Where on God's earth do all my picks go?

equalsql · August 2023

If there a dimensional portal that the buggers escape to when I'm not looking?
I use the green tortex standard Dunlop plectrums and buy them in packs of 12. I must have bought over 50 in the past couple of years. I'm not gigging, so it beats me where they all go. I'm down to about 3 now.
Am I living in the Matrix? Is the universe playing mind games with me?
Where do the go!

Sassafras · August 2023

Have you got an acoustic?

Henrytwang · August 2023

Check down the back of the sofa, the rest probably ended in the cleaner.

Tannin · August 2023

Same place all my pens go. Every time I want to make a note on the calendar or write a damn shopping list, all my many pens have escaped into the 5th dimension.

Offset · August 2023

I don't lose plectra.

Bigsby · August 2023

I think I have the answer to this one. Years ago I used to lose plectrums all the time. Not anymore. The same four have been on my desk for at least four years, and my plectrum tins have remained shut...

I used to always wedge them between the strings when I put a guitar down. But then I discovered Dunlop Stubby 3mm plectrums, and these are too small to be stored that way. This felt pretty uncomfortable; I could end up grabbing a guitar and having no plectrum to hand... But I don't go to rehearsals or gigs, I just play in my home office, so I began leaving the plectrum on the desk, where it stayed. At some point I began using regular sized plectrums, and laid out 1.14, 1.5 and 2mm ones with the Stubby. They're on the desk next to me now.

Theory: When you're in the habit of putting plectrums between the strings, you'll occasionally forget, put the guitar down and still be holding the plectrum. Natural human laziness (energy conservation!) means you'll put it down on furniture, or in a pocket, and it'll now be unobserved and out of your awareness. [insert Quantum physics here] In this state it will both exist and not exist, and only when you try to observe it again will it resolve into one state.

RaymondLin · August 2023

I keep 2 in the vent slots on top of my Denon Reciever. The vent is narrower than a pick so it doesn't fall in.

Voxman · August 2023

Pick heaven

oh_pollo · August 2023

Buy Blue Chip picks. You'll never lose a pick again.

stratman3142 · August 2023

Tannin said:

Same place all my pens go...

I only seem to have that problem with black pens, some of which seem to get converted to blue pens. My theory it that they're being beamed up to the Starship Enterprise. Although it's possible my wife might be the culprit.

I've got so many red Jim Dunlop Jazz III picks scattered all around the house and in pockets etc, that I'm not sure I'd notice if any went missing.

Kittyfrisk · August 2023

Henrytwang said:

Check down the back of the sofa, the rest probably ended in the cleaner.

My cleaner has vociferously & indignantly denied this possibility.

Tannin · August 2023

I haven't lost a pick in years. Not once. Not since I switched to being a fingerpicker.

If I ever start losing fingers, I'll let you know.

theatreanchor · August 2023

Switch to yellow tortex. You’ll be fine.

rossi · August 2023

I have a capo with a slot for a pick .I dont often use a capo but just have it on the headstock to hold a pick .It works well .

roberty · August 2023

I prefer these to tortex mate

Planet Waves Duralin Guitar Picks Medium Pack of 100 https://amzn.eu/d/6KhOGgy

Ever so slightly more pointed. They look identical to tortex to me but they feel slightly faster to use

A 100 pack should see you right for a few days

Roland · August 2023

This seems to be a middle ground problem. Blue Chip owners guard them like their wallets. Cheap picks get so worn after a few hours playing that they are thrown away. (Yes, I know you can wipe them on the carpet to reset the edge, but then it’s a shorter, rounded shape)

HAL9000 · August 2023

Tannin said:

I haven't lost a pick in years. Not once. Not since I switched to being a fingerpicker.

If I ever start losing fingers, I'll let you know.

How? It’ll be tricky typing you know.

stratman3142 · August 2023

Roland said:

...Yes, I know you can wipe them on the carpet to reset the edge, but then it’s a shorter, rounded shape...

I'd genuinely never heard of that trick. Just tried it and it seems to work quite well on my rough edged Jazz III's. Although a rough edge doesn't bother me too much.

distressed · August 2023

I've recently switched from Dunlop max grip (dark gray, blends seamlessly with most rugs) to Dunlop ultex (transparent dark yellow, blends seamlessly with most rugs and parquets)

maltingsaudio · August 2023

IMHO the only way to really stop losing picks is to buy really expensive ones. When you’ve shelled out £30 + for an object to strum your guitar with,you are going to make sure that it comes home with you. Spend 30 p on a piece of plastic not so. The only problem with this scenario is the £30 plus plectrums are, in the main, unusable monstrosities! And the people who say they aren’t are either endorsees who get them for nowt, or people too proud to say they’ve been had.

thumpingrug · August 2023

I've just bought 30 picks as I was getting low and the old buggers have started turning up. Wallets, jacket pockets, trousers I haven't worn for a while, the car glove box. There out their.

roberty · August 2023

thumpingrug said:

I've just bought 30 picks as I was getting low and the old buggers have started turning up. Wallets, jacket pockets, trousers I haven't worn for a while, the car glove box. There out their.

donbot · August 2023

That last sentence! Perfection
https://i.imgur.com/yYOcl0t.jpg

thumpingrug · August 2023

In my defence Im slightly dyslexic and it was 4.00 am.

Fez · August 2023

HAL9000 said:

Tannin said:

I haven't lost a pick in years. Not once. Not since I switched to being a fingerpicker.

If I ever start losing fingers, I'll let you know.

How? It’ll be tricky typing you know.

Speech to text function on his phone

roberty · August 2023

thumpingrug said:

In my defence Im slightly dyslexic and it was 4.00 am.

All good I was leveling that more at grammar police

bluecat · August 2023

If you can find all the odd Sox that you lose in the washing machine, they might be there.

Neil · August 2023

Hardly ever lose any, although I don't play out..

When I finish with them I just leave them on the table in my music room.

If you always keep picks in the same place and replace when finished you won't lose any.

Dave_Mc · August 2023

Bigsby said:
Theory: When you're in the habit of putting plectrums between the strings, you'll occasionally forget, put the guitar down and still be holding the plectrum. Natural human laziness (energy conservation!) means you'll put it down on furniture, or in a pocket, and it'll now be unobserved and out of your awareness. [insert Quantum physics here] In this state it will both exist and not exist, and only when you try to observe it again will it resolve into one state.

That may be true, but how do you explain the ones I drop which disappear immediately?

Aidanspaghetti · August 2023

Tumbledryer filter. Guaranteed one or two....

Sporky · August 2023

I've got them all. Everyone's lost plectrums end up here. Millions of the bastards. The council has to send an extra bin lorry 'round.

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Where on God's earth do all my picks go?

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