| Author |
Topic: how often do you replace your thumbpicks |
Keenan Friday
From:
Magnolia, Arkansas, USA
|
Posted 12 Jun 2013 2:23 pm |
|
I was wondering how frequently some people change their thumbpicks. Im thinking of buying bulk directly from the fred kelly website. It seems my thumbpicks get loose in no time. But I think its contributed more to playing more. I was wondering if other people are like me and find they are needing to trash their thumbpick after 2-3 weeks of use.
_________________
Keenan Friday
Mullen Pre Royal D-10, Walker Stereo Steel, Hilton pedal, George L cables, Livesteel Strings, (White) Fred Kelly thumbpick, Dunlop .025 fingerpicks |
|
|
 |
Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
|
Posted 12 Jun 2013 2:31 pm About those thumb picks................
|
|
My favorite thumb pick of ten years finally broke off last summer due to fatigue in the curved section.
I've tried others during the years and have finally settled on Golden Gate medium identified as Clown Barf or something like that.
A great pick, fits nicely and comfortably......
I immediately purchased a dozen more. |
|
|
|
chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
|
Posted 12 Jun 2013 2:50 pm
|
|
i like golden gates also, and similar kinda thick plastic ones. once i get happy with one that fits right, i play it til it breaks at the strap...usually a year or so.
sometimes i take a knife and carve a slight bevel along the striking edge. |
|
|
|
chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
|
Posted 12 Jun 2013 2:51 pm
|
|
| however, you should always carry a spare. |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
|
|
|
Rick Barnhart
From:
Arizona, USA
|
Posted 12 Jun 2013 3:36 pm
|
|
Keenan, what size do you use. I have some orange Fred Kelley speed picks. If you pm your mailing address, I'll send you a few. Rick. Mine seem to last and last.
_________________
Clinesmith consoles D-8/6 5 pedal, D-8 3 pedal & A25 Frypan, Pettingill Teardrop, & P8 Deluxe. |
|
|
|
Jack Aldrich
From:
Washington, USA
|
Posted 12 Jun 2013 3:55 pm
|
|
I usually lose them before they break. For many years I used Fender or National thumb picks, but they have a tendency to go soft from hand heat. For the last 6 years I've been using John Pearce thumbpicks. They don't wilt. I get the ones with the short pick end. - Jack
_________________
Jack Aldrich
Carter & ShoBud D10's
D8 & T8 Stringmaster
Rickenbacher B6
3 Resonator guitars
Asher Alan Akaka Special SN 6
Canopus D8 |
|
|
|
Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
|
Posted 12 Jun 2013 4:30 pm
|
|
I'll second Fred Kelly speed picks.I switch between the Orange and White and those two have lasted a long time.
The larger flat bladed ones tend to get caught on the strings and the speed picks never have done that.
_________________
Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
|
|
|
Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
|
Posted 12 Jun 2013 5:08 pm
|
|
I buy 3 dozen Dunlops at a time. I never go more than two weeks on one thumb pick. One week is probably the average.
I find they start to get soft and move around on my thumb, so I get a new one. I can always tell when I put on a new thumb pick, and usually ask myself why I waited so long. |
|
|
|
Bo Legg
|
Posted 12 Jun 2013 7:57 pm
|
|
I never buy thumb picks in bulk because only a few out of the pile will feel and fit right.
So I search through the Ernie Ball pile of thumb picks at every music store discover until I find those perfect fit thin flexible one's that only appear about two to a pile at each music store until I have at least 10 at all times.
I place about 5 thumb picks on my steel and I change thumb picks after every song.
I can’t stand a heavy thick non-flexible thumb pick.
I never wear out picks, I lose them. |
|
|
|
Brendan Mitchell
From:
Melbourne Australia
|
Posted 12 Jun 2013 9:22 pm Re: how often do you replace your thumbpicks
|
|
| Keenan Friday wrote: |
| I was wondering how frequently some people change their thumbpicks. Im thinking of buying bulk directly from the fred kelly website. It seems my thumbpicks get loose in no time. But I think its contributed more to playing more. I was wondering if other people are like me and find they are needing to trash their thumbpick after 2-3 weeks of use. |
I change mine whenever I can't find the last one I was using .
The only time I broke one was recently when I stood on one . I have about 6 or so going at any time . |
|
|
|
Bill L. Wilson
From:
Oklahoma, USA
|
Posted 12 Jun 2013 10:32 pm Great Thumb Picks.
|
|
| I bought 2Golden Gate thumb picks, yrs. ago, and they are the only picks, I've never broken. After 100's of gigs, they are worn some, but they're still snug, and work great. |
|
|
|
David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
|
Posted 13 Jun 2013 4:09 am
|
|
| Back when I was an avid banjo player, we would alter thumbpicks by steaming the blades over a tea kettle and twisting them to the desired angle. Dunlop must have taken notice because now these are available as Dunlop 'Zookies'. They come in various blade angles and sizes. The angled blade strikes the string more evenly and helps prevent one edge from wearing thin. Have never had one loosen on my thumb nor had one break. Available from Elderly Instruments. |
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 13 Jun 2013 5:30 am
|
|
Zookies have been available for years. I remember seeing them for sale at Scotty's booth at the ISGC back in the 80's.
I have an original 70's Blue Herco nylon pick that has never worn out. I used Golden Gate's for a while but they are hard to find. The Golden Gate's lasted about 6 months. I recently got some Dunlop mediums and have been using them. I don't know how long one of these will last. |
|
|
|
Daniel Policarpo
|
Posted 13 Jun 2013 5:50 am
|
|
| The Red Derlins last me pretty well. I practice a couple hours a day and I'm just on my second one after about a year of pickin. |
|
|
|
Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
|
Posted 13 Jun 2013 5:52 am
|
|
I use Golden Gate's and they last me at least a year. They are a little hard to find. There is a shop across the bay that has them (Gryphon Music). There are different styles of them I have found. Some great and some not so great. I have tried to get the one's I like online (Elderly Instruments), but from the pictures, you can't tell which are which and always end up with the wrong ones. I replace them when the blade gets worn down to the point where I think it could break. I like them because they never get "soft" or twist easily on the thumb. Nice and solid. Love the feel and the tone I get from them. I also have a John Pearse pick that I like, but it doesn't have the feel and sound of the Golden Gate, and it does get soft after wearing it a while.
_________________
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 54 years and still counting. |
|
|
|
Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
|
Posted 13 Jun 2013 6:12 am
|
|
I like the Fred Kelly poly slick picks but they are sort of fragile, even so I guess they last me 6-8 mos.
I usually break them when I put them on..??
The Delrin ones last a lot longer but have a duller sound in my opinion.
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
Posted 13 Jun 2013 8:06 am
|
|
| Quote: |
| ...only a few out of the pile will feel and fit right |
I agree, Bo. There is some variation in size and tightness of the "Large" National thumbpicks, for example. Same thing with Dunlop. I buy a few at a time from my local music store, but I always try each one before buying. You wouldn't believe the difference in size and tightness of thumbpicks that are all marked "Large". It's like buying two pairs of pants that are the same size, same brand. They don't fit exactly the same.
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel |
|
|
|
chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
|
Posted 13 Jun 2013 8:15 am
|
|
likewise. i've got to find the right snug/comfort combination. i like all my picks to feel pretty tight and secure.
golden gates, dunlop, nationals....that's the basic group i usually end up with.
never could get a feel for those narrow blue picks that people rave about. |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
|
|
|
Johan Jansen
From:
Europe
|
Posted 13 Jun 2013 12:06 pm
|
|
Tip:
Cut off a small part of the pick, not at the picking end, but at the other end, about 1/10 of an inch.
Take two pliers. Boil some water, hold the pick with the pliers in it, till it is getting soft. Then bend it in form a little more then needed, so it will become tighter around your thumb. Cool it down in cold water. Try to get it in form till you are satisfied and notice it becomes a little loser when it gets warmer by your bodyheat....
JJ |
|
|
|
Dennis Saydak
From:
Manitoba, Canada
|
Posted 13 Jun 2013 12:40 pm
|
|
The lifespan of mine depend largely on how much sucking I do. Maybe I should remove the pick occasionally?  
_________________
Dennis
Just when you think you're getting ahead in the rat race, the rats get faster. |
|
|
|
Carl Kilmer
From:
East Central, Illinois
|
Posted 13 Jun 2013 2:44 pm
|
|
I'm still using the same Blue Herco picks I bought in the 70's.
I quit playing in 84 and never played again until 07 but I'm
still using the same ones today, but I did brake one last year.
Last year a friend gave me a Dunlop "S" and it fits and feels
as good as the Blue Herco, but the music stores don't sell them.
_________________
aka "Lucky Kay"--Custom built Rittenberry SD10 3X5, Walker S/S, NV-112, and Hilton Pedal |
|
|
|
Clete Ritta
From:
San Antonio, Texas
|
Posted 13 Jun 2013 8:51 pm
|
|
| Even after 7 years of use I haven't needed to change my thumb picks yet. I use Dunlops and they seem to last forever. The one I use for practice at home gets the most use. The other for shows and rehearsals. I have spares for each in case it gets lost, too worn down or breaks, but that hasn't happened yet. |
|
|
|
Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
|
Posted 14 Jun 2013 9:02 am
|
|
I carry a spare too. How many of you have accidentally dropped a thumb pick, or finger pick for that matter, onto the dance floor and have someone step on it? Big bummer.
_________________
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 54 years and still counting. |
|
|
|
