Quote:
Originally Posted by valleyguy
I have regularly jammed with Scott for the past few years and have watched as he developed his picks, so I got a chance to play them all.
A bit of history on my use of picks. I started using tortex, as most people do, starting with the red .5 mm and over the years as my technique improved and I got more into playing individual notes as I pick and strum, I moved up to the purple 1.14. Tried Ultems and a number of other picks, but after I tried a Blue Chip, I could see their appeal. I bought some Wegen Bluegrass 1.4 and that became my go to pick several years ago.
Some months ago Scott "lent" me one of his natural tortoise picks (I think the 1.15). I was smitten. Though the pick has no bevel, it flat picks very nicely, but the thing I like about it most is how warm and subtle the sound is. I do not like a bright sound, so I found the pick ideal for jamming with others when I didn't want to stand out (I have a loud D18 with medium strings), but with a heavier hand it will bring up the volume. I've never played a pick like this before, warmer, softer than the Blue Chip and my Wegen. I'd say I use it 50% of the time when I want a mellower sound. It's particularly good with new strings.
Thanks for the "loan", Scott.
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Thanks, Fred. I appreciate you being one of our early CL guinea pigs. I’ve been so busy, this is the first chance I've had to come up for air and add a few comments to your post.
First, just a correction of facts: Fred is indeed playing one of our natural “tortoise” models (in this case, a classic 351 teardrop shape), but it’s at 1.25 mm thickness, not 1.15. (Please Note: The 1.25 mm model is not shown on our website, but is available by special order only for the same price: $24.95, which includes free shipping. Please email us if interested.)
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Fred is pointing out the first thing people usually notice when they start playing this material – its incredible warmth and smooth, balanced tone. It’s also noted for its “softness” across the strings and almost total absence of pick noise.
Many of our customers prefer our “tortoise” models to our brown series (actually, we don’t care, since we sell both) – and it’s cheaper too. It has been made into guitar picks for well over than 100 years, and is revered around the globe for its remarkable tonal similarities to real tortoise shell. It is derived from a natural protein that has been one of the “building blocks” of life on our planet since the beginning of time, and goes back at least 5000 years to Ancient Egypt, where it was for known for its unique properties. It’s amazing material.
One last thing: Fred mentioned that the pick was on “loan” (actually it’s on “permanent loan”). Why? This is because I have no desire to make money off my friends and jamming partners. If you knew Fred as well as I do, you’d know that you could never “buy” a good review off him; he’s not that kind of guy, and it wouldn’t sit well with him. He’s a good picker, and he’s been testing our prototypes right along for more than six months now. We don’t want people to blow smoke; we want the truth. I’m a driven perfectionist. How am I going to get better if people won’t be straight with me? That’s the kind of guy Fred is.
And by the way, he road tested this pick for more than sixty days before posting this review.
thanks, everyone,
scott