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Thread: Another pick story, making steel strings sound kinda like nylon

  1. #1

    Default Another pick story, making steel strings sound kinda like nylon

    As mentioned in other threads, my new toy is a short-scale tenor guitar with a mandola body.

    A bright pick makes a nice Taylor-esque guitar sound for rhythm accompaniment in a band.

    A few days back I tried playing classical mando literature on it and the sound was too bright.

    I found a BC TP-50 gives a beautiful classical guitar-like sound on the same instrument.

    I had a 'doh' moment later when I realized I had approached the sound of nylon strings with just a pick change.

    For some reason I find that kinda funny, and kinda cool.
    Davey Stuart tenor guitar (based on his 18" mandola design).
    Eastman MD-604SB with Grover 309 tuners.
    Eastwood 4 string electric mandostang, 2x Airline e-mandola (4-string) one strung as an e-OM.
    DSP's: Helix HX Stomp, various Zooms.
    Amps: THR-10, Sony XB-20.

  2. #2
    Registered User Murphy Slaw's Avatar
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    Default Re: Another pick story, making steel strings sound kinda like nyl

    I'm a guitarist for many, many decades and a mandolin hack for the last 10/12 years.

    To me the Bluechip/Wegen sound is less tinny and clicky than a thinner, cheaper sounding plastic and this is desired by many players eventually.

    I don't know anything about the Taylor-esque sound you speak of.
    1933 Gibson A-00 (was Scotty Stoneman's)
    2003 Gibson J-45RW (ebony)
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  3. #3
    Registered User BoxCarJoe's Avatar
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    Default Re: Another pick story, making steel strings sound kinda like nyl

    I use a Pro Plec on my Kala short scale tenor.
    It really tames the brightness. LaBella strings help also.

    But sometimes I like it brighter and go for a Golden Gate pick.

  4. #4
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Another pick story, making steel strings sound kinda like nyl

    The pick choice makes a large difference for a mandolin.

    This article is very very informative.

    http://jazzmando.com/tips/archives/000718.shtml
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

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    funny....

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  6. #5

    Default Re: Another pick story, making steel strings sound kinda like nyl

    Quote Originally Posted by kurth83 View Post
    ...
    I found a BC TP-50 gives a beautiful classical guitar-like sound on the same instrument.

    I had a 'doh' moment later when I realized I had approached the sound of nylon strings with just a pick change.

    For some reason I find that kinda funny, and kinda cool.
    If you could find a pick that makes nylon strings sound like steel strings
    I think that would find a market.
    Thanks,
    sounds_good

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