V picks

[Hal Loflin]

Has anyone tried these picks? Testimonies please...

I felt sure that they would have already been discussed but could not find a thread through the serach engine.

It they have been discussed please provide the link.

Thanks

[Jim Broyles]

Ted's selling them and I think he's mentioned them a few times.

[Jim Broyles]

Jazzmando Store (http://jazzmando.com/mandolin_vpicks.shtml) The term V pick doesn't seem to show up in searches.

[Daniel Nestlerode]

I've tried the v-pick and the Wegan TF-140. I like the Wegan better, but the v-pick is a nice backup

[Steve Perry]

If you've got a Wegen Hal, (and I bet that you do http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ) I wouldn't bother. #The V-Picks are not that different. #A buddy of mine bought the variety pack and I couldn't get any of them to not make a noticeable pick click. #Heck, I could very lightly just lay the pick on the string and get noise. #After going through a bunch of Red Bears, Wegens, etc, I'm quickly coming to the conclusion that cheap picks are just as cool.

[Brad Weiss]

The good side is they feel fantastic, and the tone they produce is quite dark, which I like. But, they do have a good deal of click to them. I think they're best suited to electric axes, where click would not be audible. Wegens do it for me.

[Austin Koerner]

they do make alot of noise, but I do get alot of power and control out of them. To me Wegens are VERY different, I like the wegens alot more.

[mando.player]

The vpicks have their our signature pick noise. It almost sounds like a rubbing or squeaking. That being said, they are great for busy rhythm work. Think Thile-like strumming with the mutes thrown in.

Speaking of electrics...In my quest to find a decent electric pick I discovered the Dunlop Nylon Big Stubby 3.0mm. It's a pretty good pick for the electric, but it also turns out to be a pretty good pick over all. 3.0mm sounds thick, but it's heavily beveled. After polishing up the edges it's a really nice pick. At 4 for a buck you can't really complain http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Vinni Smith]

Hi all, Vinni Smith here from V-Picks. #I hope it is ok to chat like this. #On some other forums I am not allowed to talk about my product at all. #If I am stepping out of line here, please let me know.

As far as the "Chirp" noise goes, this has been discussed many times before on other forums as well. #I designed these picks back in '85 myself and I have a very odd way of picking. #I tilt the pick the opposite way everyone else does. #I learned to play from a jazz guitarist. #A lot of them play like this because it gets a much more midi and strong tone. It also allows you to play a lot faster and I believe, it is a more ergonomic way to play because it is easier on your wrist.#Anyway, the pick does not chirp at all like this. #Now, I do not expect everyone to change their pick strategy, however, if you just change you pick angle a bit, you will find this noise will go away. #Play with it just a bit flatter to the string, instead of as angled. #The pick is designed to play in a more flatpick style. #The thickness allows for this. #Normally, one would play with a pick on an angle simply because it reduces the friction of the pick on the string. #This is not necessary with the V-Pick due to the thicknes and the bevel design. #Another reason I like to play with the pick in this position is it allows me to mute easier on the bridge with my right hand fat pad.

Please try this and let me know your findings.

Thanks to everyone for trying out our picks. #Thanks so much to Scott also for coming up with this great forum. #I am learning a lot!

P.S......I should add, I am not trying to tell anyone how to play or that I do it right. If I come accross that way, that is the least of my intentions. I know nothing about a mandolin, I only play guitar. So take my opinions for what they are worth.

vinni

[woodwizard]

Oh NO! Helpppppppp! not another pick to try. PAS attack HELPPPPPP!!!!! Save meeeeee!

just kidding http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Albert Whiting]

At least it isnt 35.00. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Hal Loflin]

Thanks for your reply Vinni and your insight into your picks. I have heard alot of good comments about your picks from the guitar flatpicking community. Wondered how they would work on the mandolin. I play both...

I ordered the Acoustic Package to try all three and am looking forward to trying them out on my mandolin as well as my D 35.

PAS is much cheaper than MAS!!!

[Vinni Smith]

Hey, thanks for letting me put in my 2 cents worth.



"PAS is much cheaper than MAS!!!" What does that mean???

[Hal Loflin]

"Pick Aquisition Syndrome (PAS)"

"Mandolin Aquisition Syndrome (MAS)"

Well known disorders here on the cafe...

[Vinni Smith]

I hear that MAS can be worse than GAS. I was checking in on some of those mandolins and WOW. I think I will stick to hand made electric guitars! ;^ )

[Vinni Smith]

BTW, here is a short video I did on pick angle. I talk just a bit about pick chirp with thick picks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNYO-avfy4o


vinni

[powercat]

The good side is they feel fantastic, and the tone they produce is quite dark, which I like. But, they do have a good deal of click to them.
Weird, I thought they produced a brighter tone http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif. Yes, the feel is great, and they grip like a little suction cup. Also I didn't think the click was that bad. A lot less click (squeek?) than the Clayton Acetal, but a tiny bit more than the Clayton Black Raven (my current favorites).

I really like the pointed V-Pick Acoustic lights. I tried the rounded V-pick and did not like it. It was so rounded and smooth that it shot over the strings and would have landed on the floor if it wasn't for that suction grip. I Like the similar Wegen style better, not so slippery on the strings.

The thicker V-Pick Acoustic is pretty good. I generally like a 1.0 to 1.26 MM pick, and have not liked the thicker Dawg or Golden Gates I've tried, but the thicker (2.75?) Acoustic was a lot easier to control and had better tone than either Dawg or Golden Gate. Not bad at all.

Thanks Vinnie for some great picks. I'm going to play with the Acoustic Lights for a while. I quite like them

Of course, my opinions. YMMV. NFI.

[Treetopper]

I purchased a variety of picks from Vinny, one of them just did not do the trick for me. I called Vinny and he suggested that I send it back and he would replace it with one that I liked. He CALLED me and asked how I liked the new pick. Now that is customer service. I like the large picks with the rounded tip. They are easy to handle and produce the sound that makes me happy. What more can I say. Good customer service and a good useful product. Thanks Vinny

[Vinni Smith]

Well, I do TRY to make every customer happy indeed.

If any of you are unhappy with the V-Pick you are playing, let me know. It simply tells me you are not playing the right V-Pick for you. It does not mean you don't like V-Picks, just not that particular model. We have over 20 models now. To put it another way, if you ordered Chicken Parmesan and did not like it, it does not mean you don't like Italian food. There are a lot of other Italian meals to choose from. You may prefer Chicken Marsalla instead. How is that for a comparisson? I really got you with the food thing, huh? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

As I said before, I am very new to this mandolin thing. I am simpley offering the picks I have been told by mandolin players are good. I am sure, all of you, just like guitar players, have a different preferences.

The next two models that everyone seems to like are the V-Pick Lites, Large and Medium Rounded.

[Vinni Smith]

I have been learning a lot about mandolins and mandolin players. #I have been doing a lot of work on the phone and email. #Just getting to know preferences. #

I am going to add a new package onto the website. #It will be called the Mandolin Sampler pack. #It will include the following.

1 Small Pointed
1 Medium Rounded
1 Large Rounded
1 Freakishly Large Rounded
1 Medium Lite Pointed
1 Large Lite Pointed
1 Medium Lite Rounded
1 Large Lite Rounded

This pack will cost $28. #That means one of the picks is free to you. #

What do you guys and gals think of this? #Any suggestions?

vinni

[Hal Loflin]

Sounds good Vinni...You might even offer two different $10 packages...one with a rounded sampler and one with a pointed sampler...three different packages.

I received the picks I ordered from your website in lightning fast shipping. I got the acoustic sampler and have tried all three on both my Martin D 35 and my Weber Yellowstone mandolin.

I like the medium light pointed the best on both instruments. The Acoustic V pick feels good in my hands but I kept getting the "chirping" on the mandolin A strings...did not get this with the Medium Lite. The Large Lite pointed was equally good as well but I like the feel of the smaller pick. Probably because I initially learned on the Golden Gate rounded and it is basically the same size as the Medium Lite Pointed.

Anyway...thanks for a great pick!

[Austin Koerner]

I received three new V-picks today. A large pointed one, a large rounded one, and a medium rounded one. They are the light V-picks (I think). I would guess that they are between 1.5 and 2 mm.

I found them to be a lot more comfortable than the thicker (2.75mm) V-picks. I like the large pointed one a lot, I feel that it has the best response out of any pick I own, very clear, and bright The large rounded one is less responsive, but a lot warmer. It brings out a little more bass, and it's easy to do a good tremolo, it has a very clear tone as well. and the smaller rounded pick is just like the large one ...just smaller. These are very loud picks, but I can still pick softly and it sound nice.

They do NOT make as much noise as the 2.75 mm V-picks. Also, they don't mute the strings when picking either. I find that the thermoplastic resin picks kind of do that (to me anyway). I think everyone will like these.

[Jim Broyles]

Yeah, Vinni, I'd try a sampler like that.

[Vinni Smith]

OK guys, thanks for the help. #I added this on to the website. #The price I quoted earlier was incorrect though. #The Premium Mandolin kit would be $28.00 with a savings of $4.00, and the smaller kits are
$15.00 with a savings of $1.00. #I edited my earlier post to reflect this. #
Thanks so much again guys.
vinni

[Michael Cameron]

I ordered a "Big Fattie" last week;and Vinnie sent me a freebie "Large Rounded. I like the Large Rounded even better than the Big Fattie.
# I'm goin back to look at the "mandolin packages".
It's good to have lots of different picks IMHO.
Vinnie,you knew I'd like that Large Rounded : )
The Big Fattie is nice to use on archtop guitar also.

[Vinni Smith]

I ordered a "Big Fattie" last week;and Vinnie sent me a freebie "Large Rounded. I like the Large Rounded even better than the Big Fattie.
# I'm goin back to look at the "mandolin packages".
It's good to have lots of different picks IMHO.
Vinnie,you knew I'd like that Large Rounded : )
The Big Fattie is nice to use on archtop guitar also.
Cool!

The Large rounded and the Big Fattie are my two favorite as well. Lots and lots of tone.

vinni

[Vinni Smith]

Hey all, I thought I would just stop by and see if anyone has any opinions yet on the Mandolin packs that they received this week. You guys sure have been ordering a lot of them and I appreciate that very much.

We are going to be in Nashville at Summer Namm this year. If any of you will be attending, please stop by the V-Pick booth, #1619

Cheers to you all, do good things.

vinni

[gregjones]

Playing acoustic blues guitar, it had been just shy of 30 years since I had used a pick---until I finally took up the mando last year. #All I remembered about picks was that you could get one for a dime and three for a quarter and I liked the thin blue ones.

Now I have more different styles, brands, shapes and thicknesses than I could have imagine existed. #I actually have paid more for picks in the last year than I paid for a used Gibson B-45-12N in 1972. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

I got a sampler pack from Vinni and have been playing with them. #I like the tone of the rounded ones vs. the pointed ones and no matter the point the thicker ones sound better to me.

Remembering the old thin blue picks from the 70's, I thought the Golden Gates were thick. #The 2.75mm V's mic out at only .010" less than two Golden Gates together. #Those thin blue things must have been like the baggies that V-picks come in!!!

[Barb Friedland]

I ordered a sampler V-pick pack from the Jazzmando site a while back and decided I like 'em. The large rounded is my favorite. Now that I know about Vinne's site, I may try some of the others. #I'm not having problems with pick click at all.

[Vinni Smith]

Mandogal,

You speak of pick chirp. #If I may, I would like to address this issue for all of us "pick makers". #I say it that way because I have found that every thick pick makes some kind of a chirp of it's own character. This is an issue that has been brought up on every thread I have ever read about picks. #

I have found some folks are plagued by this exquisite little inconvenience due to pick angle. #Now, I am not saying because you have pick chirp, you are playing wrong or incorrectly in any way. Also, I do not find myself to be an expert on ANYTHING, so I hope I do not come accross as a know-it-all. #Please don't missunderstand me. #I am only saying some pick angles allow for more chirp. #

So, whether you try a Dugan, Wegen, Dawg or V-Pick and find you have some chirp noise, simply focus some of your attention to your right hand and experiment just a bit. #You may find that the pick you are having this trouble with has actually caused you to play a bit different than you normally would and this, in some circumstances, open doors for you to become better at your art of playing music. #I don't know about you but I need a good kick in the patoodi sometimes to get me to try something different.

We have been having a good time playing with the video camera here at V-Picks lately. #We have been filming different little guitar tips and posting them on YouTube and also on our site. #The one on the front of our website addresses pick angle and chirp. Now, understand, this is a guitar video, however, I believe most of the principles referred to transfer over to any other stringed instrument, including Mandolin. #So, if you guys and gals have time and want to laugh at a short, fat, troll looking dude playing guitar, check out this video. #Scroll down about 1/2 way on the page and you will find it. #After you stop laughing, drop me an email and let me know what you think. #I would love to hear from you. #Here is the link...

http://www.v-picks.com

vinni

[Hal Loflin]

Vinnie:

I don't know if I totally agree with you on your last post. In the last five years I have bought and tried basically every pick available...Golden Gate, Wegen, Dawg, antique shell http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif , Dunlop, etc., etc. You name it I either have it or have tried it.

#I have never had a pick "chirp" like your Acoustic V pick. It chirped louder on my Martin than it did on my Weber mandolin, but it still chirped.

Interesting thing was that the other two picks that I got from you (medium and large lite pointed) did not have this pronounced noise.

In the past five years, especially with the mandolin, I spent a considerable amount of time working on the correct angle that I hold the pick and according to what I have read, and been told by professional mandolin musicians (not gonna mention any names here) my pick angle is correct.

It seems to me that the material you make these picks out of is prone to have the chirp. Now, let me say this...I am not doggin your pick. I actually have been wearing out the Medium Lite Pointed. I also am sure that there are some electric guitar players that absolutely love the chirp, but for you to try and lean towards technique as the cause of the chirp might be true is some cases but not all.

I have numerous thick picks from big triangles to standard teardrops and none of them make a pronounced chirp...they do "click" though.

Just some insight from a VPFT (V-Pick Field Tester).

[Vinni Smith]

OK, as usual, it seems I did not express myself correctly. #As Steve Martin says, "Some people have a way with words. #Other people, Oh, Not have way, I guess". # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

Here is where I did not make myself clear enough...

"I say it that way because I have found that every thick pick makes some kind of a chirp of it's own character".

I should have added, this chirp is the cause of a thick pick and especially one over 2.0mm. #This tends to be the character of this design. #It is the pick design that causes it. #However, it is usually, if not always the angle that enhances or deminishes the chirp.

Now, let me say this as well. #Not EVERY thick pick makes the SAME KIND of chirp. #Each material creates it's own unique EQ and reaction to the string and also affects the "point of release". #For instance, thick picks, (2-5mm) that don't have any chirp at all tend to be less bright in the attack and very middy and bassey sounding. #Not that this is not a good thing, some may like it very much. #For instance, Allan Holdsworth, guitarist extraordiaire loves this. #The chirp is still there, just less audible as is some of the high end frequencies. #

Once again smyrnagc, #I want to add, I am a guitar player and NOT a Mandolin player. #But I have played a lot of country and bluegrass and have been around a lot of Mando Players. #I do love the instrument, by the way. #

I really appreciate taking with you guys about this stuff. #A lot of forums that I am on start out with conversations like this and then, very quickly, go off on a tangent about Brittney getting out of the limo or Ron Jeremy showing up on mainstream entertainment. #I know, what does that have to do with tone??? #Exactly! #That is what I like about reading things here on Mandolin Cafe. #You guys and gals talk about things that interest me. #You all stay on the subject and get to the point. #I really like that indeed!

You are very correct, BTW about some guitar players LOVING the chirp. #I was addicted to it back in the 80's when i first started making these things. #My goal was to sound like two artists, Brian May from Queen and Ed King from Lynyrd Skynyrd. #They both have a TREMENOUS amount of pick noise. #Therefore, I did not even buff my picks after making them. #I wanted as much noise as I could create, therefore leaving them as rough as possible and yet still playable. #It gave my playing character, much like a lisp or a gravely voice would do to an orator. I later found out that BHM was playing with a sixpence coin and EK played the solo on Sweet Home Alabama with a seashell! #I guess I was not to far off. #Anyway, since those days, I have worked on my design to still get that effect if you want it, or eliminate it if you prefer to do so.

I believe the reason you do not get this chirp from the Lites like you do the Acoustic is because of the 2.75mm vs 1.5mm. #I will reiterate it once more, the noise is in the pick and design, yes, but I believe it can be eliminated with pick angle. #I say this because I can play with almost every one of our models (over 20 now) and not have this. #Notice I said "almost". #I do not like every model V-Pick we make. #Some of them I have created to fill customer's needs and they seem to love them. #So be it. #

Thanks so much for this post my friend. #I absolutely love discussing things like this with writers like yourself. I love talking tone, technique, scales, vibrato, phrasing, building solos, etc. #

vinni

[WireBoy]

I've got a V-Pick. #not sure which model it is. #I got it from Vinnie himself at his NAMM booth in Anahiem a few months ago #(NAMM swag!). #

I keep several picks jammed in the strings behind the nut and behind the bridge. #(fossilized walrus ivory, Ted's Jazzmando Proplec, V pick and Blue Chip TPR 50) #They all have different qualites. Depending on my tune, i can apply the appropriate color.

[Vinni Smith]

If you got it from me us at NAMM, you probably got the Medium Rounded 2.75mm

[Jason Holmes]

I have a small rounded and a medium rounded. The small for me is small indeed, but the medium I'm quite impressed with. I understand what folks are saying about the chirp. I'm used to playing a beveled pick (a la Wegen, RedBear, home made, etc.) and it seems like my V pick sounds best played at an angle that's closer to perpendicular to the strings than with my beveled picks. Once I adjusted my picking angle backward a bit, I got a very pleasing tone out of mine. I am considering beveling one corner of my medium rounded, just to see how it works out. I'll post the results.

[Vinni Smith]

If I may add something in here. I have had a lot of Mandolin players ordering picks from us this last month. It seems their favorite one is the Large Rounded. Fome like the regular version of 2.75mm thick and some like the Lite version at 1.0mm thick The next most popular amoung Mandolin players is the V-Pick Large Lite Pointed.

One wonderfull gentleman from this forum was kind enough to send me some popular samples used a lot. The Wegen, the Golden Gate and the Dawg. This really helped me with our product and shined some light on this whole mandolin thing for me. Just for your info, the V-Pick Large is the same over-all size as these great picks.

Thank you so much for your time an interest in our picks everyone!

vinni

[MikeEdgerton]

I like the large rounded one. I only see one problem with these picks. If I drop one someplace dark I'm never gonna find it.

[Vinni Smith]

I like the large rounded one. I only see one problem with these picks. If I drop one someplace dark I'm never gonna find it.
For my info, do you like the 2.75mm or the Lite?

If you drop them, just turn on a light or shine a flashlight around the floor. #They reflect the light wonderfully and you can find them easily this way. #I really do not see very well but I have no problem finding them like this.

vinni

[MikeEdgerton]

I usually don't have a flashlight with me in a bar. I usually have one if I'm at a festival and it's a late night jam. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I like the thick ones. I played an entire set with one last night. Have you got a site where these can be ordered?

[Vinni Smith]

Yes we do. Thanks for asking.......

http://www.v-picks.com/OrderVPicks.html

vinni

[gregjones]

I only see one problem with these picks. If I drop one someplace dark I'm never gonna find it.

Kinda like a black Wegen? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[MikeEdgerton]

Kinda like a black Wegen? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Yeah kind of. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Vinni Smith]

BTW, we have Glow-in-the-Dark V-Picks as well. #And they glow like a bugger! #I charged some up last night before I went to bed at 11:00PM and when I got up for a potty break at 4:00AM they were still glowing! #We put 18% illuminant in those buggas. #That is the maximum amount we can use before it starts changing the material too much. #These things aren't like some kid's toy. #They glow like something the Army would use!

vinni

[dave]

I got the mandolin light sampler from Vinnie in the mail last Saturday, I have been using dunlop tortex .88 (the green ones)for the past few years. I brought the v-picks to a gig on Saturday night and used them on a few tunes, I love the larger of the triangular pick's, I play Irish music so triplets are an important part of the ornamentation. I had no problem (well no more problem than usual) hitting the triplets, the pick is very comfortable in my hand and seems to give more volume and a "nicer" tone. I used it exclusive for my Sunday gig and was very happy with the results.
No financial interest, just a happy customer!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[TinaBee1]

My teacher had 3 picks for me to try on my mando the other night. 2 were Red Bear(?)and the other was the V-Pick.He didn't like the way any of them sounded on his mandolin, but he liked them for his guitar. He said they sounded better on my mando than they did on his. Of all of them I liked the V Pick the best. I'd not considered buying one, but those sampler packs sound like a good deal. I was given a tortoiseshell pick by a very good friend and that's the one I use all the time EXCEPT when I go to festivals. Then it stays home! This forum is great for finding/hearing/learning tons 'o stuff http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Hal Loflin]

Hey guys...I came up with a way to make these picks easier to locate when you put them down...or drop one. I was playing the other night sitting on the bed and laid one down on the comforter and had to really look to find it.

I am a golf professional by trade (club pro) and we have done this to bring out the serial number on irons. You take black paint (a black sharpie works perfect) and paint over the serial number. Let it sit for several minutes and then wipe it off with alcohol. The paint stays in the numbers and highlights them.

So...I did this with my new V-Pick in the "V-Pick Tm" that is etched in it and it worked perfect. Here is what I came up with:



http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii309/smyrnagc/V-Pick.jpg

Makes it show up easy and looks nice.

[devilstone_the_bard]

Just ordered the Mandolin Premium Sampler Kit, can't wait!
dan

[Doug Edwards]

I got to try one of the thicker ones tonight, along with a couple of Wegens. The V pick is very impressive. I usually use shell or a Tortis B.

[Jeff Chu]

hey guys + Vinni,

i thought i would throw in a review of the picks that i got in the mail. i got a premium sample pack, and got the first half of the order last week. i believe it was the mandolin 4 pick sample with the medium and the small rounded and pointed. I have been trying out new picks since i began playing, and always had the issue of the pick slipping, and i end up playing with the pick at an awkward angle until i am able to re-position. That is one of the first things i noticed with the vpick. it stays in between your fingers. even with the wegens and the little grip holes, the material still slips through my fingers. anyway, i am still getting use to them, but am glad that i am making progress towards a pick that i can use all the time. So far i like the larger pointed triangular pick in this four pack i recieved. im not sure if its the medium pointed, or the large... have yet to get a ruler and measure. hopefully vinni can help me out with this. good luck guys.

-Jeff

[Vinni Smith]

Jeff

Is it the 1.0mm pointed that you like or the 2.75mm? #The only 2.75mm pointed pick in the premium pack is the Small Pointed. #The other two pointed picks are the Large Lite and Medium Lite.

Thanks for the review my friend. #I love hearing from all of you.

Vinni

[Jeff Chu]

ive been pretty happy with the small rounded 2.75 and the larger rounded 2.75. i get a great tone from the rounded vpick, and the grip is great. while i would have never thought to use a pick this thick on my mandolin, it has worked out well, and sounds great with getting a sustain for jazz. thanks vinni. ill talk to you soon, after i test the picks more.

[jim_n_virginia]

I don't mind someone coming on ana explaining about a product they make as long as they don't start spamming. But then again I don't make the rules!

So thanks Vinnie for explaining that noise, I am going to try the picks

[watts up doc]

OK Vinnie asked me for my input, here's what I think about the V Pick Tremolo. For me its needs to be a little thicker. It has a great feel to it, as far as gripping it, the material is number one. Not crazy about it being clear, no need to explain this. The weagans that everybody loves are my #2 pick, to me they feel slippery, a little harder to hang on to for me, but the bevele is great. The medium Red Bear mock turtle shell is mt #1 guy. Slight hole indentations like the weagans pattern, but they don't go all the way through.Around $20, great bevel, same size as the weagan.
As far as Vinnies pick angle, ain't no way I'm twisting my wrist around like that' and if you wear your instrument medium to low, your wrist falls naturally at the other angle. If you want to wear your piece high, I guess go for it. I think if the tremolo was a little thicker, it would soften the sound up a little.I asked Chris Thile about that pick angle and he's the one that told me to pick the strings like that, he said if you wear your mando low enough, your hand naturally will set with this pick angle, and he kinda knows.

[Carolie]

I called Vinnie and asked him what pick would be best for my situation. He made a recommendation and I ordered it. He even included a free pick with the one I bought.

The new pick is perfect for me. I've gone back and ordered a few different styles to try. I dropped the pick and had to get out the flashlight to find it. I like the idea of painting them. I'll have to try that sometime.

Great customer service and a good product. What more could a mandolin player ask for?

I'm thinking, I'm thinking....:)).....Include a Collings or Breedlove with every purchase??

Carolyn

[sbarnes]

i use 'em and the chirp went away for me....don't know if it just 'wore in' or what....i don't think i'm doing anything different holding the pick, but the chirp went away....was definately there at first but not now....
i use the smaller rounded pick and have the newer 'tremelo' as well....it's a much brighter sound.....overall, i like 'em