Vinni Smith's V-Picks

[Barbara Shultz]

Hey ya'll.... I'd read about Vinni Smith's V-Picks, and when I saw his ad in the mandolin cafe's classifieds for New Tremelo Mandolin Pick by V-Picks (http://www.mandolincafe.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=32515&query=retrieval) I decided to give it a try.

Vinni's shipping was immediate.... I think I had it 2 days after I ordered it! I got the pointed style. I REALLY like it. I like the shape, I like the feel, I like the sound! So much so, that I decided to try some of the other picks he offers. I decided on the Ultra-Lite in the large pointed shape, (basically the same shape as the tremelo pick (.5 mm vs 1 mm), and I also ordered what he calls the Screamer, which is a whopping 2.75 mm, and he threw in a freebie... a medium rounded pick, which is also 2.75 mm. Again, I had these picks within 2 days of ordering!

So, I've experimented with all picks in different applications, and they are all great!

Just wanted to give Vinni a thumbs up with his line of picks, and great customer service!

Barbara

[Santiago]

I liked it. It was fast and sounds good, but some have commented in another string about it being a tad noisy. For the price it's worth a try.

[Barbara Shultz]

I liked it. It was fast and sounds good, but some have commented in another string about it being a tad noisy. For the price it's worth a try.

For the type of playing that I do, I (and my fellow band mates) prefer a pick that has some 'noise' to it. When I play with rounded picks (like the medium rounded v-pick that Vinni sent for free), if I'm playing melody, it just sounds muffled. Now, strumming chords might be a different matter, but that's not what I do.

But, they sure do glide over the strings, and I seem to be able to play faster....

Barb

[Santiago]

I like mine, but I don't use it all the time... it's in the rotation.

[Bernie Daniel]

Barbara Shultz:... I'd read about Vinni Smith's V-Picks, and when I saw his ad in the mandolin cafe's classifieds for New Tremelo Mandolin Pick by V-Picks I decided to give it a try.

Vinni's shipping was immediate.... I think I had it 2 days after I ordered it! I got the pointed style. I REALLY like it. I like the shape, I like the feel, I like the sound!

Ditto! I especially like the way it sticks to your hand as it warms. Kind of amazing really. And I sure agree about the great service from Vinnie too. Now if we could get them in something other than totally transparent :)




Santiago: I like mine, but I don't use it all the time... it's in the rotation.


That is what I do as well -- most of the time I stick with the Wegen TF-140 but then I'll use the V-pick tremelo for a few days, then maybe one of the Red Bears, or a Dunlap Ultex 1.14 -- I even went back to ProPlecs for a while.

In my case for some strange reason it I find it useful to stick some variation in on the pick -- I often end up doing something different when I switch and it not always a bad thing. MORE PICKS PLEASE.

[kirksdad]

I've recently tried the V Picks, and didnt like them. The pick noise they made drove me to distraction. I emailed Nancy to tell I didn't like them, hoping she'd offer an exchange well over three weeks ago and got no response. :crying: I don't they compare favorably to 80 cent Jim Dunlops.

I have Red Bears and Wegens and love em; oh well to each their own

KD

[Santiago]

There's more than one kind of mandolin too. :-)

[Barb Friedland]

One of the things I am discovering about the V picks is that the angle of attack seems to have an impact on the degree of pick noise. I'm ordering the Tremelo pick and probably some of Vinnie's other ones later to find out which one will work best for me. I definitely have a more relaxed grip and can pick faster with the V pick that I have now.

[Jkf_Alone]

I just saw the rounded 1mm tremolo pick, and I'm curious how it compares to a m100 from Wegen. i like the tone a lot, and it shows absolutely NO wear after months of playing. Is the V pick similar to this, or is it more like the proplec, requiring regular maintenence to keep it smooth?

I would love a pick just like my 100, with a little tiny bit darker sound.

[kirksdad]

UPDATE:

After listing that I didn't have good results with the V Picks, I got an email from Vinnie himself. It's nice that he checks in to see how things are going. I don't know what will come from it, since I've given away some of the picks, but good to know he will make the attempt to do right by customers.

KD

[Mark Walker]

Vinnie sent me a 'trial' pick too. Small semi-triangular, but pretty thick - maybe 2.5 mm? It does have better volume but a LOT of pick noise. I usually use a 1mm Jim Dunlop. I'd be willing to try a V-pick at 1mm if he makes them in that same Dunlop semi-triangular configuration...

JMHO, YMMV! :)

[Barb Friedland]

I just saw the rounded 1mm tremolo pick, and I'm curious how it compares to a m100 from Wegen. i like the tone a lot, and it shows absolutely NO wear after months of playing. Is the V pick similar to this, or is it more like the proplec, requiring regular maintenence to keep it smooth?

I would love a pick just like my 100, with a little tiny bit darker sound.

Vinni is sending me a couple of 1.5 mm rounded V picks which I am eagerly looking forward to trying. His 2.75 picks are definitely much darker than the 1 mm Tremelos are.

Re. maintenance, Vinni's site has a good info. You can even see the shapes of the various picks there. Check there; maintenance looks to me not to be a big deal.

And on the famous pick noise issue- 'tis true that his thicker picks (2.75) can be noisier than your average pick but if you play with picking angle a bit, it is controllable. The Tremelos have much less noise and I expect that the Rounded Lites (1.5 mm) will be very good on this issue as well.

[Barb Friedland]

Here's a V pick review of the versions I have tried thus far:

I like the large size picks and find them easier to hold on to compared with the mediums.

The 2.75mm pick I experimented with first is too thick for my taste and has the most chirping noise. The noise factor can be controlled but it requires playing around with angle of attack on the strings.

Tremelo pick is about 1mm thick with a slight amount of flex. I find it to be a tad too bright and thin sounding but this one may be a winner for Celtic, classical, and solo work. The rounded corner version is better than the pointy one in my view. No noise problems.

My favorite hands down is the Large rounded Lite pick. At 1.5 mm it's the perfect thickness for me and offers the right blend of tone, control, volume and speed. No noise problems with this one either.

[Jim MacDaniel]

I've had a couple of the thick V-picks for a while, and have never been too fond of them -- they were quite noisy, and they just didn't feel comfortable between my fingers. However, I just ordered one each of the pointed and rounded Tremelo models. Like Barbara, I received mine within two days of submitting payment via PayPal, and I must say that I really like them. I usually prefer a pointed tip to a rounded tip, but in the case of these picks, I especially like the tone and speed I am getting out of the rounded Tremelo model, and it is quickly becoming my go-to pick.

[Jill McAuley]

I just got some V-Picks as well - I ordered a rounded Tremelo, and also one of the rounded medium sized ultra lites. I've spent about 2 hours playing with them this evening and have to say I LOVE them. I keep switching between the Tremelo (1mm) and the Ultra Lite (.80mm) and the Ultra Lite is just edging it. I've noticed a big improvement in tone and also in my triplet playing and speed in general. I play Irish trad stuff and had been struggling to really find a pick I was happy with - I had been using .73 Dunlop Ultex picks and they weren't really doing it for me - I was wanting something just a wee bit heavier. I'm really liking the rounded edge of the V-Pick and no longer feel the pick "catching" when I'm playing fast -they're super smooth over the strings. I also amn't (there's a good Dublin word for you!) noticing any of the string noise that some folks have mentioned. I will definitely be ordering more of these - best 4 bux I've spent in ages!! Oh and incredibly speedy delivery as well - thumbs up all round!

Cheers,
Jill

[John Malayter]

I've ordered the variety pack once and the new mando picks and sold them immediately. Didn't like 'em. I prefer Wegen's however I'd like to try the new tater picks in the future.

jm

[guitharsis]

Ordered and received the Mandolin Medium Lite package. Same great 2 day service. So far, I love the rounded medium. Also like the rounded large.

[Patrick Market]

The 2.75mm pick I experimented with first is too thick for my taste and has the most chirping noise. The noise factor can be controlled but it requires playing around with angle of attack on the strings.

Tremelo pick is about 1mm thick with a slight amount of flex. I find it to be a tad too bright and thin sounding but this one may be a winner for Celtic, classical, and solo work. The rounded corner version is better than the pointy one in my view. No noise problems.



I agree about the chirp on the 2.75 mm---still working on my angle of attack. However, I think that the Tremolo is worth every penny it cost. I think the work and practice that I need on my tremolo action are now entirely about me, and not the cheap picks I had been using.

I also like bought the V-pick Pointed Lite Small and an Ultra Lite Large. Vitually no pick noise with either of these, and I liked the pointed one way more than I thought I might.

Not only are the picks very nice, but the customer service is everything that it was purported to be in the previous posts. Great stuff!

[Chris Keth]

I've decided that I don't like the V-Picks I bought. I can't keep them fromgetting slippery and rotating in my hand. I listed the "mandolin lite" sampler pack I bought in the classifieds if anyone's interested.

[Randolph]

V-Picks have entered my rotation in a regular sort of fashion. When I received my order for some large rounded ones I was unhappy with the quality of the bevel. I contacted Vinni, he offered to bevel some new ones to resemble the bevel on the Wegens I have. I told him I would send the old ones back, and he said that he had already shipped the new ones! Hopefully they will arrive tomorrow...if so, I applaud Vinni for remarkable customer service, especially for a item that costs only a few dollars.