What are your finger picks made out of?

Frank Parish · From: Nashville,Tn. USA

I"m having major problems with my fingers splitting the last few years and it's just the two I wear the finger picks on. No trouble with the thumb! I started using John Pearse picks a few years ago and about that time I started having the finger problems but didn't realize they could be related. I'm not completely convinced but I went to a dermatologist and the first thing she said was it could be an alloy reaction. I'd never heard of it before but it makes sense to me. I used to use the Nationals but they just never were all that comfortable for me and made my fingers sore to wear for long periods. These days I'm playing four hours with no breaks at all and sometimes I play doubles so it can be a lot of playing in one day. I was trying to see what Rob Ickes was using last night and I don't know what they were but would like to know. I'm willing to try something else but does anybody here know what or if there are any difference in the alloys the finger picks are made of?

Ollin Landers · From: Willow Springs, NC

Frank,

This is not going to solve your problem but it may help until you can. Jeff Newman gave me a tip. He said when his fingers got sore or split around the cuticle he used Orajel. You know the same stuff you use for mouth sores or toothache.

It has enough analgesic (Benzocaine) in it to make them comfortable and helps with healing.

It may sound crazy but I tried it once when my fingers got really cracked and it helped.

Your mileage may vary.
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Zum SD-12 Black, Zum SD-12 Burly Elm Several B-Bender Tele's and a lot of other gear I can't play.

I spent half my money on gambling, alcohol and wild women. The other half I wasted. W.C. Fields

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Fingerpicks are made of an alloy of, among other things, copper and Zinc. The copper turns your fingers green, but the Zinc dries and splits your skin.
For prevention I paint the insides of mine with clear nail polish (the expensive brands last longer).
If you have a split the day of a gig, put a drop of Vaseline (or neosporin, I usually know where that is) on the owie and put a bandaid over it for a few hours. Mike Auldridge gave me that trick.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

I may be different, but I've used Dunlops for many years and have never experienced that problem. Maybe it's the chrome plating. Don't know.
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Best regards,
Mike

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Dunlop doesn't chrome them. If you don't have a problem, you have lucky skin chemistry. Some folks fingers give off less reactive sweat and oils.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

I use Dunlop .025 au naturale. I do apply a thin band of "skateboard" tape along the inside surface of my thumb-picks to keep them from slipping.

Bill Moore · From: Manchester, Michigan

The John Pearse picks are made of stainless steel. I think they are probably the only ones made of stainless. Most are made of nickel-silver, an alloy of copper with nickel and zinc. If the Pearse picks are the problem, try some others. I use the JF picks, Some of the Pro-piks are pretty good too.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Most of the 'usual' brands of metal finger picks are made of nickle-silver, sometimes called 'German silver' - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_silver - which is generally made of copper, nickel, and zinc. Any of these could cause a reaction, nickel allergy especially is not unusual, I know a couple of guitar players who have trouble with nickel-wound or nickel-alloy strings. Of course, copper and zinc can be an issue also.

Are you using John Pearse 'High Rider' finger picks? http://www.jpstrings.com/brpicks.htm#Fipicks - they are made from 440 stainless steel. Stainless never bothered me, but it is pretty hard and could be an issue.

I generally use Dunlops (which I find very comfortable) for guitar. But for steel, I personally like Propiks (from Guptill Music) - Shortened link. BTW, that 'Pick Shoppe" link has lots of different types of picks to get some ideas. I generally use the 'regulars' in nickel-silver with a standard ('2') blade and a single wrap band, but they make a bunch of different types, and some come in brass, which to my ears has a softer sound. To my tastes, they have the heft of the old Nationals, but are (to me) more comfortable, e.g., they don't dig into my cuticles as much as those narrow-band Nationals. They also make 'split-wrap' double-band finger picks, which are very comfortable but somehow don't feel as secure to me.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

For several decades, I simply played with whatever the last store sold me. I had no knowledge of the different weight factors involved.

Some years ago, I discovered I was playing with both National and Dunlop. They were mixed weights or whatever.

I finally put it all together and now use two of one or the other and got the numbers to match and all seems to be well, at my house.

The Nationals I have are a bit stiffer than the Dunlops but it seems not to matter. I've not experienced the finger problems some of you have described. I've been lucky, I'd guess.

Alan Bidmade · From: Newcastle upon Tyne UK

Pro Pik brass finger picks. Comfortable, adjustable. T'riffic!
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Ben-Rom #017 'Lorelei', Guild D25, Epiphone 'Joe Pass', Roland 40XL, Hilton VP

First name Alan, but known as Nick

Larry Baker · From: Columbia, Mo. U.S.A.

I agree on the brass Pro Pik's. I've never had a problem with them.
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Mullen G2 SD10 3 & 5 The Eagle
NV112 amp===Earnie Ball V.P.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

When I was using Nationals, my middle finger's nail would split in the middle. I assume it was because I wore them so tight so they would stay on my fingers. They also used to tear up the finger's skin right where it meets the nail. Sometimes to the point of getting bloody. I would have to put that fabric tape that doctors/nurses used to keep gauze bandages on just so I could get the pick on to where it wasn't painful. Carried around a roll at all times. I also carried 2 extra picks that the bands were adjusted to be larger to accommodate the tape. Since switching to the Newman picks, I have never had any problems with the nails, skin or any other problems. There so many brands out there now that you should be able to find something that works better for you.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting.

Glenn Uhler · From: Trenton, New Jersey, USA

You are probably allergic to the nickel in the pick alloy or the nickel plating on the metal. As noted in the other posts, you need to change to a different pick material. Get some nickel-silver ones (the package says nickel-silver) or some stainless steel ones. There is less nickel in those two alloys. If you still have problems, go to the brass picks. If those cause problems, you will need to go to coin silver picks or silver-plated ones.
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1974 Marlen S-12 1968 Tele 1969 Martin D-35H

Jason Lynch · From: Essex, United Kingdom

I got some heat shrink material, cut it to length and shruk it on with a hairdryer! Works for me! Or try Plastidip. Best prime first though, otherwise it will peel.

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

Never had a problem with the metal in finger picks.
My cousins grandson is a Bluegrass Banjo player. He has had the problem with German silver picks and had to go to Stainless Steel picks, He even had a problem with the arm rest causing a rash on the inside of his wrist. He now has his grandfather's Gold plated banjo to keep his wrist from breaking out. A good water proof coating like the tool dip electricians use to coat tools with, or some 2 part epoxy coating, may be a solution. Good luck finding a solution and get back to picking.

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

I play steel with my nails. Well, a thumbpick...
Dobro, banjo, and Scruggs-style fingerpicking, I use Showcase 41's. No problems yet!

Bluegrass story---years ago, I asked Little Roy Lewis to show me some Scruggs stuff on the guitar. Little Roy says, "Steve, I don't know if this is right---but its the way Earl showed me."

Michael Hummel · From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

I saw a band last night...I'm sure nobody else in the rest of the world would know them...they were supporting a local singer/songwriter fella (Ian Tamblyn).

I didn't enjoy the show much, but the supporting guitar player was fantastic (Fred Guinion). He played Stratocaster, 6-string guitar with a slide (I think it was a Kay) and an 8-string lap steel (didn't see the brand). He had a thumb pick and used his fingers for other strings on all three guitars. I can manage that on a good day, but he was super. He must maintain his nails every day to keep them at preferred picking length.

I didn't talk to him, but perhaps he evolved that way due to some allergic issues too.

And, for those who care....he played all three guitars through a pedal board into a little tiny beat-up black Supro amp. Tone to die for!

Mike
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MSA Classic 5+4
Too many 6-strings and amps to list

Bill L. Wilson · From: Oklahoma, USA

My picks are custom made out of old Ben Franklin 1/2Dollars,and absolutely the best, most comfortable, and coolest lookin' picks I've ever seen or used. I have had The Nationals dig into my cuticle, but metal contact has never been a problem.

Sean Borton · From: Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada

My fingerpicks are made of flesh and nails. For the thumb I use a heavy Herco (plastic). I do the same for Dobro - I just couldn't get used to wearing fingerpicks.

I know that doesn't help the OP at all, I'm just answering the question in the title Smile

Ollin Landers · From: Willow Springs, NC

Stephen,

I saw Little Roy recently on a local PBS show called "song of the mountains".

It was a great show and Little Roy really hammed it up.
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Zum SD-12 Black, Zum SD-12 Burly Elm Several B-Bender Tele's and a lot of other gear I can't play.

I spent half my money on gambling, alcohol and wild women. The other half I wasted. W.C. Fields

Mule Ferguson · From: N Wilkesboro NC,

Acri makes SS and Brass. My fav. Mr. Green

http://www.roundmountainsounds.com/Home/tabid/944/List/0/CategoryID/347/Level/a/Default.aspx
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Emmons La Grande D10, Zum Encore, Multicord,Marlen S10 1972, Nashville 112, Evans HVP #2, Peavey Profex ll, Martin, Merle Travis D28M Bigsby Neck.
D28 Henderson, Dobro and Tut Bro. Fender Tele, Stelling Stagehorn Banjo

Miguel Saldana · From: San Antonio, Texas

I am curious as to what the consensus is on using plastic fingerpicks as the one shown.

I would think the consistency of using both plastic thumbpick and fingerpicks would at least have a small following, but everything I've come across in pedal steel literature and forums almost mandates a plastic thumb pick and metal fingerpicks.

I find the plastic fingerpicks more comfortable (holds the finger with more even pressure, less sharp edges, and doesn't dig into cuticle), but being a novice at PSG, I can't really speak to the nuances that ultimately drives and keeps people using the plastic thumb/metal fingers combo.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Elderly sells some cobalt plated finger picks.
Those might help with allergies.

Jack Aldrich · From: Washington, USA

I use 0.020 National brass finger picks. They have a softer sound that I like, and they're easy on the fingers.
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Jack Aldrich
Carter & ShoBud D10's
D8 & T8 Stringmaster
Rickenbacher B6
3 Resonator guitars
Asher Alan Akaka Special SN 6
Canopus D8

Tom Gorr · From: Three Hills, Alberta

I use 0.15 Metal Dunlops on the fingers and the blue plastic thumbpick with the end shaved down to taste...Many years ago, I used heavier gauge Dunlops, but the 0.15's make my guitar sound more alive and present.

I used to snug them up pretty good, but I found that they were awfully hard on the cuticles and such but I wear them a little on the looser side now, and that pain issue is much subsided. Never had a skin reaction with the Dunlop.

After one of my young kids ran off with one of the Dunlops today, I stopped by the local music supply store and all they had were Planet Waves plastic fingerpicks in 0.39 gauge - they look identiical to the plastic Dunlops shown a few posts earlier by Mr. Saldana.

The plastic are def more comfortable on the fingertip, and for a 0.39 which is wayyy too thick for my taste, the tone was pretty good. However, the casting of the 'pick' offsets the tip 1/8"+ farther away from the fleshy part of the fingertip, and makes picking accuracy very difficult...Maybe its a learned thing, but in my mind, the metal picks are thin and can be bent to basically sit right on the fingertip and the brain has been hardwired to sense things on the fingertip.

So, the plastics are out for me.

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