Question For Pick Nerds

The TS pick is natural wear. That is my pattern for modifying other picks such as Blue Chip.

The process is pretty simple. I use a six-sided nail buffer and just reshape the rounded edge to match what I see in my natural wear pattern. Start with the coarsest cutting surface and work my way down through the finer surfaces on the buffer. You could use a file for the coarse work if you wanted.

[McCawber]

How do we define "performance improvement?"

[HHP]

Originally Posted by McCawber

How do we define "performance improvement?"

For me, its more volume, cleaner and more articulate tone, no noise,neutral sonic coloring, and enhanced control.

[Mr Fingers]

The bevel's effect depends on how you hold the pick. On really thick picks (2-4.0) I think a speed bevel works really well because it reduces the contact area considerably, mimic-ing a thinner pick at point of contact. (Few of us hold the pick so that the wide beveled surface contacts the string; it's the thinner, "front edge" of the bevel that contacts the string.) On thin picks (1.0) I find no benefit in a speed bevel.

[Silly Moustache]

I wouldn't buy a pick that doesn't have aspeed bevel now hence my fondness for Wegen & BC.

However I've got some old picks large triangle picks that I might have a go at tomorrow - just as an experiment.

[leew3]

[QUOTE=Mick's Goat Whiskey Picks;5385524]Another thing too for the folks who think they're not advanced enough to benefit from a bevel.

I'd agree here and defer to Mick's pick wisdom. I finally purchases an expensive pick for mandolin (sorry, Mick, it was from another well know source-I was led astray by my mandolin instructor but I now repent!). This pick came with a speed bevel option that I chose and it makes a significant difference in the speed and tone of my playing. I"m a rudimentary mando player at best so I would encourage all who are considering trying out a speed bevel not to wait until you're 'good enough'. Time's a wastin' !

[Goat Mick]

Originally Posted by leew3

I'd agree here and defer to Mick's pick wisdom. I finally purchases an expensive pick for mandolin (sorry, Mick, it was from another well know source-I was led astray by my mandolin instructor but I now repent!). This pick came with a speed bevel option that I chose and it makes a significant difference in the speed and tone of my playing. I"m a rudimentary mando player at best so I would encourage all who are considering trying out a speed bevel not to wait until you're 'good enough'. Time's a wastin' !

No worries about that at all my friend. I don't use my picks for mandolin either. My picks are fairly specific to the guitar family. For mandolin I either use a 1.5 Primetone triangle or a Dunlop Americana pick. There are probably better out there, but my mandolin abilities are rudimentary at best and these work for what I do. You should hear my picks on a Dobro though!!

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

I wouldn't buy a pick that doesn't have a speed bevel now hence my fondness for Wegen & BC.

However I've got some old picks large triangle picks that I might have a go at tomorrow - just as an experiment.

Only got around t this today - had an old JD purple (1.14) triangle, a Clayton translucent yellow 1.14, and a D'andrea pro-plec 1.5 m/m.

I got some sanding pads of various roughness (?) and finished off wth Jeweler's Rouge on a rough piece of leather.

I modeled the bevels I sought to achieve on a Wegen TF and a BC TAD 40. So, six bevels on each pick!

The best result was on the old Dunlop Purple pick, but I didn't achieve the angle or extent of the Wegen bevels.

I haven't "road tested any as yet ..... tomorrow.

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

Only got around t this today - had an old JD purple (1.14) triangle, a Clayton translucent yellow 1.14, and a D'andrea pro-plec 1.5 m/m.

I got some sanding pads of various roughness (?) and finished off wth Jeweler's Rouge on a rough piece of leather.

I modeled the bevels I sought to achieve on a Wegen TF and a BC TAD 40. So, six bevels on each pick!

The best result was on the old Dunlop Purple pick, but I didn't achieve the angle or extent of the Wegen bevels.

I haven't "road tested any as yet ..... tomorrow.

Silly, I look forward to your report once you play these. Once you get better and faster at it, you can perhaps begin to apply your bevel design to other picks. It's a popular feature, although I confess I don't seem to be a good enough player to notice the difference. Ah well.

Thanks for your post!

scott memmer

[Vancebo]

Originally Posted by Todd Yates

The TS pick is natural wear. That is my pattern for modifying other picks such as Blue Chip.

The process is pretty simple. I use a six-sided nail buffer and just reshape the rounded edge to match what I see in my natural wear pattern. Start with the coarsest cutting surface and work my way down through the finer surfaces on the buffer. You could use a file for the coarse work if you wanted.

This is exactly what I did one time. Worked great.

[HHP]

Speed bevels were originally designed to replicate the wear pattern that develops over time. That can be a subtle "ramp" to the rounded edge.

My thoughts are "go big or go home" so I bevel the full width of the edge. The bevel creates its own attack angle.

Here's what it looks like on a 4mm pick.



If you look at the right side of the photo, you can see the profile of the original edge at the top of the pick.

[Fogducker]

I've got a 1964 D-28 (BR), an elephant ivory saddle and a TS pick (No bevel)! A triple CITEs offender, "Give me some cover fire, I'm gonna do Wildwood Flower"

Fog

[HHP]

Originally Posted by Fogducker

I've got a 1964 D-28 (BR), an elephant ivory saddle and a TS pick (No bevel)! A triple CITEs offender, "Give me some cover fire, I'm gonna do Wildwood Flower"

Fog

I take it you're not on the World Wildlife Fund mailing list?

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by Fogducker

I've got a 1964 D-28 (BR), an elephant ivory saddle and a TS pick (No bevel)! A triple CITEs offender, "Give me some cover fire, I'm gonna do Wildwood Flower"

Fog

Shhhhh. I won't tell anyone fog; it's our little secret.

sm