The Acoustic Guitar Forum

The Acoustic Guitar Forum (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/index.php)
-   General Acoustic Guitar Discussion (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=24)
-   -   Best Thumb Picks (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121885)

BaGz 03-25-2008 08:45 AM

Best Thumb Picks
 
Title says it all, I have only tried one and was not fond of it, so I've just grown my nail out ever since. I'd like to give it another shot but would like to make sure I get a quality one. Suggestions?

rgregg48 03-25-2008 08:52 AM

I like the Fred Kelly slick pick..

but thats my experience...

Rickr

aaronsdb 03-25-2008 09:15 AM

Red Bear propick. They are expensive ($35) but they last forever, sound great, and are comfortable. redbeartrading.com

mmmaak 03-25-2008 09:19 AM

I will be writing a short review of the Fred Kelly Jazz Bumblebee soon, as I have found that its Delrin material, combined with the adjustable height and angle make it ideal for fingerstyle :up:

But if you're looking for a regular thumb pick, then +1 on the Slick Picks. Delrin for warmth and Polycarb for brightness.

billv 03-25-2008 09:45 AM

Another vote for the Fred Kelly Slick Pick. I like the heavy Delrin type. It took me a while to warm up to the Slick Pick, but after I got used to it, I've really liked it. I do round the tip just a bit with a file to mellow out the tone a bit.

rattletrap 03-25-2008 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmmaak (Post 1427234)
I will be writing a short review of the Fred Kelly Jazz Bumblebee soon, as I have found that its Delrin material, combined with the adjustable height and angle make it ideal for fingerstyle :up:

But if you're looking for a regular thumb pick, then +1 on the Slick Picks. Delrin for warmth and Polycarb for brightness.

+1 on the Fred Kelly. My only prob with them is that they are too small for my big hands!

ljguitar 03-25-2008 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaGz (Post 1427204)
Title says it all, I have only tried one and was not fond of it, so I've just grown my nail out ever since. I'd like to give it another shot but would like to make sure I get a quality one. Suggestions?

Hi BaGz...
I used to use them for clarity, but hated the way they protrude, so I cut them down on my bench grinder or with sandpaper like this...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1240/...4d2f917ef5.jpg http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1311/...c9d42b7f62.jpg

Then they worked just like my normal thumb stroke without protruding way down into the strings.

mmmaak 03-25-2008 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljguitar (Post 1427276)
Hi BaGz...
I used to use them for clarity, but hated the way they protrude, so I cut them down on my bench grinder or with sandpaper like this...

Then they worked just like my normal thumb stroke without protruding way down into the strings.

Hi LJ. Maybe it's just me, but I tried that on one of my FK Delrin picks and it totally killed the sound. It wasn't a hack job as I used various files, grades of sandpaper and emery boards to get the modified tip as close to the original as possible. Maybe others will have better luck :D

ljguitar 03-25-2008 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmmaak (Post 1427281)
Hi LJ. Maybe it's just me, but I tried that on one of my FK Delrin picks and it totally killed the sound. It wasn't a hack job as I used various files, grades of sandpaper and emery boards to get the modified tip as close to the original as possible. Maybe others will have better luck :D

Hi mmm...
Fred Kelley - the one that looks like a regular pick stuck to a thumb pick or the tiny little finger-like one? Maybe you mean the narrow one that he calls normal.

I never used those because they don't replicate the sound or feel of an actual thumb. When I used thumb picks it was to clarify the note on the bass string with the action still being played like my thumb plays and not trying to use it like a flat pick. I didn't like his ''regular'' thumb picks because they were too narrow (as opposed to thin), and I wanted more surface area to contact the string.

mmmaak 03-25-2008 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljguitar (Post 1427288)
Hi mmm...
Fred Kelley - the one that looks like a regular pick stuck to a thumb pick or the tiny little finger-like one? Maybe you mean the narrow one that he calls normal.

I was referring to the Delrin Slick Pick, heavy gauge:
http://elderly.com/accessories/items/PK6-H-DELRIN.htm

I really liked the sound it produced, clear and warm, but wasn't comfortable with the length of the tip, so I tried filing it down with pretty disastrous results :p

My current favourite is the Jazz Bumblebee because it lets me play in a very natural position - almost as if I have no thumbpick on at all. It's also made of Delrin, but the sound isn't as thick as the Slick Pick. I'm hoping the x-heavy gauge version will remedy that, though.

ljguitar 03-25-2008 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmmaak (Post 1427309)
I was referring to the Delrin Slick Pick, heavy gauge..

Hi mmm...
Yeah...those picks are not the right width for me, and the material isn't as malleable as just the plain old plastic of the Gibson Medium & Heavy picks (can't get them anymore).

The heavy duty National Picks worked for me too...

It kind of depends on what one wants to accomplish with the pick. If it's just a flat pick attached at the thumb the pick will need to be different than if you merely want a bit of clarity for an already established style of finger picking.

There are sure lots of options out there. I had used thumbpicks for over 25 years and have a good ''stash'' in the back cabinet, but one of the main issues I encountered was getting one that worked and then finding them later (good products from small companies that are here today & gone bankrupt tomorrow syndrome).

Blue in VT 03-25-2008 10:50 AM

I've been using Nationals for the last year or so... prefer the Medium if you can find them....But I just got my hands on a couple of Goldengate picks and REALLY like them alot. They both need to be cut down and reshapped but after that they sound good.

Cheers,

Blue

TommyK 03-25-2008 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaGz (Post 1427204)
Title says it all, I have only tried one and was not fond of it, so I've just grown my nail out ever since. I'd like to give it another shot but would like to make sure I get a quality one. Suggestions?

For just plain volume, those metal ones.. Dunlop I guess.

My fave is the plastic ones. Either one, bend them to fit for comfort and stability. The plastic ones you'll need to heat up with hot water or a light bulb to soften so you canbend it and have it stay once it cools.

The plastic ones have a pretty good sized 'paddle' I regard these plastic ones as 'raw material'. I use a fingernail clipper... actually a toe nail clipper to reduce it's size and file, sand and polish like fingernails to get to the right shape, size and pick cross-section. Make the pick a sharpish pint for more 'snap' to the tone. Rounded for a more melow tone. Cut two points to make it sound like a 12 string... sort of, for the price of a 6.

That's maybe why I like the plastic ones... Dunlop I guess.. better. The metal ones are hard to re-work. You have to play with the size they give you.

bransonb 03-25-2008 02:31 PM

I'm a fan of Golden Gates

http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/PK21-L.htm

sjino 03-25-2008 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronsdb (Post 1427229)
Red Bear propick. They are expensive ($35) but they last forever, sound great, and are comfortable. redbeartrading.com

Dang, bro! Is that $35 for ONE pick, or is that a misprint? It had better be made of platinum for that kind of money. :D

Personally, I like the Ernie Ball thumbpicks because they're a good deal thinner than most traditionally shaped thumbpicks like Dunlops and Nationals. Since I play with natural nails on the other fingers, the thinner gauge blends better and is less overpowering. Doesn't have that thuddy sound you can get with real thick picks either. Cheap, too.

For a slightly thicker gauge, I like the John Pearse thumbpicks. Nicely shaped and reasonably priced.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:05 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum

vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=