Anyone ever try Tortis picks? + Light picks vs Heavy

[onetubetone]

I recently made it a goal to get out of my light picks rut. I used to use the Dunlop Orange ones, .60 I think, and after getting into recording and listening to myself closely, I realized I was getting a lot of pick noise and not as much control as I would have liked. Sooo I went on a quest to find a better pick, and, to make a long story short, I recently forked out the $20 for a Tortis pick.

So far I like it a lot... I got the "light" version... which is really pretty heavy at about 1.0, and it's a very stiff pick so it feels even thicker than it is. So far I really like it though... I'm still getting used to it and teaching myself to get the relaxed strumming sound with a stiff pick, but I like the results. Anyone have a similar experience?

[sc_lefty]

i've been test driving a wegen bluegrass pick (1.4mm) recently. EXTREMELY stiff & thick compared to what i'm used to. so, the jury is still out.....altho' i'm trying to give it a fair trial before jumping to conclusions.

david

[wthurman]

Originally Posted by onetubetone

I recently made it a goal to get out of my light picks rut. I used to use the Dunlop Orange ones, .60 I think, and after getting into recording and listening to myself closely, I realized I was getting a lot of pick noise and not as much control as I would have liked. Sooo I went on a quest to find a better pick, and, to make a long story short, I recently forked out the $20 for a Tortis pick.

So far I like it a lot... I got the "light" version... which is really pretty heavy at about 1.0, and it's a very stiff pick so it feels even thicker than it is. So far I really like it though... I'm still getting used to it and teaching myself to get the relaxed strumming sound with a stiff pick, but I like the results. Anyone have a similar experience?

I love mine. I got the "light" version too, but I haven't found it difficult to use in the least, as the end taper is amazing. And yes, it really is just like the tortoise pick my dad used to have. Someone finally came up with a "real" synthetic.

[onetubetone]

Update--- I just let my former instructor and long time musician play it... he says it's exactly how he remembers his old Tortoise shell picks... and he proceeded to order a few for himself.

[tiktok]

I don't know how people use the really thick picks (1mm+) on acoustic. To me, they generate a ton of pick noise, but of a different variety than the light picks. I finally ended up using Dunlop Nylon .88's, much to my surprise.

My experience (and I'm sure many will have their own stories) is that the pick has to be able to flex just a bit and be of a somewhat softer material (regardless of the thickness) to minimize pick noise. Picking technique has a lot to do with it also, but I found that trying to get a "bowing" feeling when picking really helped kill the clickity pick attack sound.

[jazzinthebox]

Heavy picks are great for bluegrass music since there tends to be a lot more runs and less strumming. $20 is really expensive for faux tortoise shell, but it sounds like the quality makes up for it. I've never used them myself.

Nothing like a good tortise pick.Better tone,and easier to hold on to. The fake ones are something I've never tried.I paid anywhere from 15 to 30 bucks for real ones.The last time I checked they had gone up on price to 30 bucks for a tear shape and 50 bucks for a large 3 point. I'm glad I don't need any.. .......Don

[Guyute]

From what I understand, these aren't actually "faux" tortoise shell. The material is actually "grown" as opposed to manufactured like a plastic. So technically, it's not fake tortoise, it's artificial tortoise shell.

Explains not only the similarity to real tortoise shell, but also the stratospheric sticker price.

Originally Posted by Guyute

From what I understand, these aren't actually "faux" tortoise shell. The material is actually "grown" as opposed to manufactured like a plastic. So technically, it's not fake tortoise, it's artificial tortoise shell.

Explains not only the similarity to real tortoise shell, but also the stratospheric sticker price.

Where do you get um? If it is just like the real deal,but eaiser to come by,,given time they will probably get cheaper.......D

[Rodger]

I got mine at Maury's Music:

http://www.maurysmusic.com/inc/pdetail?v=1&pid=118

Elderly Instrument carries them also.

http://www.elderly.com/accessories/i...ORTB-SPB-M.htm

Made by luthier John Greven... check out his web site.

http://www.grevenguitars.com/

Rodger

[wthurman]

I would have thought badly of the "thick pick" syndrome, because plastic is definitely that way. However, tortoise (and tor-tis, which yes, is grown as a protein based substitute for tortoise, which is pretty amazing in and of itself) slides over the strings in a way that plastic and nylon can't. For instance, I've never been able to tolerate anything thicker than a .73 nylon Dunlop... but these are easier to use, more expressive, give less pick noise and with the "speed pick" bevel on them, which is an option, I find that they actually are smoother and easier to use with less pick noise, than any I've tried since I lost an old tortoise pick many years ago.

So although when I hold a 1mm dunlop or plastic pick I feel like I'm holding a slab of concrete, these actually feel wonderful. Frankly, I was surprised.

Take care,

Wade

[Bm7b5]

Haven't tried Tortis, but do have several Tortoise 3-point jazz picks that I keep a very close eye on.

[onetubetone]

Originally Posted by Bm7b5

Haven't tried Tortis, but do have several Tortoise 3-point jazz picks that I keep a very close eye on.

You should try one out and make a comparison!

[Pinsk94]

FYI.
Those picks are cut and distributed by Dave S. the creater of the 13th fret and Flatpickin forum's.
http://www.13thfret.com/cgi-bin/futureforum.cgi
http://www.flatpickin.com/forum/view...098231ae028bb8

His company is called Red Bear Trading Company