How many here use metal Thumbpicks?

Larry Dering · From: Missouri, USA

This July I watched the super talented Sara Jory play her Mullen in wide heels and using a metal thumbpick. I have tried the Dunlop metal thumbpick because it came in a pack with fingerpicks but I wasn't crazy about it.
How many of you use a metal thumbpick and what brand? (Never mind the heels).

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

I like a metal thumb-pick and use one often but not all the time.
I put a piece of double sided foam tape on the thumb-nail side of the pick. It stays in place real well. I forget the brand but it is that common metal thumb-pick in the pick box at most stores.
I like the feel and the tone. The thumb picking tone is a lil more similar to the other metal finger-picks I wear, than a common plastic plastic thumb-pick.

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

No metal thumb picks for me. I use Zookie L10 picks.
Thats probably why I don't know how to play.
'
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Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

I've always used a Propik all-metal (not the one with a separate plastic blade). I don't get the logic of plastic, and in any case I couldn't find one tight enough to stay in place, except the Dunlop tortoiseshell which wore away on the wound strings.
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Chris Sattler · From: Hunter Valley, Australia

I just got a new to me dobro which came with metal fingerpicks but also a metal thumbpick. Out of interest i played it with the metal thumbpick and liked the tone and sound with various attack. It will get new strings soon and then we'll see. I can't rule it out. As for pedal steel, plastic for sure.

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

I'm always interested and curious about playing tools and I think I tried every metal thumbpick out there. I ended up using an Acri for a couple of years -- by far my favorite of the metal picks. I did some modification to the shape -- bending and filing -- and I liked it.
Then I tried other things. I'm currently using a delrin pick with the blade filed down for more flexibility. I like having a little 'flick' of the blade as it leaves the string.

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

I use a plastic National thumbpick for pedal steel and on dobro, I use a Blue Chip thumbpick. I'm not really sure what the Blue Chip is made of, but I love how it feels when I'm playing dobro. My National thumbpick is comfortable when I'm playing pedal steel.

David Ball · From: North Carolina High Country

I go back and forth between a Fred Kelly Speed Pick (on regular guitar) and a Landis Death Grip metal pick for steel. Love them both. Used a National medium for years for guitar banjo and steel, but between the Kelly's and the Landis's I couldn't be happier.

Dave

Larry Dering · From: Missouri, USA

Thanks for the replies, keep em coming. Sent a inquiry to Sarah Jory and she responded that indeed her thumbpick is a Dunlop. My personal favorites is the Fred Kelly speed pick or the blue. I use the blue on guitar and speed pick for steel.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

I change things every so often, not because I'm dissatisfied with what I'm using, but for the 'lift' it gives you, feeling something new.

For twenty years, I used the Golden Gate thumb-picks then, at the suggestion of a Forum pal, I sent off for a couple of Fred Kelly picks - two orange, two white.

This Forumite had seen my questions about pick-blocking and thought they'd serve me better. While the experiment with pick-blocking is officially over for me, the white FK picks are now my favourite for steel. HOW did I ever manage with those clumpy thick Golden Gates???

The orange Fred Ks are a bit too small on PSG, but I found them comfortable on six-string. The tip hardly protrudes and it's almost like playing bare-fingered.
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
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David Farrell · From: San Diego, California, USA

I use a silver Landis thumb pick. Love it.
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Dave

Fender pedal steels, amps & guitars. '73 Sho~Bud PRO 1 CUSTOM. Emmons ReSound'65 S-10 4x5.

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

When you say silver, what exactly is it metallurgically speaking? Presumably pure Ag would be too soft.
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David Ball · From: North Carolina High Country

I'm pretty sure they're sterling silver. Plenty hard enough for a thumb pick, and easy to adjust.

Dave

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I like the Golden Gate thumb pick.
Erv

Barry Yasika · From: Bethlehem, Pa.

It took a bit of getting used to but I really like using the Landis thumbpick. It's thin, made of silver and wraps around your thumb like a piece of string. The reason I wanted to try it was Ron Landis said it was virtually impossible to accidently hook an unintended string with his new style. Since that's been a problem I've long been prone to I bought one and now it's my goto thumbpick. There is no way you can unintentionally get it hooked to another string. The thin blade wasn't all that hard to get used to either. I find I have a lot more control over some of the faster runs. Might not be for everyone but for me it worked out really well.

Larry Dering · From: Missouri, USA

I have the Landis fingerpicks but not the thumbpick. I have yet to get used to the fingerpicks. I may get his thumbpick and give it a try. I'm pretty happy with the Fred Kelly speed picks for my thumb.

Casey Saulpaugh · From: Asheville, NC

I’m really interested in trying a metal thumbpick after reading this post - mostly to see what it feels like against the strings. I’ve used many plastic thumbpicks that would start producing a scraping sound on the string as the plastic on the thumbpick began wearing away slightly.

When I found the orange Fred Kelly slickpicks I finally found one that I was satisfied with. It feels more light and natural on the thumb compared to many others, produces a warm and crisp tone when actually picking the string, and doesn’t wear away like many others. I also find that the “slickness” of it as it picks the string complements picking speed.

A metal thumbpick seems like it would have a clean, bright, and projecting tone to it compared to plastic. Although I like the contrast of having the thumbpick sound a little warmer than the accompanying metal fingerpicks, seems like there’s not much to lose with the metal’s tone if the thumbpick feels comfortable and efficient to play with.
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