Common pick materials - relative hardness to gauge scale?

[H165]

Interesting. Since when does "hard" equal "good" in picks?

It doesn't. Like you, I think I've tried every material I've run across for a pick. There's a hardness range I happen to like; that's all. As you say, the hardest are pretty bad, but to me soft is even worse.

Or are we perhaps talking about "durability?" That would be different, of course.

Hardness. Tested using one of the Rockwell Hardness tests. There are a few posts around here and on UMGF about these picks.

[H165]

Any recommendations on how to get my hands on a catalin pick?

Would you be willing to share how you do it?

Sorry, I don't know where you can get one.

I sent you a PM about making them.

Here's some related info:

https://umgf.com/what-s-your-pick-t197033.html#p2373105

[Charmed Life Picks]

There are so many factors that must come together to make a great pick material. However, hardness in and of itself would not be even in my top five. Try playing a D-28 with a nickel or a quarter and see how long you can stand it. Not impressive.

sm

[Rodger Knox]

Originally Posted by Charmed Life Picks

There are so many factors that must come together to make a great pick material. However, hardness in and of itself would not be even in my top five. Try playing a D-28 with a nickel or a quarter and see how long you can stand it. Not impressive.

sm

Those are too hard, you need to use a krugerrand.

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by Rodger Knox

Those are too hard, you need to use a krugerrand.

Rodge, I like your thinking. Then I can finally buy that Collings I've been Jones-ing for.

sm

[cryptochiral]

Thank you all for the input, it's surely a tricky and a long task to establish such a scale, I'll be buying some picks from different materials in various gauges specifically for this purpose and I'll test them subjectively, see what I can make of this.

[stringjunky]

Originally Posted by Charmed Life Picks

There are so many factors that must come together to make a great pick material. However, hardness in and of itself would not be even in my top five. Try playing a D-28 with a nickel or a quarter and see how long you can stand it. Not impressive.

sm

I noticed David of Wolfram has just started making one of his tungsten carbide picks again... which is as hard as they come I don't think he would make them if they sounded bad or mediocre... especially at 70 quid ($90) a pop and the effort involved. Form and smoothness is critical the harder you go; I don't think nickels and quarters quite cut the mustard in those departments.

I shall be splashing out on one soon, and I have a theory that the harder and denser the material, the less energy it takes away from the plucked string, relative to lighter materials. I pick mostly. Looking forward to trying one.

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by stringjunky2

I noticed David of Wolfram has just started making one of his tungsten carbide picks again... which is as hard as they come I don't think he would make them if they sounded bad or mediocre... especially at 70 quid ($90) a pop and the effort involved. Form and smoothness is critical the harder you go; I don't think nickels and quarters quite cut the mustard in those departments.

I shall be splashing out on one soon, and I have a theory that the harder and denser the material, the less energy it takes away from the plucked string, relative to lighter materials. I pick mostly. Looking forward to trying one.

David's slides are stunningly good and gorgeous. He's also a very sharp guy. He says that beveling the metal takes away that raspyness typically associated with metal picks. I have no reason to doubt him.

I, for one, would love to hear your report on those picks. It's not a direction CLP is going, but I always love to learn new things.

Please do keep us posted.

Thanks,
Scott

[stringjunky]

Originally Posted by Charmed Life Picks

David's slides are stunningly good and gorgeous. He's also a very sharp guy. He says that beveling the metal takes away that raspyness typically associated with metal picks. I have no reason to doubt him.

I, for one, would love to hear your report on those picks. It's not a direction CLP is going, but I always love to learn new things.

Please do keep us posted.

Thanks,
Scott

Yes, no problem.