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Topic: National picks |
Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 24 Feb 2016 12:32 pm |
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Would anyone be kind enough to explain the difference between National NP1 & NP2 picks? And perhaps include their opinion on whether either is particularly suitable for pedal steel?
I know these picks have a long and proud history.
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Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Bob Knight
From:
Bowling Green KY
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Posted 24 Feb 2016 12:39 pm
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Ian,
The NP 1s are Stainless Steel, the NP 2s are nickel silver and more like the 40s originals. 
_________________
<b>Rick Johnson Cabinets<b>
<b>Brand X Custom Fiber Cases</b>
<b> John Pearse Thumb Picks, Bars and Strings</b>
"Thankfully, persistence is a great substitute for talent."
— Steve Martin |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 24 Feb 2016 12:53 pm
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Thanks for those facts, Bob - now I await some opinions!
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Bob Knight
From:
Bowling Green KY
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Posted 24 Feb 2016 1:04 pm
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The NP 1s are very stiff and uncomfortable, NP 2s are easier to shape and sound better to me, they are very much like the originals.
_________________
<b>Rick Johnson Cabinets<b>
<b>Brand X Custom Fiber Cases</b>
<b> John Pearse Thumb Picks, Bars and Strings</b>
"Thankfully, persistence is a great substitute for talent."
— Steve Martin |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 24 Feb 2016 1:14 pm
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I don't care for stainless steel so I might try the traditional ones. I've used Dunlops quite happily and I'm trying Newmans at the moment which I like even better, but I feel I should get as much education as possible.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 24 Feb 2016 1:42 pm
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Nickel sounds better all around, including bars and strings.  |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 24 Feb 2016 3:53 pm
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Oh dear, Erv, now you've upset all the people who like stainless strings and bars. If a fight breaks out, I'm gone.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Loren Morehouse
From:
Meadowlands, MN USA
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Posted 24 Feb 2016 4:15 pm
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| NP 2's rock!! I always go back to them! |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 24 Feb 2016 4:19 pm
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So where are you at inbetweentimes?
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Loren Morehouse
From:
Meadowlands, MN USA
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Posted 24 Feb 2016 5:43 pm
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| I don't have much in my arsenal anymore other than a pair of Ernie Ball "Pickies" which I really like but wish they were heavier. I remember watching Russ Hicks on "Hee Haw" using them. I've done Dunlop, J Pearse, Kysers, Jeff Newman, GL's and even some chrome plated Nationals. A lot of those brands I did like but NP2's for me, and I said for me, are very comfortable and I think sound excellent! Right now for thumb picks I'm partial to Fred Kelly's. |
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Markus Mayerhofer
From:
Vienna, Austria
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Posted 25 Feb 2016 1:12 am
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| I'm somehow doin' better w/ the NP-1. I like the thickness and the overall handling and i consider the tone to be a little bit rounder...But it's a matter of taste, i guess... |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 25 Feb 2016 8:11 am
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| My grandson broke my National thumbpick some time ago and am using a Golden Gate thumbpick right now and really like it. |
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Tucker Jackson
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 25 Feb 2016 9:29 am
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The NP2's tone and blade-shape are ideal for me.
All of those old pre-war National replicas (NP2's, 1941's, etc.) have been popular among steelers for a long time, and with good reason. Unlike Dunlops, the band is cut in a way that it doesn't catch the next higher string. Compared to Pro-piks, the NP2 blade is in a size-and-contour-shape sweet spot between Pro-pik #1 (too small) and #2 (too large, at least for me).
I am NOT a fan of the shape of the band on the NP2, which is narrow enough that it's hard to get them to feel stable on my skinny fingers. I've struggle with that -- and split cuticles -- over the years, but kept returning to them because that blade is just the right size/shape and material. Coating them in rubber helps, but it deteriorates too quickly into painful nubs at the ends, so I abandoned that.
Even though I'm a huge cheapskate and a skeptic on the issue of boutique gear, I finally broke down and spent $25 for a pair of Hoffmeyer "custom" picks. I did this in desperation... specifically because the customs (as opposed to the standard) have a slightly larger band and smaller holes making for more skin contact. It's a very subtle thing but makes an enormous difference. I finally have a pair of old National-styled picks that are rock solid on my finger. I instantaneously became a better picker!
Long way around of saying I think you should try out some NP2's. Hopefully, they'll work for you. If you like them except for the band, maybe consider springing for the Hoffmeyer customs. |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 25 Feb 2016 11:02 am
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| Tucker Jackson wrote: |
| The NP2's...band is cut in a way that it doesn't catch the next higher string |
That's why I got the Newmans, but they don't feel as secure as the Dunlops. I guess it's a trade-off, although I'm always searching for that elusive tweak of the pliers that will create the perfect fit.
Thanks to all for your contributions - I shall certainly try some NP2s and probably some Pro-piks as well.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 25 Feb 2016 11:06 am
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| I've tried many different finger picks but I always go back to the Dunlops. |
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Ronnie Boettcher
From:
Brunswick Ohio, USA
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Posted 26 Feb 2016 8:21 am
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Old Nationals. I still use them since the late 50's. Use them for banjo, dobro, and steel.
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Sho-Bud LDG, Martin D28, Ome trilogy 5 string banjo, Ibanez 4-string bass, dobro, fiddle, and a tubal cain. Life Member of AFM local 142 |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 29 Feb 2016 4:05 pm
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Just got some NP2s. First impression good, although I'm still tinkering with the pliers. They have a similar feel to the Dunlops, but with a narrow band like the Newmans. The biggest difference is the weight because they're 0.025" gauge whereas everything I've used so far has been 0.0225". The guitar sounds like a different instrument!
Anyway when I've got the hang I'll post a recording - for now I'm still hitting wrong strings!
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 16 Mar 2016 1:21 pm
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Update - after a couple a weeks my wrong-string-hitting count has reduced to its normal level and I realise I haven't touched the pliers for a while..
A funny thing happened though: I use three finger picks, but I only bought two of the Nationals because I figured the third one didn't matter much. But after a week of not feeling quite right (as if my hand was out of balance) I got a third National and it made all the difference. If someone had told me that I'd have thought they were making it up.
Anyway, I feel settled now so thanks to all who advised me.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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