Dangit...pick dilemma!

[fernmando]

So here's the deal...after 35 years of mando playing, with every sort of pick you can imagine, I can't help but notice that when I move to a thinner (.73 to1.0) pick, I just PLAY better. I teach music for a living, and gig when I can, but don't get to woodshed as much as I'd like. I also note that I am heavy-handed, and will never find the motivation to change to a "Thile" style. I am a product of cheap sound systems in cow pastures, playing BG at festivals in the late 70s/early 80s, fighting SM57 mics, etc. I know the heavier picks sound "better" (or is that a relative term?), but I gain a playing edge by going a bit thinner. I guess my question is this-How many of you would settle for a somewhat softer pick if it meant that you could enjoy immediate increase in dexterity and cleanliness of play?

[Phil1580]

I am a guitar player of 15 years and not quite a year of mandolin....I prefer guitar picks .73 or .88 usually, and I've had a hard time trying out the heavy picks that most say work best on mando....I like the sound better with a thinner pick, not so much harsh pick noise. I can't say whether I play better or not, not enough mandolin playing to judge yet.

[Dave Weiss]

I prefer the thinner picks for exactly that reason. I simply play better with them. So, inspite of conventional mandolin wisdom, I'll use the thinner picks...

[William Smith]

So here's the deal...after 35 years of mando playing, with every sort of pick you can imagine, I can't help but notice that when I move to a thinner (.73 to1.0) pick, I just PLAY better. I teach music for a living, and gig when I can, but don't get to woodshed as much as I'd like. I also note that I am heavy-handed, and will never find the motivation to change to a "Thile" style. I am a product of cheap sound systems in cow pastures, playing BG at festivals in the late 70s/early 80s, fighting SM57 mics, etc. I know the heavier picks sound "better" (or is that a relative term?), but I gain a playing edge by going a bit thinner. I guess my question is this-How many of you would settle for a somewhat softer pick if it meant that you could enjoy immediate increase in dexterity and cleanliness of play?

thicker picks are no good to me at all,love the round part of any medium flatpick like fender/martin/etc.but they wear down to fast for mando,,past 2 years I've been usin the thin "rounded tremelo" From V-picks,,they sound great and don't hardly wear down thicker the pick it seems to me the tubbier the sound,just deadens any mando!,for all ya skeptics try it out,use a thick "Dawg" style and then a rounded medium,,for me thicker means deader

[if6was9]

I know the heavier picks sound "better"

I do use heavy picks but they only sound "better" if they sound better for you in your hands. Use the pick that works for you.

[Ron McMillan]

I do use heavy picks but they only sound "better" if they sound better for you in your hands. Use the pick that works for you.

Well said. There's far too much hand-wringing going on about picks. Some even from very, very experienced players like the OP - but, I suspect, much of it coming from people whose actual playing skills could use much more attention than the type of pick they are using. Sure, the really great players can get an extra edge from a specialist pick - but most of us would be better off concentrating on scales and arpeggios for now.

If I sound like a curmudgeon who is weary of endless pick discussion threads - that's only because I am exactly that.

rm

[Bertram Henze]

I've never been in the thick pick camp.
I guess those who are really want more bass out of their mandolin (which a thick pick will deliver by taking away treble) - I'll say if you want more bass, play an OM like I do; then you'll suddenly find that, along with the bass, you want treble again.
The thin pick delivers treble and thereby volume to be heard in a session/jam.
So there: 0.73 Dunlop Ultex triangle

[Malcolm G.]

If thinner works, then thinner works.

If a clicky sound comes along with the thinner pick, try different materials. Horn etc.

Ah, the quest never ends....

[AlanN]

For me, more important than thick or thin is the amount of flex in the pick. I like picks that 'just barely' bend, if at all.

[Barry Wilson]

I keep trying different thickness. I was using a 2mm teardrop big stubby but finding lately I am liking the 1.5mm BS triangle. lots of pick to grab onto.

[Big Joe]

One thing I like about my Blue Chip is that it is pretty thin but gives the rigidity I like. It works well for all instruments including electric guitar. Few picks are that versatile. The best pick is the one that works for you.

[wommbatt]

My goodness, I had no idea there was this much about picks. I just bought what felt like a sturdy pick (.73mm if I recall correctly) to me.

Looks like I need to do some research: materials, shapes, thicknesses. Oh man, my head's spinning lol

Still, mine sounds great to me 8]

[Ron McMillan]

The great Steve James, on his 'Learn to Play Blues Mandolin' DVD, only deals with picks very briefly - though somewhat amusingly. He holds up a very ordinary Fender-esque guitar pick, screws up his eyes and reads the size off it, then announces that he likes to use this '73 mil' size.

If he can play that well with a pick nearly three inches wide, maybe we all need to take heed

ron
(just in case of confusion, his pick was obviously a medium Fender - .73mm, meaning a leading pro gets a good sound out of a 25 cent pick, which ought to tell some of us something)

[Shelagh Moore]

I've tried lots and now use a regular .73 Ultex pick (.60 Ultex for guitar and my more delicate mandolin) which gives a nice clean tone and suits my style. I wouldn't be able to afford the repayments and insurance on some of those other brands.

[Tim2723]

Fernmando, I've played mandolin as my primary string for 40 years. I've never been a crossover guitarist or anything else. I use a .5mm pick which is absurdly thin in mandolin terms. Certain things I can say with absolute truth and conviction:

* My first mandolin came with a super thin pick and I thought that was how it was supposed to be
* I'd been doing it that way for years before I had anyone to tell me I was wrong
* I get the sound and playability I like from thin picks
* I cannot get anything but a muffled sound and cramped hands from thick picks
* I play the mandolin for my living and no one has ever complained about my sound or technique
* I don't post in the 'expensive picks' threads because my opinion is contrary to conventional wisdom and causes argument
* I have absolutely no problem with what pick anyone else chooses
* I'm also the guy who plays a plastic mandolin through a talking totem pole, so bear that in mind.
* You are free to agree or not, since it doesn't matter in the end

That's all I have to contribute, thanks for listening.

[pefjr]

Hmmm..... I always thought the stiffness of the pick was most important, so I hang around the 1 to 1.3 mm because it is stiff enough to pick through with less effort. Sorta like a low action saves energy for the left hand, and a properly stiff pick(whew..spelling is critical here) saves energy for the right hand. Course I understand the playing in a band is different.

[mandobassman]

and a properly stiff pick(whew..spelling is critical here)

LOL!!! I'm still laughing about this.

[fernmando]

All great posts...I know pick discussions are tiresome, but this one is good. Keep 'em comin'

[Tim2723]

I'm interested by the comments regarding stiff picks as opposed to thick ones. I actually hold my pick with just the tiniest bit sticking out which gives it significant stiffness even though it's very thin indeed. I've noticed that some players of thick picks tend to hold their pick with quite a lot sticking out, so thickness may be supplying the stiffness for them.

[Bertram Henze]

... thickness may be supplying the stiffness for them.

Now say ten times "thick stiff sticky pick" fast...

[Tim2723]

Ha! You know Bertram, if more vocalists spent time developing diction and elocution there would be less discussion about microphones for intelligible vocals as well.

[JeffD]

I think it is proper to talk stiffness, or rigidity, rather than thickness. Thickness may be just a way to achieve stiffness.

It makes sense to me that a stiffer pick gives greater volume with less effort, because all or most of the hand energy goes right into string deflection, and little or no hand energy is wasted in pick deflection. But if you can achieve this by your grip, as apparently Tim does, then I would bet you have the same thing. And if a thin pick were made rigid by its materials, again I think you would achieve the same results.

After that I go to all the other parts of making tone, pick edge bevel, pick shape, pick angle, pick material, etc.

[Big Joe]

I've found a stiff pick will give more control as to where you place the pick as you are working it. If it flexes very much it may not be in the same place your string is when you expect it to be. That can slow you down and can also give poor pick control. With a stiff pick the pick is right where you expect it to be when you expect it to be there and will not flex on the strings as you pick... hard or soft. Volume is secondary to control. Find the pick that gives the best control and speed and articulation will improve substantially.

[Fred Young]

I personaly use "Bird picks" cheep" cheep" cheep" I have made dozens of these things out of plexic glass, proberly four different thicknes, sure hard to find if you drop one! My favorites are made from the shaded plastic welding lenses I pick up a hand full at the local welding supply, welders will somtime use them in the welding hood if they do some quick burning with torch, and don't have burning goggles handy. these you can see! I like traditonal shape with the speed bevel.

[Ivan Kelsall]

The Wegen 1.0mm thick Bluegrass picks are surprisingly stiff. It's only the pattern of finger grip holes that impart any flex to them. If they were blank,they'd be as rigid as any pick i've used.
From jeffD - ".....stiffer pick gives greater volume with less effort...". I totally agree jeff,but what is it about thicker picks that robs many mandolins of 'treble'. Dawg & Golden Gate picks destroy the tone of either of my mandolins.It's almost as though the thick picks are sucking the treble out of them. I can't say that the bass response is particularly good either.Too rounded with little 'attack' for me. The ONLY thick pick i've used which does sound decent,is a 2mm thick Wegen pick,a 2.0mm version of the picks shown below.The problem with that one is that it has a very rounded bevel which slides over the strings too easily & therefor it lacks some 'bite' with it,but it's the best thick one i've played with to date,
Ivan