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Topic: Dobro Thumb Picks |
Kenneth Kotsay
From:
Davie/Ft Lauderdale, Florida
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Posted 31 Jan 2017 11:21 am |
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For the past 40 years of my steel guitar playing I've been searching for a thumb pick I would be satisfied with. During those years I always struggled with all kinds of shape, sizes & color thumb picks. None would satisfy me 100%. Either they were too big or too small, or would not fit right, slip off my thumb or they would break in various places.
Two weeks ago I ran out of of the "o.k but sucks." thumb picks, it just broke in two. I searched in my pick box and there where two clear pointed thumb picks which were occupying space for the longest time, I never used them believing that they were for Dobro only, besides they had a sharpe point.
I gave one a try and behold my search has now ended.
The results while using this Dobro thumb pick are, I feel each time I hit a string, it's a solid connection, right on the money, my over all picking attack got much more accurate and I'm able to control my thumb picking much more better than before, hey miracles happen. The sharpe point on the Dobro pick could be a point well made here regarding my post. You know what I mean.
It does feels great playing now.
All other picks I used over time were not doing the trick.
Bottom line, try one of these Dobro thumb picks, you might discover great results.
Maybe I should have used a back thumb pick with my black Franklin or a brown one for my brown Emmons push/pull.............must have been those white thumb picks! |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 31 Jan 2017 12:22 pm
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My experience with them was that they sounded scratchy as they wear down. The only picks I've ever wanted to buy more than 2 of was the nylon Bugga Blue Herco picks, but you need at least three of them.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Mike Selecky
From:
BrookPark, Ohio
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Posted 31 Jan 2017 12:27 pm
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Ok - what brand are these thumb picks?
When I started playing Dobro, I discovered the Fred Kelly "slick pick" which worked great for Dobro - I found it also was well suited for steel with a noticeable improvement in tone. |
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Charlie Hansen
From:
Halifax, NS Canada and Various Southern Towns.
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Posted 31 Jan 2017 12:49 pm
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| Been using slick picks for a while and love them. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 31 Jan 2017 12:53 pm
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Dobro. They made these clear plastic thumbpicks.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 31 Jan 2017 1:56 pm
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My experience with clear plastic picks is that they are more brittle than the colored picks, and tend to break at the bend fairly consistently early given my individual usage. Especially in cold weather.
Currently I use the Fred Kelly pick that most resembles the blue Herco (unofficial Jimmy Day model  ). Fits my thumb well, is flexible enough to move closer to my knuckle when needing to play faster, and their rate of wear is about average. Because I buy a dozen at a time, they get rotated so I don't notice exceptional wear. I do use stainless steel strings; nickel strings may yield a different wear schedule.
I like the tongue of the pick to be long enough that I can grab it like a flat pick if I want to tremolo mando-style. If it gets too short for that, I chuck it.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
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Lyle Dent
From:
Little Rock ,Arkansas
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Posted 1 Feb 2017 1:23 pm Thumbpick
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Kenneth, BlueChip ThumbPick. Play as hard as you want and never break.
_________________
Rittenberry Prestige SD-12,Mullen G2 SD-12 ,Mullen PRP S-12 BMI S-12 V8 octal, BJS Bars, LiveSteelStrings,Steelers Choice Seat. |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 1 Feb 2017 3:36 pm
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I used to have some of those old Dobro plastic picks. Finger and thumb. I guess I lost them or gave them away, but yeah they used to offer them. Don't know who made them though.
Dunlop has a clear "D" plastic pick still, but it looks the same as their colored ones.
I've been using Ultex thumb picks for about 6 or 7 mos. now. I have to modify them a little bit to suit me, but I really like them and so far they seem to wear less except for those bugga blues. Those things won't stay put though and I don't like the tone they produce. These Ultex are super hard and add some snap to my attack. FWIW, IMHO, YMMV. etc. etc.
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=303103&highlight=ultex |
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Larry Moore
From:
Hampton, Ga. USA
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Posted 5 Feb 2017 9:16 pm Thumb Pick
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I don't play Dobro, but I do play Pedal Steel.
I have found the best style for me.
It is PROPIK, I have been using the same pick for 3-4 years never broke one. It is the best of both Metal & Plastic.
See the link:
https://www.banjostudio.com/products/propik-thumbpick?
Larry |
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Henry Matthews
From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
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Posted 6 Feb 2017 8:50 am
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That's what I use Larry and love them. Best picks I ever used. I put heat shrink on the metal part which really makes them comfortable. I bought my first one from a vendor at a steel show for $25, LOL, little steep on price there. I later found them on Elderly instrument for less than $5 each and I bought 4 of them.
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Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes. |
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Larry Moore
From:
Hampton, Ga. USA
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Posted 6 Feb 2017 12:22 pm
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I did the same thing with the heat srink tubing.
Love them.
Larry |
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