New Charmed Life Mandolin pick

Nemoman · #1 10-12-2018, 04:10 PM

I received my flame mando pick this week and have had a chance to try it out for a few hours so far. Thought I'd give my first impressions...

First off, I use this style pick primarily on my acoustic guitars, although I do play some mando as well. The pick is gorgeous and has a great feel to it. Very comfortable to the touch--not slick, but at the same time, not too sticky or grippy. Just the right feel to it.

Love the tone of this pick! It really glides on the strings and is super smooth to play with. It's the closest thing I've heard to my typical wegen that I use, but is a tad warmer and softer--definitely a good thing as there is little to no string noise with this pick compared to the wegen.

I really look forward to using this pick more and more. Super looks, super tone, and super service from Scott. Yeah, it's pricey, but I highly recommend this pick--check it out!

https://imgur.com/a/dJ32cgI

Kerbie · #2 10-12-2018, 04:12 PM

That's beautiful... congratulations. Great picks.

Muddslide · #3 10-12-2018, 04:28 PM

Those are gorgeous. Definitely plan on trying some one day soon.

What thickness is it?

Nemoman · #4 10-12-2018, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muddslide

Those are gorgeous. Definitely plan on trying some one day soon.

What thickness is it?

It's 1.5 mm--you should definitely give one of these a try!

Charmed Life Picks · #5 10-13-2018, 11:05 AM

Neo, thanks so much for taking the time to post your review. I just wanted to add a photo, if I may. Thanks again.

Zissou Intern · #6 10-14-2018, 12:09 AM

Those are great looking picks. Ronnie McCoury once told me that he uses the Golden Gate mandolin picks, and when they get all rounded off, like a quarter, he gives them to Del to use on the guitar.

Charmed Life Picks · #7 10-14-2018, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zissou Intern

Those are great looking picks. Ronnie McCoury once told me that he uses the Golden Gate mandolin picks, and when they get all rounded off, like a quarter, he gives them to Del to use on the guitar.

Oh, thanks for the post, Keith, that's a funny story.

Just a word to folks here that there are some folks who play this shape for guitar (for instance, I recently met Tommy Emmanual, and surprisingly, believe it or not, this is his go-to shape for guitar; he showed me the Golden Gate in his hand the night I met him) that this shape may not be your cup of tea, just because the corners may be too rounded. The reason this particular shape is so popular for mando is because the rounded corners allow for an excellent release off the double-string setup, particularly when playing tremolo; however, most people prefer something a bit pointier for playing a regular six-string guitar. Just a word to the wise.

Anyway, Keith, thanks again for your post. It sounds like you're getting close to pulling the trigger on another mando one of these days.

scott memmer

riorider · #8 10-14-2018, 05:14 PM

Received mine this past week as well - thanks Scott! Just as described, and A/B'd with the Golden Gate it was more elegant, more refined. Everything I liked in the Golden Gates was there and, well, more. Smoother, rounder tone, easier off the string but still controlled.

Great product - thanks much!

Phil

Charmed Life Picks · #9 10-15-2018, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riorider

Received mine this past week as well - thanks Scott! Just as described, and A/B'd with the Golden Gate it was more elegant, more refined. Everything I liked in the Golden Gates was there and, well, more. Smoother, rounder tone, easier off the string but still controlled.

Great product - thanks much!

Phil

Phil, thanks for chiming in with your review. I confess that on this model I made it for myself. Hey, at some point I have to slay the dragon for my own pick needs. I've been playing the GG shape for thirty years and finally broke down and made one for me. An extra bonus that others like it.

Folks, an interesting side note: I've discovered that different casein materials have different tonal properties. Not dramatic, in fact barely detectable, but it's there. The only thing I can figure is that the coloring agent alters just slightly the chemical composition of the plastic. Yeah, weird. This was first pointed out to me by players of the flame material. Yeah, weird.

scott memmer

Daniel Grenier · #10 10-15-2018, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charmed Life Picks

Neo, thanks so much for taking the time to post your review. I just wanted to add a photo, if I may. Thanks again.

Good review for the mando but I have to ask, as a sidebar to this thread, would these work well on the Irish Bouzouki (aka octave mandolin)? I have difficulties coming up with a fitting pick for my I.B.

Goat Mick · #11 10-15-2018, 12:54 PM

Shoooooo!!!! That sure is a pretty pick!

Charmed Life Picks · #12 10-15-2018, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Grenier

Good review for the mando but I have to ask, as a sidebar to this thread, would these work well on the Irish Bouzouki (aka octave mandolin)? I have difficulties coming up with a fitting pick for my I.B.

Daniel, please send me more info, either here or through PM. What pick(s) (brand, model, thickness, shape) have come closest to working for you?

Will check back later.

scott

Daniel Grenier · #13 10-16-2018, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charmed Life Picks

Daniel, please send me more info, either here or through PM. What pick(s) (brand, model, thickness, shape) have come closest to working for you?

Will check back later.

scott

Actually, I tend to go to a fairly thin pick that was a freebie from one of the on-line string stores, of all things. It is a teardrop shape and probably o.60 or so? It is not ideal, hence my looking for a more satisfying unit. I use a BlueChip for my guitars but find it stiff on the zouk.

Got something in mind? Thanks.

bluetweed · #14 10-16-2018, 05:04 AM

I love your brown material and never use the point of the teardrops, always the long edged sides or on occasion the 2 rounded sides. It would be great to have this pick shape offering in the brown or black material.

Charmed Life Picks · #15 10-16-2018, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Grenier

Actually, I tend to go to a fairly thin pick that was a freebie from one of the on-line string stores, of all things. It is a teardrop shape and probably o.60 or so? It is not ideal, hence my looking for a more satisfying unit. I use a BlueChip for my guitars but find it stiff on the zouk.

Got something in mind? Thanks.

This pick would not be a good choice for you. It is very thick -- 1.50 mm -- and made with extremely rigid material.

You might find experimenting with the large triangle shape would be to your liking. It would take some getting used to, but you might really take to it.

We make some flexible tris in brown and black at .75 mm, or you might try a Blue Chip or even something really cheap to see if you like that shape.

sm