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Post new topic Large Thumb Picks?
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Author Topic:  Large Thumb Picks?
Kevin Holmes

 

From:
Lower Paxton, PA USA
Post  Posted 30 Nov 2009 10:53 am    
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I don't have a really big hand or anything, but I wear an extra large glove.

Some things aren't available in anything larger than large.

One of those things seem to be plastic thumb picks.

Dunlop packages four of their metal finger picks with one of their metal thumb picks. Has anyone ever used a metal thumb pick?

I had heard that the tone isn't good. Is that so?

--Kevin
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Georg Sørtun


From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
Post  Posted 30 Nov 2009 2:03 pm    
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I alternate between a plastic thumb pick and a metal one, using the metal thumb pick when I want an attack sound like for the finger picks.

In their original shape those large metal thumb picks don't sound any good at all, but I file them down and shape them until they sound and feel right - same as for my finger picks and plastic thumb picks...

...and spend much time shaping and polishing those picking edges to go with my fingers and picking style. One size certainly doesn't fit all... Smile
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Eddie Cunningham

 

From:
Massachusetts, USA
Post  Posted 1 Dec 2009 1:09 pm     Olde 1932 Metal Thumb Pick
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Kevin , I have an old 1932ish metal thumb pick that I never use. It looks and plays O.K. and is adjustable. If you want to try her out send me an E-mail or P.M. and I'll send her to you !! Maybe it will help do what you want !!??? You can heat and bend those plastic thumb picks also to make them larger !!!??? Eddie "C"
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Larry Gerdeman

 

From:
Missouri, USA (deceased)
Post  Posted 1 Dec 2009 6:43 pm    
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Kevin; I have a wide fat thumb. About four years ago I discovered golden gate picks. They are the only thumb pick I can use confortably. I get the large ones. You might try them and see. Good luck it is very hard to play when you are not comfortable. Larry
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Dennis Wallis

 

From:
Arkansas
Post  Posted 1 Dec 2009 10:45 pm    
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Kevin, A few years ago I found some thumb picks made by Ernie Ball that fit great . I too have large thumbs and even the large size picks are usually too small and fit too tight . You can try putting them in hot water and reshaping them . Sometiumes that works ok . BUT if you will send me your address I think I can spare you one of these . I bet you'll like them . I don't know the model number or anything . A friend that used to work in a music store ordered these for me .
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Alvin Blaine


From:
Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 1 Dec 2009 11:01 pm    
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Larry Gerdeman wrote:
Kevin; I have a wide fat thumb. About four years ago I discovered golden gate picks. They are the only thumb pick I can use confortably. I get the large ones. You might try them and see. Good luck it is very hard to play when you are not comfortable. Larry


That's my suggestion also. Get the "Large Extra Heavy".


Also a friend of mine makes an adjustable metal thump pick with a plastic picking end. He has also made a couple with real tortoise shell on the end.

A nice view of the metal thump pick along with his "non cuticle pinching" finger picks:

They are called Acri Picks and you can get them from Elderly Instruments or from Gord Acri at acripicks.com
If you get them from Gordy, tell him that Alvin sent you.
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Ronnie Boettcher


From:
Brunswick Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 2 Dec 2009 6:05 am    
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I don't have a large hand, but I like a long tine on my thumb picks. Do you mean big bulky picks, or a longer tine? I take the picks, and put them in boiling water till they automatically go straight. Then I reshape them to what I want in a long tine. When I do that, the part that bends around my thumb is too short. So I super glue a piece of old pick onto the new one. Then file and shape the pick to what I like. I make the tine thinner. I don't like a wide tine, for steel, or banjo. A few months ago, I made up 6 new thumb picks, and that will last me for awhile. I also use the old national finger picks. The sound is fantastic.
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David Mason


From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
Post  Posted 2 Dec 2009 6:33 am    
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While you're at elderly.com, buying a Golden Gate X-large/X-heavy and a Acri, buy a few ProPik metal picks:

http://elderly.com/accessories/names/propik-contoured-nickel-thumbpick--PK43.htm

I also have to reshape the tip, but they're the most comfortable by far. It's hard to imagine a thumb too big.... Whoa!
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Kevin Holmes

 

From:
Lower Paxton, PA USA
Post  Posted 2 Dec 2009 3:36 pm    
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Hey Guys,

Thanks for your input.

I just went over to Elderly and ordered a Golden Gate and a Propik with a Delrin tip.

The Propik is kind of neat, it's like a metal thumb pick with a plastic end.

I'll have to see what kind works the best.

Thanks Again,

--Kevin
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Roual Ranes

 

From:
Atlanta, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 4 Dec 2009 6:15 am    
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I was at The Country Music Store in Texarkana yesterday and saw that they carry XL thumb pick in the brand "Recordingking".........looked good to me.
EDITED NAME OF PICK


Last edited by Roual Ranes on 4 Dec 2009 8:42 am; edited 1 time in total
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Roger Rettig


From:
Naples, FL
Post  Posted 4 Dec 2009 7:48 am    
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I tried a Golden Gate thumbpick about nine years ago and loved it immediately! That was at Billy Cooper's store (I was doing a show in Norfolk, VA) and, seeing as I didn't know where else I could get them, I decided to buy a box of twenty right there and then.

I'm still playing the first one, and I still have nineteen spares!!! I used to quite like Nationals, but I lost count of the number that I broke; Golden Gates for me...
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Jerry Overstreet


From:
Louisville Ky
Post  Posted 4 Dec 2009 9:51 am    
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Another source: www.jeffran.com offers nice thumbpicks in 3 sizes including large. They might even still custom make you one. They are a generous size and really comfortable. Also have pre bent nickel silver finger picks that are nice too.
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Gary Reed


Post  Posted 1 Sep 2014 11:46 am    
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The Dunlap metal thumbs come in different gauges.
Any suggestion as to what to try first?

Nickel Silver Thumbpicks
3040T

Gauges (IN.): .013, .015, .018, .020., .0225, .025IN
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