Picks making my mandolin sound dead (muted)

[bbaker2050]

I've got a J. Bovier F5-T and I've been trying out some new picks lately. My usual picks -the Wegen 140 and Fender Heavy are sounding the best (loudest), but I was really disappointed when it came time to try the highly acclaimed Dunlop Primetone 1.4 rounded triangles and the Pro Plec 1.5s. Those two picks made my mandolin sound almost muted and dead. I was really surprised that they would make my mandolin sound terrible when so many people like them. I'm using EXP74 strings right now on the J. Bovier. Anyways, it's amazing how much better my mandolin sounds with the Wegen 140 picks compared to the Primetones and Pro Plecs.. Anybody else have an experience like this?

[pheffernan]

It sounds to me like you have a preference for pointed tips and speed bevels, which might help inform your subsequent pick purchases. I don't think that there's anything inherently "better" about them, or "terrible" about the alternatives, only the individual tone that you are trying to achieve.

[Jstring]

I totally agree, bbaker... I think those Pro Plecs, Dawg picks, rounded primetones make a mandolin sound like it's stuffed with socks.
I don't understand why people use 'em, but it's a free country and some people love them.
Might want to try a WEGEN TF100B PICK from Elderly (or a slightly thicker version)... Or a bluechip TAD 40, my personal favorite. You and I seem to have same "taste" in picks...

I have some primetone triangles with pointed ends... They are quite nice....

[Joey Anchors]

I haven't tried a Wegen yet, but I do love my PaPa's ivoroid pick in 2.2mm thickness.

[Bertram Henze]

I often have tried other picks due to recommendations and found that I've just stumbled into somebody else's taste. I have learned to judge a pick by its look first: if it would not make a good arrowhead, it's not going to make my favourite sound.

[bratsche]

The tone that you're trying to achieve, the particular instrument you're playing, the height and angle you hold it at while playing, your choice of strings, your pick grip, angle and right hand technique... etc. are all important details that contribute to the equation, and are reasons why different people prefer different picks.

bratsche

[jclover]

I like pointed picks. Take the Pro Plec 1.5 for example. You can get them in large triangle, standard teardrop, or very small teardrop. The larger they are, the more rounded the point and it makes a noticable difference in tone even when talking about the same pick material and thickness. I do not like the large triangle tone, the regular teardrop is OK, but I do like the small teardrop. To take it further, I only like these picks on bright sounding mandolins - great with my Poe Scout. On darker sounding mandolins, they sound very dull and muted to my ears. If I need to brighten up, I go thin and even more pointy - Pickboy "mandolin" .75mm or BC TD35. If I could have just one pick, it would be the Wegen Bluegrass 1mm pick - it sounds pretty good on everything to my ear.

[darrylicshon]

I just got some primetone picks , but mine are regular not rounded, i have been trying a lot of picks in the last few months, i have some Dawg picks , at first. I didn't like the sound, they take the treble out , but the last few times i have liked them better, which i would have never thought to happen. But i still don't use rounded picks much , and i use .96 or 1.0 , any thicker and don't like them much, but i have been using a Dunlop derlin .96 on guitar for the past 15 years atleast, could be why i don't like thicker picks

[mandroid]

I've got a J. Bovier F5-T

1) I Dont .. My bright er Mandolins: Aluminum top of bridge on 1922 A

And Nickel wound strings on a Hodson D'Jangolin .

Maybe the thicker Top of the Instrument you got is just not so resonant. ?

[Jackgaryk]

don't rule out the V-PICKS, I have several and they are really loud on my mandolins. and bbaker they are made right up the road from you in nashville. good luck

[JeffD]

Glad you found what works for you, and what doesn't.

The tone that you're trying to achieve, the particular instrument you're playing, the height and angle you hold it at while playing, your choice of strings, your pick grip, angle and right hand technique... etc. are all important details that contribute to the equation, and are reasons why different people prefer different picks.

This is so important to understand. If any pick was universally better for every player, everyone would buy it, and the other pick companies would go out of business.

[JeffD]

Those two picks made my mandolin sound almost muted and dead. I was really surprised that they would make my mandolin sound terrible when so many people like them.

Picks make a discernable to huge difference on the mandolin. I have tried many wrong picks, that make it sound dead, or soft, or some are just difficult to manipulate. It matters.

[bratsche]

This is so important to understand. If any pick was universally better for every player, everyone would buy it, and the other pick companies would go out of business.

Not only every player, but I find instruments themselves vary a lot in pick "preference" too. It's sometimes a headache for me to remember which picks sound best with instruments other than the main one I gravitate toward these days. I sometimes think I should either write it down, or at least keep a pick that the instrument "likes" in the case with the instrument, but I never do. Maybe next time.

bratsche

[roysboy]

The choice of pick , in my experience , is crucial to the sound you are looking for whether you play mandolin or acoustic guitar or ? Also good to remember that the sound YOU hear as the player is quite different from what the listener hears sitting in FRONT of the instrument . Record yourself with a GOOD mic and have a listen.

[Mandosurf]

I enjoy a wegen tf140 the most out of primetone 1.5 triangle, fender heavy 346, dunlop ultex 1.14, v pick saga.. The primetone feels good with the grip and is the loudest pick I've used, it's brighter and has more click, to my ears... Wegen sounds smoother and darker, not as loud. Really want to try a bluechip tad601r or Chris thile model next..

[Mark Wilson]

For me I need the pick that allows me to play the best. Grip, tip and shape. I tend to adapt to the sound it makes very quickly. For a while I favored 1.2 -1.4mm picks but recently I tried a 1mm pick and it just seems to match the 'impedance' of my playing atm. It sounded thin for 5 minutes and now it sounds perfect.

[David Lewis]

It took me a while to get used to round picks. But now I love them...

[renoyd]

The Blue Chip TAD60-1R or TPR60 picks will fix you up! More volume and clearer tone than anything I've ever tried.

[DavidKOS]

I totally agree, bbaker... I think those ..... rounded {picks} make a mandolin sound like it's stuffed with socks.
I don't understand why people use 'em, but it's a free country and some people love them.
.....
I have some primetone triangles with pointed ends... They are quite nice....

I like pointed picks. ..... If I need to brighten up, I go thin and even more pointy - Pickboy "mandolin" .75mm or BC TD35. If I could have just one pick, it would be the Wegen Bluegrass 1mm pick - it sounds pretty good on everything to my ear.

Add me to the list of guys that don't feel like I get a good tone with anything except a pointed pick.

Different strokes.

[Jstring]

Add me to the list of guys that don't feel like I get a good tone with anything except a pointed pick.

Different strokes.

I think you and I play a lot of jazz+classical, David?
Might be why we prefer a pointed pick...I tend to see more players with rounded picks at bluegrass festivals.
I'd be surprised if many (any) classical players use a rounded pick...

[lukmanohnz]

When I first started playing mandolin and discovered this forum I went a little pick crazy (ok, ok - I remain pick-crazed, but I digress). Pro-Plecs and Dawg picks were a couple of my earliest deviations from standard Fender 351 heavies that I used exclusively - and for decades - on guitar. I found them both darker, quieter, and softer-toned at the time. After trying numerous other picks including BC and a host of other brands, I settled on the JazzMando V-pick and thought I had found the my-search-is-over mandolin pick. But now I switch around frequently among my irrationally large pick collection, and rotate in the Pro-Plecs (often) and Dawgs (not as often). As my picking technique has evolved substantially since those early days of discovery with the mandolin, I now find more brightness, nuance, and volume from both of them. FWIW my current favorite is a Fender 346 extra heavy on both guitar and mandolin (but I've been playing those new Primetones a lot as well - didn't like them at all initially, but they grew on me).

[LongBlackVeil]

I actually think you have to change the way you attack the strings with a rounded pick. Listen to guys like Grisman and others who've used rounded picks for a long time, they get a lot of brightness out of them.

I like the rounded picks with the bevel like the blue chips have. But when I need more volume I use a pointed pick. I'm sure these guys could get the same amount of volume with the rounded ones.

[Ivan Kelsall]

On my mandolins,any pick such as the Dawg or Golden Gate, thicker,rounded picks totally anihilate any semblance of tone. I used to use Wegen Bluegrass picks which were ok,until i bought some Dunlop Primetone ''Teardrop' shaped 1.3mm thick picks,which proved to be a revelation. IMHO,thick,rounded edges slide over the strings instead of 'picking' them = not good !.After trying lots of different picks inc.Blue Chip picks,for me the Primetones are the best,
Ivan

[Caleb]

These particular Primetones are my favorite picks. For me at least they are the perfect balance between a regular guitar pick and the round picks like Dawgs and Golden Gates.

[JeffD]

Blue Chips are the best for me. Except when the Primetones are the best. Other times the Wegen is the only pick that works, and those Red Bears sure do get a lot of use.

For certain mandolins, for certain venues, for certain tunes, it all depends. Depends on what I am trying to do and where I am trying to do it.