plecs are even better http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif for a few cents more. I personally lean toward Tortis picks (I use a Tri Tip and a Mondo, 1.7mm and 1.5mm respectively) and Wegen picks (I use an M150 and a TF140, 1.5mm and 1.4mm repectively). I find that these are easy to play with (relatively speaking) and pull a big tone out of my instrument with very little pick noise. I don't think I could get that kind of tone from a Fender heavy, no offense to Fender heavies of course.

[12 fret]

I love to tinker with these things and while they are the least expensive of all your equipment, they make a BIG difference in sound. I had some picks that I liked the shape and feel but they sounded way too dark , almost dull. I added a little more bevel and a little more point and they sounded great. It pays to experiment with picks at least as much as you would with strings.

[NoNickel]

I loved the Taterbugs, but I really whip the old mando, and I keeping breaking them. It's not just the Taterbugs though, as I have broken several Tortis C's as well. They are too expensive to keep breaking them, so I went to Pro-Plecs, which are a pretty good substitute, and they don't break. I do wear one out in about a week though.

[MLT]

I have a couple that I float back and forth between depending on my mood...

# The new Jazz Mando ProPlec 1.5 MM (http://jazzmando.com/jazzmando_picks.shtml)
# and
# The Dunlop 207

[Caleb]

I only found one shop in my area that sells "mandolin" picks, so I picked up 2 Golden Gates, which I like....but for guitar. They are nice for doing TReMoLo, but I think they make kind of a "dud" sound for everything else on the mando, but they work really nice for my Larrivee dread with heavy strings. #I started using the orange Tortex (with dinosaur head on it) for mandolin and they work pretty good. #You can get a nice loud sound, but the pointy end is tricky for doing trem sounds. #I've found that switching around and using the more rounded ends works pretty good, but its hard to switch on the fly during a tune. But then again, I'm a terrible mandolin player too, so that's probably part of the problem.

[12 fret]

Doesn't your herpetology need some work too? I think thats a turtle head on Tortex , not a dinosaur. The logo Tyrannoex wouldn't fit on the pick:D http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Caleb]

Doesn't your herpetology need some work too? I think thats a turtle head on Tortex , not a dinosaur. The logo Tyrannoex wouldn't fit on the pick:D http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Actually, they have 2 different styles; the ones with the turtles and the ones with the dino heads.

[Chris Biorkman]

I really like the Wegen M150. It's a rounded 1.5 mm thick pick that works great for mandolin. You can find them on Greg Boyd's website.

[12 fret]

I stand corrected, never seen the dino head models

[jk245]

Dave has the best at
http://www.redbeartrading.com/

Tortis picks are the thing, unless you do not think that your big bucks investment in your instrument is not worth a $20 pick.

I prefer a B 'medium' but the B 'thins' are also good.

It is best to dress them to your personal taste. I like almost a knife edge.

Most users say that they are devastated when they lose their favorite Tortis. (Always have a spare).

[MandoSquirrel]

Doesn't your herpetology need some work too? I think thats a turtle head on Tortex , not a dinosaur. The logo Tyrannoex wouldn't fit on the pick:D http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Actually, they have 2 different styles; the ones with the turtles and the ones with the dino heads.

Sure it's not a Gator?
I find different instruments & different playing styles call for different picks, not that I can't use the same, but certain types work better. "Classical" styles call for a more pointy pick, Bluegrass, etc., more rounded. That gives the "351" shape an advantage, but I usually use those only for the "Classical" style stuff, such as Duo style. I otherwise like a "heftier" handful of pick such as the "346" shape or more rounded. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Caleb]

Doesn't your herpetology need some work too? I think thats a turtle head on Tortex , not a dinosaur. The logo Tyrannoex wouldn't fit on the pick:D http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Actually, they have 2 different styles; the ones with the turtles and the ones with the dino heads.

Sure it's not a Gator?
I find different instruments & different playing styles call for different picks, not that I can't use the same, but certain types work better. "Classical" styles call for a more pointy pick, Bluegrass, etc., more rounded. That gives the "351" shape an advantage, but I usually use those only for the "Classical" style stuff, such as Duo style. I otherwise like a "heftier" handful of pick such as the "346" shape or more rounded. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
I guess it is actually a gator. I always thought it was a dinosaur. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Alex Orr]

I picked up 2 Golden Gates, which I like....but for guitar. They are nice for doing TReMoLo, but I think they make kind of a "dud" sound for everything else on the mando, but they work really nice for my Larrivee dread with heavy strings.
Durn...heavy strings on a Larrivee? You're really putting that thing through it's paces, aren't you? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

I felt the same way about the GG. They just sounded so dull. Granted I'm playing a Kentucky 350S, so it's not the highest-end instrument in the world. Still, the tone was awful compared to using a Clayton...or almost anything else.

However, the Wegen's have produced the best of both worlds with great sound, excellent feel, and a less-pointy edge makes it easier to play tremolo.

That being said, I got very used to playing with a Carbon Fiber Pickboy "reefer", with I think is some odd thickness...like 1.35. I wore a nice bevel into that one and I sometimes still pull it out.

Damn you PAS (Pick Acquisition Syndrome)!!! I went to the Redbear site and now I want one. I too thought $5 for a pick was steep, but now that I've done it, I feel I could go higher. Does this make Wegen picks some sort of gateway pick that leads into full-blown addiction to top-shelf/high price pick consumption? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[12 fret]

One tip for a cheep good one are the 351 style from Martin. Doesn't sound any better than a Fender but the " C F Martin &Co est 1833" takes up like two or 3 lines on the pick. All the embossed lettering creates a grip

[Caleb]

Durn...heavy strings on a Larrivee? #You're really putting that thing through it's paces, aren't you? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Yeah, I guess you could say that. # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

But I also keep it tuned down a full step at all times. #Not only does it sound incredible tuned down lower, it also helps with playability and makes it easier to hit the higher registers on some songs, vocally. #Plus, when you want to tune back up in 440, just slap on a capo and you're there.

My manolin is a Kentucky 380, so I'm not playing the nicest instrument either, but the GG just seemed dead as a doornail. #I've heard much about Clayton picks, so I need to try some soon.

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

[gospelman]

Does anyone else use traditional guitar shaped picks but turn them sideways and use one of the more rounded edges?

[fiddler59]

Does anyone else use traditional guitar shaped picks but turn them sideways and use one of the more rounded edges?
I do......done it for years, works great, Sam Bush does this also !!!

David B

[gh_mando]

I've been a pick turner for over 30 years. Turn the thing when I play guitar as well.

[MandoSquirrel]

I still do that sometimes, but any more, I want to feel more pick in my hand, unless I'm doing the "classical" kinds of things. Meaning, I'm usually using more triangular or rounded picks.