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Thread: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

  1. #1
    Fingers of Concrete ccravens's Avatar
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    Default Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    I know, I know... but I have been really getting into picks lately and was wondering if they could be easily categorized not by brand (BC, Red Bear, etc. etc.) but instead by material. Maybe that would be easier, and certainly more productive in my experimentation. Not interested in discussing the material-that-shall-not-be-named picks.

    So, some of the more pricey picks that I've been interested in and tried out, I'll start by throwing out a few of the categories:

    Casein - (Emlpicks, Red Bear, Charmed Life, Etc.)
    Resin - (Emlpicks, not sure about other makers)
    Horn - (Clayton, others..)
    Vespal - (BlueChip, Charmed Life)
    Derlin - (Tortex, others?)
    Acrylic - (V-Picks)
    Bone - (Clayton, others..)
    Nylon - (Dunlop, many others..)
    Celluloid - (Dunlop, Fender, many others..)

    and just discovered today in a related thread:

    Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) - (Emlpicks)



    I'm obviously leaving out steel, wood or stone. And coins. But if you have some ideas about any of those, let's hear it! So what is popular that I've left out?
    Chris Cravens

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    Montana Flatiron A-Jr.
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    Leo Posch D-18

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    To answer your question: NO!
    David Hopkins

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    The older I get, the less tolerant I am of political correctness, incompetence and stupidity.

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  4. #3
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Thanks David,
    I’m going to get a glass of anything!
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

  5. #4
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    As my mother used to say, "Too much of anything's enough." It makes no sense but it actually makes perfect sense.
    David Hopkins

    2001 Gibson F-5L mandolin
    Breedlove Legacy FF mandolin; Breedlove Quartz FF mandolin
    Gibson F-4 mandolin (1916); Blevins f-style Octave mandolin, 2018
    McCormick Oval Sound Hole "Reinhardt" Mandolin
    McCormick Solid Body F-Style Electric Mandolin; Slingerland Songster Guitar (c. 1939)

    The older I get, the less tolerant I am of political correctness, incompetence and stupidity.

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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    No ! Next question ?

  7. #6
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Yes, how else will we hear how great BC picks are.

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  9. #7
    formerly Philphool Phil Goodson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Answer to your question is NO.
    But I do think it makes more sense to talk about differences in materials than it does to talk about brands (in general).

    (but no, I don't want to talk about that either.)
    Phil

    “Sharps/Flats” “Accidentals”

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    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    What's a forum without conversation?

    Carry on!

    Jamie
    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

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  12. #9

    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Maybe we should preface each and every thread with, "At the risk of discussing something that has already been discussed, I'd like to ask....."

  13. #10
    Registered User Mark Seale's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Add in:

    Ivoroid or Galalith (Manouche picks, a few others)
    Shellrin (which I think is like Casein)

  14. #11
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Mando View Post
    Maybe we should preface each and every thread with, "At the risk of discussing something that has already been discussed, I'd like to ask....."
    ....which is tantamount to saying, "I refuse to use the resources available in this forum."
    David Hopkins

    2001 Gibson F-5L mandolin
    Breedlove Legacy FF mandolin; Breedlove Quartz FF mandolin
    Gibson F-4 mandolin (1916); Blevins f-style Octave mandolin, 2018
    McCormick Oval Sound Hole "Reinhardt" Mandolin
    McCormick Solid Body F-Style Electric Mandolin; Slingerland Songster Guitar (c. 1939)

    The older I get, the less tolerant I am of political correctness, incompetence and stupidity.

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  16. #12

    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Quote Originally Posted by DHopkins View Post
    ....which is tantamount to saying, "I refuse to use the resources available in this forum."

    True, but I have seen people use the search resources you mention, comment on a thread from a couple years back only to get the response, "David, do you not realize that this thread is over four years old? I don't think the OP is still on the Cafe. You should just start a new one." So in the end, it really is a no win situation.

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  18. #13
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    I used to use BC picks, then Wegen now a Clayton ultex. Tastes change, new people come to ask questions. In all the pick threads I don't believe anyone has discussed the Clayton ultex so there is something new you can't get in a search, so new conversations bring new ideas. If it's something you don't want to read, it's simple, don't open the thread. I know we have discussed picks to death, but there is still something new to be discussed and everyone has a different opinion. I also don't believe the EML picks were even available when we went on and on and on and on, etc................... about BC picks.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

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  20. #14
    Registered User Bad Monkey's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Quote Originally Posted by thistle3585 View Post
    True, but I have seen people use the search resources you mention, comment on a thread from a couple years back only to get the response, "David, do you not realize that this thread is over four years old? I don't think the OP is still on the Cafe. You should just start a new one." So in the end, it really is a no win situation.

    Stop making sense. Next you'll be saying that the passive-agressive "I'm sure that others will be along to reply soon, but while you wait I did a search for you so you can read up" type responce isn't the most helpful thing in the whole world.

    Don't want to read another thread about picks? Don't click on it. No need to be hostile.

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  22. #15

    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Do you really need another mandolin? Same answer.

    If we didn't rehash the same old subjects, there would be very few new posts, then where could we voice our uninformed opinions?
    Silverangel A
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  24. #16
    but that's just me Bertram Henze's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Don't say I didn't warn you...

    the world is better off without bad ideas, good ideas are better off without the world

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  26. #17

    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Quote Originally Posted by Br1ck View Post
    If we didn't rehash the same old subjects, there would be very few new posts, then where could we voice our uninformed opinions?
    Sure, I agree it is entertainment. And, yes, a new post reaches new people who were not members 5, 10, etc., years ago.

    I know you are joking about the uninformed opinions (of which, there are quite a few!) but among them are also very informed opinions from leading scholars, historians, builders, professional musicians, and fans of the mandolin! I have learned a lot on MC, while being entertained!

    FWIW, I do search past threads when I need an answer to a mandolin question. One tip is to search your question on Google, rather than the MC search engine itself, it seems to work better for me and usually the first result is always from MC anyway.

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  28. #18
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    I, for one, enjoy the discussion aspect of the forum, not the “just reading what opinions were way back when”, so new thread away!

    For tone, I love Casin, but it’s not ideal for gigs, as even thick casin picks get soft and deform in my grip, at the high level of shred that I play at.
    2007 Weber Custom Elite "old wood"
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  30. #19
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Anybody used an Ernie Ball Prodigy Pick yet?

    They're Delrin, beveled, come in 1.5 and 2mm thicknesses, and my local music store sells singles for a dollar and change. Great string glide and low pick noise; the only downside is you have to be comfortable with a sharp point as I believe they only come in one shape.

  31. #20

    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bertram Henze View Post
    Don't say I didn't warn you...

    I would have been lost without those subtitles!

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  33. #21
    Fingers of Concrete ccravens's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bertram Henze View Post
    Don't say I didn't warn you...

    I wonder what type of wood her pick is made of..

    Was it torrified?

    Did it have bevels? Right or left handed?
    Chris Cravens

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    Montana Flatiron A-Jr.
    Passernig Mandola
    Leo Posch D-18

  34. #22
    but that's just me Bertram Henze's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Mando View Post
    I would have been lost without those subtitles!
    Quote Originally Posted by ccravens View Post
    I wonder what type of wood her pick is made of..

    Was it torrified?

    Did it have bevels? Right or left handed?
    I suppose that's explained in the subtitles.
    the world is better off without bad ideas, good ideas are better off without the world

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  36. #23
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Some pretty interesting materials here: https://www.dugainplectrums.com/
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

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    funny....

  37. #24
    Fingers of Concrete ccravens's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    Quote Originally Posted by JeffD View Post
    Some pretty interesting materials here: https://www.dugainplectrums.com/
    Wow. What a site. I love the way he's chosen to categorize by pick material:

    *woods
    *animal and vegetable matter
    *synthetics
    *noble matters
    *metals
    *stones

    Seems like an impossible task to even try a half of these categories, and especially the many different types of each..

    If you, for example, want to try synthetic picks, then you have to decide whether you want to try Acetate, Acrylic, Delrin, Bakelit, Ebonit, Galalith. Let's say you try these and really like Derlin. Then you need to compare the different pick makers who produce Derlin picks.

    For a methodical person like myself, it seems an unending experiment...
    Chris Cravens

    Girouard A5
    Montana Flatiron A-Jr.
    Passernig Mandola
    Leo Posch D-18

  38. #25
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do We Really Need Another Pick Thread?

    So, a few weeks ago I was looking at a guitar at one of the local music stores and needed a pick. I bought one of these Gibson XH picks just because it was heavy and I found a .39 pick that I like as much as my Bluechip. A few days ago I went back and bought all they had in stock. Now if I could only find the large triangle picks in the same material and thickness. The best part is my total ignorance of the material they are made from. It's a plastic I'm sure, beyond that not a clue.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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