brass vs. nickel finger picks

Fred Brown · From: Austin, TX

Curious why I would pick one over the other. I have always used nickel. Didn't even know brass existed. Then I dropped one of my finger picks between the slats of a deck. And it disappeared in the nether. Looking around, I discovered brass picks. Just curious why I would pick one over the other.

For reference, I play a Tut Tennessean and a 50's Oahu Tonemaster in a church worship band. I play other instruments also. But use the reso for folksy stuff and the lap steel for a bit more of an edge.

thanks for any comments,
Fred
_________________
FredB
40's Dickerson lap steel
2002 Crafters of Tennessee TTT reso
Oahu Tonemaster
Michael Kelly DragonFly model F5
MIM Tele
Epiphone 12 string
all manner of Irish tin whistles
bodhran (Irish frame drum)

Don Kona Woods · From: Hawaiian Kama'aina

Brass is softer and lends itself to a more mellow sound.

Aloha, Smile

Don

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Here's what I use. But I ain't normal!

Fred Brown · From: Austin, TX

Thanx, gents for your feedback. It was helpful.

Now, John, that pic is begging for an explanation. The axe, the fingerpick in the front, no thumbpick?, why that bar? I am curious. And I would like to hear something from this setup.
Fred
_________________
FredB
40's Dickerson lap steel
2002 Crafters of Tennessee TTT reso
Oahu Tonemaster
Michael Kelly DragonFly model F5
MIM Tele
Epiphone 12 string
all manner of Irish tin whistles
bodhran (Irish frame drum)

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Fred, the guitar is a 1935 Dobro M-32. It's a V-neck guitar that I use for bottleneck stuff. I do use an ordinary plastic thumbpick, but cut pretty short. The double-sided index fingerpick is somethin' I came up with about 25 years ago. I was doin' double-duty, 6-string and pedal steel. Got tired of takin' my picks on and off. I just cut the "blade" off of a spare pick, and silver soldered it onto another. I can play brush strokes with it, and I can also hold it with my thumb and play it just like a flat pick on my Tele. Odd, I know! But it works extremely well.
Here's a bad pic of how I hold it to use it as a flatpick:

If you go to this site, and scroll down, you'll see the guitar that was the next one built after mine. And it's in a lot better shape! But mine has "character."
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/dobro.html

Fred Brown · From: Austin, TX

Ah, that all makes a lot of sense. I forgot about bottle neck.

I really like that index fingerpick thingy. That is a great idea. I am tired of trying to do a brush and launching a pick across the room. And I could see how much simpler it would make it when I make my switch to my Tele also.

I have also found that a shortened thumbpick is easier to play with.

thank again,
Fred
_________________
FredB
40's Dickerson lap steel
2002 Crafters of Tennessee TTT reso
Oahu Tonemaster
Michael Kelly DragonFly model F5
MIM Tele
Epiphone 12 string
all manner of Irish tin whistles
bodhran (Irish frame drum)

Clyde Mattocks · From: Kinston, North Carolina, USA

I have some of both and for a while I thought I preferred the brass, but now I'm not sure I can tell any difference in tone. The brass picks don't slip off as easily.
_________________
LeGrande II, Nash. 112, Fender Twin Tone Master, Session 400, Harlow Dobro, R.Q.Jones Dobro

Fred Brown · From: Austin, TX

Good input. I really couldn't tell the difference either. And I am assuming that it will be even more difficult when I am actually playing with the rest of the group.

The slippage comment is interesting. I will definitely check that out.

Thanx,
Fred
_________________
FredB
40's Dickerson lap steel
2002 Crafters of Tennessee TTT reso
Oahu Tonemaster
Michael Kelly DragonFly model F5
MIM Tele
Epiphone 12 string
all manner of Irish tin whistles
bodhran (Irish frame drum)

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