Wooden Picks

jellyroll · January 2018

Anyone use these?

I grabbed a few at the weekend. Some of them sound very "scrapey" but a couple seem to give an acceptable tone (quite woody - wouldya believe!).

Longevity is certainly an issue though - they do wear quickly.

I do like the idea of playing with a natural material rather than plastic.

Wondering whether its worth persevering.

Anybody else like using them?

meltedbuzzbox · January 2018

I have a bunch of them. I always notice a big volume increase and some differences on acoustic (could be a placebo).
On an electric I just hear a volume increase. Truth be told I always reach for a Dunlop Gator grip or any other plastic/nylon plectrum first

jellyroll · January 2018

meltedbuzzbox said:

I have a bunch of them. I always notice a big volume increase and some differences on acoustic (could be a placebo).
On an electric I just hear a volume increase. Truth be told I always reach for a Dunlop Gator grip or any other plastic/nylon plectrum first

I'm playing acoustic only (at present). Will stick with them a little longer but I suspect I'll inevitably drop them quite soon in favour of the Primetone and Bluechips.

digitalscream · January 2018

I use Timber Tones wooden picks on electric - I've experimented with a lot of other picks, and these are the only ones which really suit me.

I tend to go for the ebony variants - a nice woody feel, pretty hard, wear nicely and not as scrape-y as other woods. I do go through one every two rehearsals, though, and one every gig. It's quite the expensive habit.

Balrog68 · January 2018

Purple heart makes a very nice sounding pick. I have made picks from dozens of different woods and that is by far my favourite!

Teyeplayer · January 2018

I ended up falling for bone ones having worked through a variety of woods and stone pics. Worth experimenting with s few different sorts as they all have their own quirks.

jellyroll · January 2018

Balrog68 said:

Purple heart makes a very nice sounding pick. I have made picks from dozens of different woods and that is by far my favourite!

Interesting, thanks. I keep seeing purple heart. I had never heard of it until a week ago.

MartinB · January 2018

I have a very strange ebony tipped leather pick that was in the pocket of an old banjo case. It's kind of clanky for strummed chords, but does pull a lot of volume out of my archtop for other pick styles.

carlos · January 2018

Assume you're talking steel string? If nylon, then I found that the best tone came from "rubbery" picks that stick a little to the string. I hate them for steel strings, but on nylon they stick a bit like fingers do so get the best tone. Note: I tried at least 50 different picks and materials to find out the one with best tone on nylon.

jellyroll · January 2018

carlos said:

Assume you're talking steel string? If nylon, then I found that the best tone came from "rubbery" picks that stick a little to the string. I hate them for steel strings, but on nylon they stick a bit like fingers do so get the best tone. Note: I tried at least 50 different picks and materials to find out the one with best tone on nylon.

I was referring to steel string though interested to hear about nylon too. When you say rubbery do you mean plastic with a sticky characteristic or something more like actual rubber?

TheMarlin · January 2018

I like them with acoustics.

carlos · January 2018

jellyroll said:

carlos said:

Assume you're talking steel string? If nylon, then I found that the best tone came from "rubbery" picks that stick a little to the string. I hate them for steel strings, but on nylon they stick a bit like fingers do so get the best tone. Note: I tried at least 50 different picks and materials to find out the one with best tone on nylon.

I was referring to steel string though interested to hear about nylon too. When you say rubbery do you mean plastic with a sticky characteristic or something more like actual rubber?

Yes, plastic with a rubbery feel. Try them on the back of your nails or on glass at the shop if you can. If they drag, then they will sound good on nylon. If they just slide off, they won't have enough purchase on the nylon string to sound good. I use hybrid picking on my classical (sacrilege!) and I need a pick that will have a sound close to the fingers.

jellyroll · January 2018

Thanks @carlos. Wis'd for using the word "purchase"

TAMCO · January 2018

The best natural material is your fingers.

It's a good idea to buy a range of different picks/plectrums and trust your ears to tell you which gauge and material best suits the guitar but also different musical styles.

I have 4 acoustics and I use different plectrums for each guitar as they all respond differently.

Personally I trust Dava picks as you can actually change the way they interact with your guitar by simple changing where you hold the pick.

Gassage · January 2018

Mum bought me some buffalo horn picks for my bday. They're very different and very sharp and bright tonally. They really make a big difference and are a lot of fun. If you were a recording artist, pick changes could alter tone cheaper than anything else.

TAMCO · January 2018

Agreed @Gassage ;

I think far too many acoustic guitar players ignore pick selection. You can make one guitars sound like a few dozen simply by mixing up your pick usage.

I've known people bring guitars back to the shop because they didn't find the guitar bright enough when they got it home. We play the guitar for them with a selection of picks and also without a pick and it's often a revelation to them.

Lewy · January 2018

TAMCO said:

Agreed @Gassage ;

I think far too many acoustic guitar players ignore pick selection. You can make one guitars sound like a few dozen simply by mixing up your pick usage.

I've known people bring guitars back to the shop because they didn't find the guitar bright enough when they got it home. We play the guitar for them with a selection of picks and also without a pick and it's often a revelation to them.

100% - as well as how they hold it, the way they address the strings, their whole picking arm positioning and technique. And then the same magnitude of variation again with string selection. It's always my first thought when I hear or read people saying this guitar is too bright, that guitar is too bassy etc...what have you actually done to try and get anything else out of it?

Lot of players out there who obsess about tone in the electric side of their playing but seem to work on the basis that an acoustic guitar just has a sound and they're not responsible for pulling anything out of it. There are so many guitars out there that have never produced anything near what they're capable of tone or volume-wise.

TAMCO · January 2018

Spot on @Lewy ;

Cleg83 · January 2018

Some very good points on here.

Rather than shelling out for Bluechip picks, try Wegen picks. I find the 1.4mm really compliments my guitar (and my technique) and has lasted years (with considerable use).

There are so many variables to consider though (choice of strings, pick material, style of song etc.). If I want a mellower tone I have a John Pearse pick that must be about 2mm. Buy a few and see what works I suppose.

jellyroll · January 2018

Cleg83 said:

Some very good points on here.

Rather than shelling out for Bluechip picks, try Wegen picks. I find the 1.4mm really compliments my guitar (and my technique) and has lasted years (with considerable use).

There are so many variables to consider though (choice of strings, pick material, style of song etc.). If I want a mellower tone I have a John Pearse pick that must be about 2mm. Buy a few and see what works I suppose.

Oh, I’ve already shelled out on BC and Wegen

. The wooden picks are just another dabble. At the weekend, I migrated back to BC - although strangely I found myself playing and enjoying the triangular shaped 60 which I’ve never previously enjoyed. My “go to” BC is usually the teardrop 80.

Havent tried John Pearse. Is that the casein one?

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