ProPik FingerTones - Review

Mr Fixit eh · #1 05-05-2015, 06:48 PM

Well the ProPik FingerTones arrived a couple days ago, and here is my review.

The Propik website was easy to navigate, and my email inquiries were answered promptly. There was no sizing information on the site, but they emailed me a sizing chart that you can print off. The order was shipped next day, and the picks arrived as promptly as international mail ever does to Canada (about 10 days). The plastic pick container was secured to a sturdy cardboard box - well packaged, I'd say.

At first I was apprehensive. The picks didn't seem to fit very well. There was no information on the website (that I could find) about tips on fitting the picks to your fingers. Based on my recent experience with Butterfly Picks, I went to work to try and get the ProPiks fitted similarly. It took longer to get these to fit to my finger (2 hours), but I went slowly and carefully, so as not to wreck them up. Needle-nosed pliers, used judiciously, were a big help (think tiny adjustments. After 30 minutes, I had the index fitted where I could play it, repeat, repeat. The Thumb pick, the 'Thumb Flat', went faster - snug up the metal rings, twist the pick, and BINGO!

I am pleased with the robustness of the ProPik Fleshtones. They feel more secure on my fingers than the Butterflies, they are less in need of on-the-fly adjustments, and I can actually strum (carefully) with them. I have been able to play a couple of songs I've been working on Travis Picking and they actually feel good, and I can play almost smoothly. A little practice, and who knows.... I feel like I could almost perform with them already.

I still prefer to play bare fingered - I feel like I have better control, and I can feel the strings better. These are great because you can actually touch the fleshy pads against the string and have the same feel. At first they seemed noisy, but after trial and error adjustments, I was able to remove nearly all the steely sound.

If you decide to try the ProPik FingerTones. Do spend a lot of time and effort to experiment with placement and fit on your fingers. I found for me that they worked best skewed off-center. I have pictures, below.

I will continue to try and get more comfortable with the Butterfly picks, but out-of-the-box (and after careful fitting), the ProPiks felt more naturally like an extension of my finger than the Butterflies. So far the FingerTones are the best finger pick I've ever tried.

PS - I really liked the 'split ring' configuration. You can adjust the tabs separately to get the best fit. Note my handy 'catalogue' system - 1 dab of nail polish for the index, 2 dabs for middle. I just hope I can remember where the non-marked one goes

YMMV

ProPik FleshTones - pushed down so that the pick's contact ring rests on the fleshy pad just below the nail.

Sorry for the poor focus - you'll notice that the picks are skewed towards the thumb - quite a lot for the index, somewhat for middle, not much for the ring fingers.

Another view

Here's the thumb pick -twisted so that I only get a little contact with the string

Altogether now....

PaulHintz · #2 05-05-2015, 07:32 PM

Thanks for this helpful review/description, especially the great pictures. I hadn't heard of these. Have recently given up (again/finally/for good/maybe) on RH nails. I play piano too much, and the tone I get from my nails is too darn raspy. This might be a solution..

TBman · #3 05-05-2015, 08:30 PM

Don't forget to label them:

Mr Fixit eh · #4 05-05-2015, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBman

Don't forget to label them:

Did you see my nail polish dabs? 1 dab for index; 2 dabs for middle finger.

steve

TBman · #5 05-05-2015, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Fixit eh

Did you see my nail polish dabs? 1 dab for index; 2 dabs for middle finger.

steve

No, didn't see them. Will they stay on? I could borrow some of my daughters.

OaklandA · #6 05-17-2015, 02:21 PM

What site did you order yours from? The dealers I see online don't have sizing info.

btw, I did see a Canadian dealer... http://www.thepickshoppe.com

TBman · #7 05-17-2015, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OaklandA

What site did you order yours from? The dealers I see online don't have sizing info.

btw, I did see a Canadian dealer... http://www.thepickshoppe.com

I bought mine here:

http://www.guptillmusic.com/propik-f...-finger-picks/

JosephW · #8 05-18-2015, 04:07 PM

Thank you for your reviews of these and the Butterfly brand. Very helpful!
Sounds like your personal favorite is the ProPik.

Mr Fixit eh · #9 05-18-2015, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OaklandA

What site did you order yours from? The dealers I see online don't have sizing info.

btw, I did see a Canadian dealer... http://www.thepickshoppe.com

Guptillmusic.com
You have to email them for a sizing chart.
Ironically it was 3 dollars cheaper to order from Guptill in the USA than to go with this CDN dealer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBman

I bought mine here:

http://www.guptillmusic.com/propik-f...-finger-picks/

Me too, and very happy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JosephW

Thank you for your reviews of these and the Butterfly brand. Very helpful!
Sounds like your personal favorite is the ProPik.

Yes - so far.